Classic Edge

With its graphic facades characterised by a grid pattern framing full-height windows, The Rodney stands out in the heart of the iconic Pearl District of downtown Portland, Oregon, a neighbourhood teeming with boutiques and clubs. Its sixteen floors, furnished with items of contemporary design and prestigious details, accommodate housing units of various sizes, from studio apartments to larger two or three bedroom solutions and a spectacular penthouse that crowns the building. The architectural project, awarded to Ankrom Moisan Architects by Holland Partner Group, was completed in 2019 with the participation of Vida Design, an architectural and interior design firm specialising in residential, commercial and hospitality projects. As well as winning the first Ceramics of Italy People’s Choice Award, The Rodney has also received LEED Platinum certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the US Green Building Council, an institution that evaluates projects according to their environmental impact.
“We were involved in the design process right from the start,” says Sheena Brittingham, Principal and Director of Design at Vida Design. “We took part in developing the layout of the ground floor, which consists of highly interconnected spaces including the reception, an equipped co-working area and cafeteria, and the sixteenth floor, where we were also responsible for the interior design, with its large rooftop lounge and a 360° view of Portland and the West Hills.”
From an aesthetic and stylistic perspective, “our concept for this project was ?classic edge’, to provide a space that pays homage to the rich history and character of Portland and also thinking forward to the ways we can create a new classic,” said the designer. “In particular we wanted to create a wow factor that would surprise guests as soon as they set foot in The Rodney.” The foyer features a large ceramic mat customised with the Portland decoration custom-made by Appiani to a design by the Vida Design team. “The real challenge in creating the graphics of the tiles was to find a design that the whole team approved of and would dialogue with the space and respect the size of the tiles in the Open Space collection from Appiani that we had chosen. It was a collaborative effort that proceeded from meticulous drawings through to accurate mock-ups to ensure a perfect finished result,” continued the designers.
Underscoring The Rodney’s links with Portland, in the foyer “a multimedia display screens locally made historical footage, thereby mixing the old and the new. The vintage brass mailboxes come from an old city building and have been transformed into an art installation,” continues Sheena Brittingham. “We also collaborated with local artist Kate Blairstone, mixing her floral illustrations with historic Portland photographs. Custom-made murals cover the lobby walls where the lifts are located, evoking Portland’s rich and vibrant history through the power of imagery and colour.”