A West Hills Gem Earns a National Honor

 

It comes as no surprise that Portland’s newest addition to the National Register of Historic Places was designed by the city’s most famous architect, Pietro Belluschi.  What adds to its historic gloss was an unusual twist that made the house his own residence for his final 21 years.

Belluschi in 1947 designed a single story, 2,500-square foot home at the end of a narrow dead in  Northwest Portland’s Hillside neighborhood for Portland psychiatrist D.C. Burkes and his wife, Genevieve.  Its flat roof, massive windows and clean, unadorned structure exemplified the new International Style, combined with Belluschi’s appreciation and love for Oregon’s native woods.

As the picture above suggests, the exterior at the entrance was not imposing.  One had to go inside to be swept up by the bright natural light, amazing views, honest use of materials and comfortable human scale that always seemed to be common in Belluschi’s work.

Looking through from back to front (Brian Libby photo)

During a career that spanned more than 60 years, Belluschi had a hand in some 1,000 different buildings, ranging from houses, to churches, office towers and even a small shopping center.  Portland is blessed to be home of several.

 From 1951 to 1965, Belluschi served as Dean of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning in Boston, while also keeping busy as an architect and consultant.  Meanwhile, the Burkes couple no doubt relished living in their house with expansive views of downtown and wooden louvers under the east-facing windows that allowed cool air to swoosh up the hillside and cool the house in hot weather. 

 Other unusual features included bedroom ceilings of woven wood strips and a fishpond that traversed under the outer wall from the front entrance into the living room.  (A screen subsequently was installed to keep out four-footed creatures that managed to swim their way inside unannounced.)

Eastern facade with louvers under windows (Brian Libby photo)

After the death of her husband, Genevieve Burkes reached out to Belluschi who had returned to Portland from Boston.  She said planned to sell the house, and if he was interested in buying it, she would sell it to him for the same price she and her husband paid in 1948.

Talk about a bargain! Belluschi was quick to accept. It served as his residence until his death in 1994.

Turns out Belluschi also gave serious thought to expanding the house by adding a second story.  His son Anthony, an architect who had practiced extensively in Chicago, talked him out of it.  Anthony Belluschi said a second story would harm the proportions of the house both inside and out.  Instead, Anthony Belluschi later added a single-story addition in the back yard. Anthony and his wife, Marti, are the current owners.

Readers not familiar with Belluschi’s work in Portland can see the Equitable/Commonwealth Building at 421 SW 6th Ave.; the former Oregonian Building at 1320 SW Broadway; the Portland Art Museum Belluschi Building, 1219 SW Park Ave; and St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Zion Lutheran Church and Central Lutheran Church. 

A visitor needs to see the inside of the Burkes-Belluschi House to appreciate its design, which represents a complete architectural break from the traditional imposing houses and mansions in the same neighborhood.    Fortunately, Restore Oregon, a statewide historic preservation organization plans to tour the house on May 10.  Details will become available at restoreoregon.org.

 ---Fred Leeson

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