The Lampost Newsletter from Olsen Communities
Timeless architecture isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about purpose, durability and how spaces shape our lives. Whether in a grand public structure or a well-designed home, lasting architecture balances form and function while honoring materials, craftsmanship and the people who inhabit it. As we look back at enduring design principles and ahead to the future of homebuilding, we’re reminded that great architecture isn’t just built for today. It’s built to last.
Musings From The Portland International Airport
Last week I was at Portland International Airport and wowed by the renovation (that seemed like it took forever, I might add). Probably most stunning is the dramatic, unusual, and very “Northwesty” ceiling if you can call it that. It is a literal sculpture built from what appears to be—since it is Portland, almost certain to be—locally sourced 2 x 8 Douglas fir. This lattice work pulls your eyes immediately upward, yes, skyward, which is fitting for a place that sends us sailing through the heavens at nearly the speed of sound to see our new grandchild, go off to college, or attend a funeral.
For those of us caught up in the world of architecture and design, we can’t help but wonder—how will this look and live in 5 years, 10 years, or even a century from now? Of course, none of us really know. But we should always be asking that question.
Whether we call it “standing the test of time” or “timeless design,” it may sound like one of those heady, pedantic discussions from an art history class. But it’s way more than that. It tells us a lot about who we are now and what we value. And really, there is no one right answer—but there are definitely wrong answers, or maybe even worse, unasked questions. When we sit down to tackle a design challenge, we ask ourselves how durable something is and what durable even means. Good proportions, lasting materials, and timeless architectural forms have been proven over time. We also consider how the unexpected factors in—it has the power to delight us in ways we might not have anticipated.
Good friends of ours who also build homes decided they had to sell furniture. Not just any furniture. Confronting the challenge of sourcing pieces that don’t off-gas harmful chemicals, they opened a storefront offering their community access to healthier, high-quality furnishings. Because for them (and for us) it’s not just a trend to create homes concerned with air quality and sensitivity to our environment. It’s not a passing fad. It’s a commitment to something that endures.
You don’t have to design and build the Pantheon to achieve timeless design. It’s about values. For us, it means fostering community, creating spaces that bring joy and health to everyday living, and thoughtfully considering how our present decisions will influence and delight those who come after us, even very long after us.
That is what makes the journey so exciting.
