THE ASSEMBLY | #2 | Oct 2023
Boo!
It’s officially fall here in the Pacific Northwest - time to get cozy, seek out your favorite comfort foods, and revel in the beauty this season offers!
These last several months I’ve met with a handful of Portland homeowners who were looking to expand on their lot. Whether it was enlarging their current residence, adding a detached ADU (accessory dwelling unit), or considering a duplex division - the common element was decreasing the open or “pervious” area of their lot. Vast changes to the City’s zoning code went into effect in 2021 and because of this, there are both opportunities and challenges to increasing density on your lot, depending on your zone & location. The one caveat is a priority given to open space or lot coverage, an element that has almost no rule exceptions and is extremely challenging to appeal. So although some of these homeowners had the opportunity to move forward with their expansions, there were some situations where the lot had reached their maximum coverage and the only option was to creatively work within the existing footprint or swap out existing for new.
Knowing this zoning information at the outset is critical in developing a project strategy, as it can potentially waste a lot of time & money developing ideas that are not feasible. Studio RALLYMADE uses tools such as UrbanForm to quickly provide due diligence information and understand the constraints each project is working within.
If you have been interested in learning more about the potential of your existing residence or are curious about developing an infill lot for additional rental income, I invite you to connect & take that next step!
INSPIRATION, NEWS & COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
· Legendary Makers Market: An Asian American Night Market :: This weekend, November 3rd & 4th, check out this event featuring over 125 AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islander) food and craft vendors as well as art, film screenings, live DJ’s, and an immersive wellness refuge. It is projected to be the largest pan-Asian American-centered event ever held in Portland, with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 attendees! The delicious steaming Momo dish pictured above from Tibetan refugee turned Himalayan Dumpling powerhouse Kyikyi is just one of the 16 food vendors on site. Enjoy! legendarymakersmarket
· Eighth Generation :: Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the annual 2023 NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) conference held for the first time in Portland. I came away with so much new insight & understanding after participating in over three days of educational and interactive sessions. One of the things I learned was that local brand Pendleton, although producing iconic wool blankets inspired by Native American designs that have made them millions, has failed to consistently support the communities they romanticize. In fact, in 2014 the US Department of the Interior announced a settlement with the company as a violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act because their marketing suggested products were produced by genuine Native American artists and benefitted indigenous communities when they did not. To counter this, the Washington State-based Snoqualmie Tribe launched an initiative called Inspired Natives, not “Native-inspired” as the basis of their Native-owned company Eight Generation. Partnering with community-based native artists to produce beautiful wool blankets and gifts, reclaiming the market for products featuring Native art. They made the cover of British Vogue!
· Forest bathing :: Take advantage of this slower time of year before the hectic holidays to walk amongst the trees, soak in the seasonal transitions, and relax. This charming A-frame is available for you and 6 of your closest friends to soak in some classic cabin vibes after a day of hiking. Boosting your health, de-stressing and diving into your favorite puzzle - it’s a win-win! Book a cozy getaway
· Northwest Regionalism :: The RALLYMADE tagline is Modern design elevated by the materials and makers of the Pacific Northwest. At its core, this means championing and building upon the region’s best assets and proven construction practices. The Northwest Regional style was a design movement that emerged in the mid-20th century with an emphasis on natural materials, a connection to the landscape and context-sensitive design elements like deep eaves to protect from the rain and extensive use of glass to encourage limited daylight. More recently the Northwest Contemporary style takes its cues from Northwest Regionalism rooted in a respect of our regional sensibilities, an appreciation for natural materials and craftsmanship but innovates on tradition valuing stricter water & site stewardship, smart technologies, resilient building materials and advanced energy efficiencies. To learn more, our newest journal post documents a first-hand account of key features of Northwest Regional style as illustrated by a recent trip to Portland’s Japanese Garden.
“I’m a strong believer in planning based on the human body – what we can see, how we move, and what speed we naturally move. That speed we move affects the way we see the details and understand the surroundings.”
- Jan Gehl, Urban planner
