Friday Eye Candy: A New Cultural Atlas of Portland

"Portlandness: A Cultural Atlas" exemplifies the powers of maps to reshape and redefine our communities. Just watch how they can change expectations about the culture of the city infamously known as "Portlandia."

1 minute read

November 20, 2015, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Portland Statue

TFoxFoto / Shutterstock

Steve Duin reports on a new book by Hunter Shobe, called Portlandness: A Cultural Atlas. The book is guided by the principle that "we have unique ways to illustrate the city's enduring and evolving space."

Among the maps included in the book: a map of all the surveillance cameras in the city, and "path of least surveillance" through them all. It also "maps ghost sightings, the most treacherous sidewalks in the Pearl, the city's original ethnic enclaves, the red-lining of Alberta, and the impact of surging property values along North Mississippi Avenue."

Also included in the book is a map created by a class of third graders from Jason Lee K-8. The class selected 82nd Avenue as the center of the city—an area that isn't really on the map for most Portlanders, but for these students, "it's an area rich in meaning," explains Shobe in the article. Shobe adds: "It forces us to re-imagine a place we think we know really well."

Thursday, November 19, 2015 in The Oregonian

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.