#johnportman

There's a Science Fiction in the Space Between You and Me by Thomas Hawk https://flic.kr/p/2842c3X

The first building that captured my imagination was the Renaissance Center, which opened in 1977 and is (for now) the tallest not only in the Detroit, but the entire state, not to mention the headquarters of General Motors. As a kid, I was fascinated by its peculiar appearance and the fact that its sheer size made it visible from virtually every part of the city. I've heard many stories about The Summit, the much-loved revolving restaurant that once occupied floors 71 to 73 of the central tower, which was originally known as the Detroit Plaza Hotel, now a Marriott. Unfortunately, I didn't get to experience The Summit for myself. It wasn't until I was well into my 20s that I discovered both the Fisher and Guardian buildings and all of their Art Deco magnificence, therefore the Ren Cen holds a special place in my heart and mind, even if it is not the most architecturally appealing. #Detroit #Downtown #Modernism #Neofuturism #JohnPortman #EastJefferson #archi_ologie #RawDetroit #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #MotorCityShooters #PureDetroit313 #DepictTheD #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #ThisPlaceMatters #ThisPlaceMattersDetroit #MichiganPlacesMatter #GalaxyS10 #withGalaxy (at Renaissance Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxRDmAPAWPp/?igshid=1s9624x7cws4w

Sea Island, Georgia. Designed by John Portman

Westin Bonaventure Hotel, LA #unsent #postcard #johnportman #ve #fredricjameson #paradigm (en Westin Bonaventure Hotel)

John C. Portman, Jr., architect of the Renaissance Center and many other "neo-futuristic" buildings around the country, died last Friday at age 93. Portman, who founded his own firm, John Portman & Associates, in 1953, transformed the skyline of downtowns across America, most notably Atlanta, where Portman & Associates is based. His work was (and still is) a constant source of controversy. Critics and non-critics alike often lament that Portman's buildings are not only isolated from the rest of the downtown areas that they were, ironically, intended to save, but frustrating to navigate. There is no bigger (literally and figuratively) example of that than the Renaissance Center from 1977. Intended as a spark for revival for a downtown Detroit in the midst of great decline, it was instead seen as a fortress that is walled off. The Ren Cen would not truly live up to its full potential until the late 1990s, when it was purchased by General Motors, who relocated there from its historic headquarters on West Grand Boulevard, designed by Wirt Rowland while chief designer with Albert Kahn & Associates. GM really opened up the interior, which had previously been a maze of confusion. The Wintergarden, shown here, is the best example of this open space. No matter what you think of his architecture, John Portman should be commended for investing in cities when it was not exactly "cool" to do so. We salute you, Mr. Portman. #Detroit #Downtown #Postmodernism #Neofuturism #Skyscraper #JohnPortman #EastJefferson #archi_ologie #RawDetroit #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #MotorCityShooters #PureDetroit313 #DepictTheD #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #IGersDetroit #detroit_igers #ThisPlaceMatters #ThisPlaceMattersDetroit #MichiganPlacesMatter #SceneFromDetroit #ThisDetroitLife #HellYeahDetroit #Local4 (at GM Ren Cen)

#belle #johnportman #odetoatlanta #atlanta #peachtreestreet #urbanhiking #downtown #downtownatlanta https://www.instagram.com/p/CH_eV57p_HY/?igshid=y5s4jnnpqurs

Hyatt Regency Hotel designed by John Portman … Hyatt Regency Resort designed by John Portman @hyattregencysf @johnportmanassoc #sanfrancisco #johnportman #hyattregency

#views at #johnportman #panpacific in #singapore John Portmann‘s enorme Binnenräume erleichtern durch ihre Dynamik Begegnung und Austausch #architecture #singapore #marinasquare #inspiration https://www.instagram.com/p/BxTrF5uhGaI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1abaw44di65c1