My Take on John Portman’s Spaces
So, I’d heard the name John Portman thrown around. You know, the architect? Famous for those hotels with the massive open insides, the atriums. Sounded like a big deal, visually dramatic stuff people talked about. Pictures looked impressive, sure.
I figured reading about it wasn’t enough. You gotta actually be there, right? Experience it. So, I decided to do just that. Made it a point to book a stay in one of his well-known places next time I was in a city that had one. Wanted to see what all the fuss was about firsthand, live in it for a couple of days.
Walked into the lobby, and yeah. It hits you. This huge, soaring space right in the middle, stretching way up. Glass elevators gliding up and down the walls. Plants hanging down. Definitely a ‘wow’ moment, gotta give him that. Felt like stepping onto some kind of futuristic movie set.
- First impression: Big. Very big.
- The elevators: Kinda cool, zipping around like that.
- The whole vibe: Very grand, very… designed.
But after the initial awe wore off? Spent a day or two actually navigating the place. Found myself getting turned around a few times. The floors kinda looked the same, the layout felt a bit like a maze designed to keep you inside near the shops and restaurants. It was impressive architecture, no doubt, but living in it felt… weird?
Here’s the thing though. It felt massive, sure, but also strangely impersonal. Like the building was the main character, and the people inside were just extras. It kinda reminded me of this massive corporate campus I visited once for a meeting. All shiny glass and steel, huge open areas, meant to impress. But walking through it, you didn’t feel connected, just small. Like you were just passing through this giant monument to… something.
That Portman hotel gave me a similar feeling. Looked amazing, especially that central space. But using it day-to-day, going back and forth to the room, trying to find a quiet corner? It felt a bit hollow. Like the focus was all on the spectacle, less on the simple human comfort side of things.
So, my little experiment? Yeah, I saw the Portman thing. Experienced the atrium effect. It’s definitely something to see once. But would I seek it out again? Probably not. Felt more like visiting a theme park than staying in a place designed for actual, regular people to relax in. Guess that whole grand vision thing isn’t really my style when it comes down to it.
