A distinctive Art Moderne house designed by renowned architect Roscoe Hemenway has been sold in Southwest Portland for $960,000, surpassing the seller’s asking price by $11,000.
The three-level, stucco-covered residence located on Southwest Abernethy Street was listed by Jimi Hendrix of Neighbors Realty on April 28 for $949,000.
An accepted offer came on June 16, and the transaction was finalized on July 10.
According to Hendrix, the sale price was pushed upwards due to three competing offers after the home had been on the market for nearly 50 days.
“At this higher price point, it’s taking a tiny bit more time to find the right buyer in certain neighborhoods,” Hendrix explained.
She noted that potential buyers have become more selective regarding their offers.
The house’s new owner, a pastry chef, particularly valued the updated kitchen, which offers both functionality and ample pantry space.
This impressive property boasts 2,617 square feet of living space, high ceilings, and expansive windows that provide panoramic views of Mount Hood.
A stone fireplace graces the living room, which features glass French doors leading to a flat, inviting backyard.
The home includes three bedrooms situated on the second story, alongside two bonus areas perfect for work-from-home opportunities.
Significant upgrades since 2019 include the installation of new flooring and a complete overhaul of the kitchen, bathrooms, and powder room.
The Art Moderne architectural style, popular during the 1930s and early 1940s, drew inspiration from the sleek designs of airplanes, ocean liners, and automobiles.
Harvey S. Hudson, a local businessman and Optimist Club member, commissioned Hemenway to design this unique house on Hudson’s 4,791-square-foot lot around 1937.
The design aimed to evoke motion, intending for air to flow smoothly over the house’s rectangular roofs and around its curved edges.
Notably, the rounded second-story balcony over the front door mimics the flying bridge of a luxury ocean liner from the 1930s, as noted by architectural historians William J. Hawkins and William F. Willingham in their book, ‘Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, 1850-1950.’
Hawkins and Willingham highlight the rarity of such houses in Portland, comparing the quality of the Hudson house to others built during the height of the style across the country.
In the context of the Great Depression, the overly ornate Art Deco style was simplified into the streamlined design of the Moderne architecture, which typically featured white surfaces and unique elements like porthole windows.
This was also the first architectural style designed with electric lighting in mind.
While Art Deco emphasized verticality, rich colors, and intricate geometrical patterns, Art Moderne focused on horizontal lines and streamlined forms, often using materials such as steel and aluminum to reflect the machine age.
Though mainly seen in commercial buildings, the Streamline Moderne style had a significant impact on residential design, offering a glimpse of the low, horizontal silhouettes that would later characterize 1950s ranch-style homes.
In nearby real estate news, the Portland City Council has decided to temporarily waive development fees to encourage new housing initiatives, and notable properties continue to hit the market, showcasing the varied architectural landscape of the region.
image source from：oregonlive
