#ArchitectureFriday | Often labelled one of the ugliest buildings in the world, the Portland Building is a true example of marmite architecture. One of the most influential early examples of postmodern civic architecture in the US, it marked a clear break from the glass-and-steel modernism that dominated the 20th century. When it opened in 1982, its bold colours and oversized forms challenged architectural convention. Designed by postmodernist architect Michael Graves, the building rejects minimalism in favour of expression - with a clearly articulated base, middle and top, and monumental columns framing its entrance. Perhaps its most iconic feature is Portlandia. Created after Graves decided the city’s original Lady Commerce was 'simply too dull', the copper figure by Ray Kaskey is the second-largest copper sculpture in the world after the Statue of Liberty, watching over the entrance. Postmodernism’s embrace of symbolism and ornament is evident throughout the building: from its small, four-foot square windows to its oversized decorative details - including green ribbons and blue medallions - all deliberately rejecting the restraint of modernist design. Built on a tight budget, the Portland Building faced decades of deterioration before undergoing a major restoration led by DLR Group with the Graves firm. Reopened in 2020, the project not only revitalised a landmark, but reignited debate around how we preserve postmodern architecture.