Behind the design of Soho House Portland

Since opening Soho House Portland in March, we’ve welcomed the city’s creative community through our doors to meet, relax and socialise. As with all of our new Houses, the Soho House Design team worked hard to create a space that felt unique to its location; a House that worked with Portland’s culture of innovation and nodded to the Pacific Northwest’s tradition of craftsmanship.

That all started with choosing the Troy Laundry Building, an old commercial facility that dates back to 1913. Located in Central Eastside, it exemplifies the industrial heritage of the city – something that we embraced when designing the interiors of the House.

‘We tried to preserve the industrial-inspired elements wherever we could,’ explains Danielle Vourlas, Director of Soho House Design – North America. ‘We kept much of the exposed brick on the walls throughout. That encouraged us to try and maintain some other parts of the original building too, such as the exposed concrete columns and the big, warehouse-style windows that let in lots of light.

‘We couldn’t salvage everything, though. For example, the original building had these wooden plank floors, around two inches wide, which we loved. But we weren’t able to safely save them, so instead we recreated them exactly as they were. For us, it was just about honouring the original space and structure as much as possible.’

When it came to styling the space, the team focused on elevating the industrial backdrop with more contemporary details. Vintage-inspired tables and lighting, soft upholstery and comfy seating contrast the more unfinished look. The use of wood in the bars and hero furniture pieces pays homage to the Pacific Northwest’s celebration of natural materials. 

‘The tension between all of those different influences is what makes the House feel so special,’ explains Vourlas. ‘We have the craftsmanship of the millwork, the warmth of the contemporary design details, and the roughness of this industrial backdrop. It feels very Portland to marry those three ideas. The city is a melting pot of various cultures and styles – there’s nothing predictable about it, and we wanted that to be reflected in the design.’

On the rooftop, there is a 62ft pool, as well as plenty of space for members to relax – including an indoor-outdoor dining area with two fire pits, plus a lounge with a rattan bar. Although our rooftops are something of a Soho House staple around the world, Vourlas and her team wanted this one to feel distinctly Portland; as unique to the city as the rest of the House. 

‘We could have gone fully industrial up there,’ Vourlas explains. ‘But we wanted it to feel like a fresh take on a rooftop. We have the “greenhouse” around the dining space, complete with bi-fold garage doors, but that’s contrasted with warm, terracotta tones and lots of greenery. There’s also a mix of heavier and lighter elements.’

Elsewhere in the House, Vourlas’s team embraced the creative nature of the Portland community through the design. ‘It’s not a space that’s full of only soft neutrals. We wanted bold colours and patterns – whether that’s the sofas in the main club space, the printed wallpaper in the gym, or the floor tiling in reception,’ says Vourlas. The same is true of the art collection, which is made up of different vibrant pieces from local artists. 

‘Of course, we’re always careful to consider local members in our design of new Houses, but with Portland that was especially important,’ Vourlas adds. ‘We really wanted to bring them into the design process. How will they use the House? How can we make them feel more at home? I think we really managed to achieve that – it’s a very special space.’

Discover the new rooftop at Soho House Portland