Brown Apartments

Brown Apartments is a multifamily residential building on SW 14th Avenue in Portland that blends Colonial Revival, Beaux Arts, and American Renaissance styles. The facade displays ornamental details and proportions typical of early 20th-century apartment buildings in the region.

The building was designed in 1915 by the architectural firm Claussen and Claussen as a residential complex for multiple families. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and later recognized as a Portland Historic Landmark.

The building reflects how prosperous families lived in Portland during the early 1900s and what architectural fashions they preferred. Its decorative facade speaks to a time when such residences signaled wealth and refined taste to the community.

The building is located in Portland's Southwest district and is easily visible from the street for viewing and photography. As an active residential complex, access is limited to exterior viewing, and visitors should respect the privacy of residents.

The building dates from a period when Portland was expanding rapidly and affluent architects were applying their most ambitious designs to apartment complexes. Such elaborately designed residential buildings represented a new trend of the era, marking a shift from single-family homes to modern multifamily living.