SPOTLIGHT CULT CARPET MANIA
What does this carpet have in common with icons, Hendrix, Morrison, Winehouse and Cobain? Probably the most famous flooring in the world right now, it’s a fully-fledged member of the 27 club with an army of fans and a huge following on social media.
The 27 year-old carpet at the Portland Airport International (PDX) in Oregon is firmly under the world’s spotlight right now. With more than 1,600 followers on Twitter, three related Instagram accounts and 31,000 photos uploaded with the hashtag #pdxcarpet, this outdated sea of teal has become an internet legend. Many fans of the flooring are now mourning the untimely demise of their beloved broadloom.
@PDXCarpet’s Twitter account is self-depreciating and sarcastic in tone, describing itself as outdated, unfashionable and absolutely charming. Perhaps it is this inherent charm that has made the 80s retro geometric pattern turn up on local beer, trainers, socks, bike helmets, Halloween costumes and even tattoos.
Local, Jeremy Dunn designed a pair of PDX carpet socks and, with his friends, started taking foot selfies on the famous background a couple of years ago. “It’s less about the design itself, even though the design is kind of quirky and funny, than it is about the place as a whole,” Jeremy told The New York Times. “People take that
picture...then come back and feel like it’s so great to be home.”
The iconic floorcovering was designed by SRG Architects in 1987. The team were keen for the floor space to reflect the local region and decided on the main colours of blues and greens during the early stages of its development, according to SRG principal John Schleuning. The final pattern of large dark blue, purple and red crosses corresponds to Portland’s intersecting runways, as viewed from the control tower.
After almost 30 years in service, covered in gum and frayed at the seams, the carpet has been deemed beyond repair. Airport officials decided to renovate the floor back in 2006, but were unable to specify the original design as the supplier had moved overseas. At this point in time it was not apparent just how iconic the flooring would become. According to the Wall Street Journal, architects couldn’t find any local businesses that were willing to take the old stuff to remake into new products.
PDX carpet mania really took off when fans noticed test patches of the new flooring appearing
twitter.com/TomoFlooring
in 2013. Suddenly merchandise bearing the legendary insignia began flying off the shelves; aficionados simply couldn’t get enough. From clothing to consumables, the cult carpet was everywhere. Local Major League football team, The Portland Timbers, recently began selling a carpet-patterned scarf and Nike, headquartered in the city, has brought out a PDX carpet trainer.
The end was nigh when airport officials held a carpet-ripping ceremony to mark the first day of the replacement process at the end of January. The World looked on, with the story making headlines all over the world.
More than 13 acres of the carpet will be removed but won’t be heading for landfill as local businesses go head-to-head to bid online for the free 1000 square-yard bundles, with the best proposals set to win. Other sections will be cut into small door-mat sized chunks for promotional use and unsalvageable sections are to be recycled.
Inspired again by the Pacific Northwest, the new green carpet features blue and yellow arches with red lines. It is said to be based on plane wings, runways, leaves, trails, and waterways. However, until now the new covering hasn’t gone down well with locals and travellers passing through.
On January 27th @lossofreason tweeted “@pdxcarpet sad walk thru the terminal. @NewPDXCarpet go back to the mill you came from #yuck @flypdx #reconsider”
With less than 700 followers on Twitter @NewPDXCarpet has got some serious catching up to do if it’s going to prove as big a hit as the original. Early reviews are not looking great, with perhaps the harshest critic being its predecessor.
“What are you all going to peddle after my death?” @PDXCarpet posted on Twitter. “@NewPDXCapet won’t sell”
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