In December 2021, SR/A was brought on board to steer the interior design of MRP’s multi-building project, Bryant Phase II. The multi-family buildings will include a 270-unit rental property, a 341-unit rental property, and another 84-unit property slated to be condos. Construction takes place in the Edgewood neighborhood of DC, right at the famous Van Gogh Exhibit site and next to the new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
This neighborhood certainly has a lot of changes coming, and the history of the community itself has been a big jumping-off point for our design inspiration. Through the neighborhood research, we learned that it had once been a popular picnic spot and retreat for the city and has been home to many notable residents, such as the Chase family. Understanding the history of a property is a great way to ground a design into something much more significant than the latest design trend. People connect more to the amenities of a multi-family building and see them as an extension of their home if the design holds a quality of authenticity and is more than just what they see with their eyes but something they truly experience feels. Through our design strategy, we hope to carry the easy feeling of a summer afternoon picnic that Washingtonians once enjoyed in this neighborhood while also celebrating the vibrant characters who have called, and continue to call, the Edgewood neighborhood home.
During our programming phase, we surveyed to understand better what post-Covid residents are looking for in their home experiences, especially in multi-family amenity spaces. While there were a lot of worthy nuggets we uncovered, we found that the infusion of meaningful original artwork resonates with people of all ages. We look forward to continuing to develop the design story of these residential buildings and creating spaces that embrace community and a sense of place. Curating an authentic art experience will also be a meaningful and rewarding effort.
While taking on three sister buildings, we have also been faced with the challenge of creating properties that feel like they are part of the same story while also having unique characteristics. The idea is to make the connection feel effortless, though anyone involved in design knows that an effortless feeling can be the hardest to pull off. Our approach has been to carefully study the demographics of each building, deliver a unique cross-building amenity package, infuse designs that have their distinctions while complementing one another, and carefully coordinate with our trade partners like SK&I Architecture and Oculus Landscape Architecture + Urban Design. Much like raising children, it is true that it takes a village to launch a successful new living experience. We are grateful to join MRP in their collective vision to cultivate this neighborhood, affluent in history, for a tomorrow that offers a better way to live and play.
Stay tuned for the delivery of these buildings as early as 2024.
Jessica Sizemore is SR/A’s Creative Operations Director. She recently celebrated her tenth anniversary with the company.
