While everyone has heard the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” I would argue that the same can be said about what defines art. What attracts us to certain artists, mediums, and styles is different for every individual. To list a single attribute which unquestionably defines art is simply not possible. Sometimes, we like what we like without the ability to put it into words or to neatly wrap it up in clear terminology why we like it. But regardless of what your aesthetic preferences are for art, everyone can agree that art enhances life as a means of expression and to visually record history for generations to come.
At SR/A we believe that art is an essential component to all interior spaces. Most of the time, the art we select is the final piece of the design puzzle that unites and brings the needed punctuation to a space. Art can also be part of the foundation of a design project and a key component to the overall narrative of the job. Every SR/A project has a narrative that we use to build our design. That design narrative or base concept is woven throughout the design. Adhering to the narrative allows us to create a comprehensive interior space from the floor plans and furniture layouts to the materials, furnishings, and art selections.
SR/A Designed Project: Library Lounge at Modera Sedici
In 2018, SR/A completed an interior conservation/conversion project taking what once served as the DC Italian Embassy and converting it to the Modera Sedici. The former embassy building is now a multifamily residential development in Washington DC that offers cosmopolitan living fused with classic neo-renaissance charm. SR/A president and CEO, Sabine Roy summarized the design narrative of the Modera Sedici as a “juxtaposition of the original beauty [of the mansion] and our modern minimalistic lines.” She emphasized that “the design was inspired by the original classical Italian architecture but also by the modernization of similar [17th or 18th century] buildings in Europe.”
SR/A Designed Project: Lobby at Modera Sedici
When it came to selecting art for the property, SR/A chose to play with the juxtaposition of traditional and modern. Two focal pieces in the lobby feature classically posed subjects with hints of traditional dress that invoke the memory of Renaissance Masters such as Petrus Christus, Raffaello Sanzio, and Domenico Ghirlandaio. However, it is apparent from the collage like embellishments and the overly simplified faces, that modern geniuses such as Klimt and Matisse have also inspired these works of art. Even the way the pieces are framed combines the old with the new. A slim, simple black frame encases the art creating a more modern feel. To add drama, grandeur, and scale the art was installed upon a dupioni silk wallcovering framed in a heavy, molded, golden frame. The overall effect marries classical and modern styles.
SR/A Designed Project: Lobby in Addition at Modera Sedici
Another area where SR/A worked to integrate art seamlessly into the design is the beautiful art gallery in the newly built portion of the property. It consists of a series of black and white photographs documenting the conservation of the mansion. These photos are crisp and clean but seek to highlight the detail, craftmanship, and beauty of the building’s original design while paying respect to the artists of the past and again fusing classical and modern, as well as bridging the old and new buildings on the property.
The art selections at Modera Sedici not only bring visual beauty to the interior but also help to complete the narrative of the space. The fusion of two styles, classical and modern creates playful and thoughtful design that both honors the building’s past and brings the space forward in its new role as a multifamily residential building. Blurring the line between the old and the new creates something unique and pushes a space forward. In this case the art provided a strong narrative to balance the very nature of the building and the city it is in; ever changing and never stagnant while still honoring its history and roots. The Modera Sedici shows that art and beauty can be found everywhere, something SR/A brings to all our projects. What are some ways you can think of to bring beauty to your space?
Amy Hinds is Design Manager at SR/A.
