ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers - (Page 44) Urban Living: B Y PA M J A N I S Today’s urban dwellers fit a broad range of styles and demographics, allowing designers to get creative with multiunit life. FOR YEARS, “URBAN LIVING” MEANT THREE THINGS: A CITY ADDRESS, A NEARBY 24-HOUR COFFEE SHOP, AND A GOOD MEMORY FOR WHERE YOU’D PARKED THE CAR AND WHEN YOU HAD TO MOVE IT. TODAY, IT MAY MEAN A CITY ADDRESS, OR AN “URBAN LIFESTYLE” CONDO MILES FROM DOWNTOWN; TAKE-OUT, OR ROOM SERVICE; STREET PARKING, OR A RESIDENTS’ GARAGE WITHIN THE ATTACHED SHOPPING MALL SPACE. IT DEFINITELY MEANS INNOVATION TO DESIGNERS, WHO ARE FITTING SOME OF THEIR MOST CREATIVE RESIDENTIAL WORK INTO THE SMALLER SPACES OF MULTIUNIT LIFE. AND, MORE AND MORE, MAKING THEM COMPLEMENT THE PROPERTY’S NONRESIDENTIAL USES. “One of the challenges is putting together a team that understands the needs of residential design as well as hospitality, retail and office needs,” says Diana Mosher, editor in chief of Multi-Housing News. “People are making quality-of-life decisions, including shortening their commutes. They want urban or urban-lifestyle cores where they can live, work and play.” Urban living is being redefined in the process. No longer confined to downtown, new urban hubs are also forming in outlying neighborhoods and towns around multimodal transit, workplaces, retail and entertainment districts. And these new urban spaces are bringing new expectations to designers’ studios. Among quality of life concerns driving urban residential design today, Mosher says, are lowering energy costs, common areas to promote community (including fitness rooms) and luxury amenities from high-end finishes to integrated electronics systems. Living a Luxury Brand In Edina, Minn., for instance, owners of the 82 luxury condos at the Westin Edina Galleria Hotel and Residences located 10 miles outside Minneapolis, will select custom finishes 44 ASID ICON | THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS from hardwood floors and cabinetry to premium natural stone flooring, while wall panel controls will manage everything from audio and lighting, to the home’s DVD player. The condos’ design, says Mark Ostrom, CID, of Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc.—which is collaborating with builder Ryan Companies, developer Warren Beck and Westin Hotel owner Starwood, to create the living space above the hotel—reflects two mixed-use urban living trends: hospitality design elements (striking lobbies and reception areas), and an influx of affluent baby boomers and seniors hoping to simplify their lives by trading the grand manse for the self-contained urban lifestyle. “Each buyer is the CEO of their own home,” Ostrom says. “These are buyers who are wealthy and are designing amazingly detailed spaces. They are less concerned about budget than about creating a home that reflects their position and lifestyle.” As these residences show, housing units in mixed-use settings often reflect signature branding that incorporates companion design elements with the project’s other uses. Ostrom describes the Westin touch on its condos’ design as “understated elegance,” with well-executed and unique elements. “The condo design is expected to be in keeping with [Westin’s] elegant style. The hotel and condos complement each other,” he continues. The use of wood panels, stone flooring and elegant art pieces in common areas also reinforces the parent brand and works to maintain continuity throughout the property. Nights at the Museum The brand stamp on design in mixedused properties is not exclusive to retail and hospitality projects. In downtown Washington, D.C., a city revitalizing itself, residents will soon go home to what will be one of its most popular tourist attractions—The Newseum, a museum devoted to news and journalism. In fact, incorporating residences was one of the city’s requirements when the museum relocated from nearby Arlington, Va. The design challenge with the 135 rental apartments was thematic, according to Mary Ann Voight, vice president of corporate marketing for The Bozzuto Group, of Greenbelt, Md. “We wanted to create a warm and welcoming living environment and
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