1800 Oak Street: an award-winning project

Winner of two 2020 Gala Awards (Design and Architecture of a Multi-Family Renovation and Interior Merchandising of a Multi-Family Renovation), the recently-completed remodelling project for the common areas of a multi-family building in Virginia, United States has transformed the location into a space not just for accommodation but for everyday use by the tenants, who work, meet and relax here.
“The major design objective,” explains Phyllis Hartman, president and CEO of Hartman Design Group, which designed the project, “was to renovate and redistribute the condominium’s dated common spaces and create functional and stunning amenities that speak to today’s residents. Our mission was to create an urban-hotel experience that would differentiate the property from its competition and solidify a sense of community.” Prior to the intervention, the stylistically nondescript ground floor of the building was underutilised, whereas today it provides extra functionality – with meeting rooms, home-working spaces and lounges – and increases the commercial and real estate value of the asset.
Distributed over a floor space of approximately 750 square metres, the design concept explores two key style themes. The first is linked to the name of the street in which the building is located, Oak, which is the wood chosen for many of the interior design details. Organic materials, earth tones, and textures were juxtaposed with rich jewel tones to create a casual yet elegant ambiance. Features such as branch hardware on the entry doors, live edge countertops, and wood bark veneer were integrated throughout the interiors to further define the property branding.
The second design principle involved remodelling the building’s lobby to create the distinctive atmosphere of a warm and comfortable upscale hotel. Along with the meticulous spatial composition, materials played a vital role in achieving this goal. Specifically, the design team opted for a porcelain tile with a marble texture and colour from Laminam. Phyllis Hartman explains: “From an aesthetic point of view, we chose I Naturali – Calacatta Oro Venato because it mimics the appearance of marble extremely realistically. From a technical point of view, we also needed a relatively lightweight material. The lower weight of Laminam surfaces helped us greatly in terms of the installation method and structure, both for the walls (single storey and double height) and the bench.”