In Philadelphia, a 20-by-20-foot mural by Arden Bendler Browning splashes the side of the fourth-floor pool deck at The Laurel Rittenhouse Square and 1909 Rittenhouse. Adding color and additional liveliness to the area, the “Pathways” mural by the Philadelphia-based artist serves as a backdrop to residents looking to gather and relax.
The multifamily building by Southern Land Co. is one of many where art is a focal point of the firm’s amenity spaces, entrances, and exterior façades. “Art helps connect residents to both the multifamily project and the place in which it’s located,” says Ben Crenshaw, senior vice president of design at Southern Land Co. “We use art to help tell the story of what is special about a project, be it historical, cultural, or ecological—or in most cases, a combination of the three.”
Creating an environment that embraces the local community not only builds a sense of place but helps residents become more connected to their location.
Melania Armenta, director of resident strategy at Gallery Residential, shares, “Multifamily is notorious for the copy-and-paste approach to designing community environments. This popular approach to multifamily development has started to make communities look and feel the same. By introducing hyper local art and art programming into multifamily environments, the property establishes an identity that resonates with local culture.
“As neuroaesthetics has shown, art expands the human mind, fosters feelings of empathy, and gives us, as an industry, a new opportunity to build stronger communities.”
On Savannah, Georgia’s Hutchinson Island, Greystar multifamily mixed-use development EmmaJames Apartments incorporated art into various spaces from the parking garage to the mail room. Senior designer of S. Wilkins Interior design Cindy Munn says, “I think that art adds color and life to a space. It gives a personal expression of emotion—it speaks to people in different ways. In multifamily, it tends to give a sense of home and belonging and warmth. We try very hard to pull in local talent to give people a sense of space and surroundings, such as history.”
The community features an entryway mural by Lowcountry artist Hilarie Lambert, which portrays live oaks, marsh grass, and wildlife native to the area. Other local muralists are represented throughout as well as images from locally acclaimed photographers.
Like Southern Land Co.’s communities and the EmmaJames, Gallery Residential chooses artists based off several elements. Armenta says, “The property owners, brand story, and neighborhood are all factors for curating art within our communities. We take all three into consideration when selecting artists who will bring the brand and vision to life through art installations and experience programming.”
Ronan Kearney, Southern Land Co. senior vice president and head of property management, adds, “Southern Land Co. strives to be part of a community, not apart from the community. By infusing our spaces with the work of local talent, we amplify their creativity and passion in our spaces and hopefully use our platform to help advance them and their work.”
Armenta points out that art installations by local artists can also create a destination effect. “By giving artists creative license to create their own art, they bring a unique story, novelty, and a sense of identity to that community, all of which attract residents,” she says.
An example of this destination effect is Southern Land Co.’s Vertis Green Hills in Nashville, Tennessee. Kelsey Montague, known for her “WhatLiftsYou” wings mural in The Gulch neighborhood, created a 15-by-8-foot mural of a tree with a swing at the community entrance. It represents life, green spaces, and the company’s commitment to horticulture and welcoming outdoor spaces.
Recently opened in Chicago, The Pizzuti Cos.’ Coppia high-rise development incorporates art and architectural design into every facet of the project. President and CEO Joel Pizzuti says, “Coppia’s location, architectural relevance, amenities, and curated art program are among the many features that make this project stand out.” Serving as an inviting beacon, the main entry features an iconic Rana Begum installation of suspended, colorful mesh clusters coined as “clouds.”
As art and cultural program continues to grow in importance for multifamily communities, property owners and managers are seeing the natural benefits these installations can instill. “We strive for all our projects to either fit seamlessly into a neighborhood or to create a sense of community from scratch. To achieve this, people must feel that a project is authentic and feel some deeper connection,” Crenshaw concludes. “Art helps us tell the story of a place.”
