Art in Interiors: Why Integrate Local Culture Into Commercial Spaces?

Authentically Integrate Art and Interior Architecture

Authenticity is at the core of culturally relevant architecture in commercial spaces. Architectural artwork should be a fully integrated part of the interior environment, not merely decorative. Cohesive and culturally resonant designs create a meaningful space.

According to DLR Group's Staci Patton, when researching a project, her team spends time in the community to fully understand it. They explore the area, speak to locals, and stay for an extended period to learn how to mindfully incorporate the culture into their design narrative.

Inspiration can come from local culture, history, craftsmanship, and traditions. Collaboration with local artists and artisans is equally important for authentically representing an area and avoiding cultural appropriation.

Sourcing local materials and embracing traditional techniques and craftwork also supports regional economies and helps preserve heritage. This approach has the added benefit of reducing carbon dioxide emissions during construction and supply-chain logistics by encouraging designers to work with more sustainably sourced materials as well as with suppliers committed to eco-friendly practices.

Art in Hospitality and Community Centers

Hospitality and community venues for gathering are the cornerstones of many districts, delivering tremendous social and economic impact. They showcase local arts and entertainment, promote regional culinary traditions, grow awareness of diverse backgrounds, and encourage cultural exchange between residents and visitors. The following establishments are examples of several commercial spaces that have mastered the use of architectural art to define the local narrative and engage patrons.

The Thrift House in San Antonio

A community-oriented retail space, CREO Architecture interior designer Ann Hampton identified The Thrift House in San Antonio, Texas, as one of her most memorable projects. Directed by the Assistance League of San Antonio, The Thrift House embraces visitors with a vibrant mural painted by local artist Fresh Walls (shown above).

This retail space allows underserved children in the community to shop for clothes with a volunteer. For some, it is the first time they have independently picked out something to wear. The mural highlights the city’s vibrancy with a colorful backdrop of sunny weather and the San Antonio skyline, and its emphasis on ethnic representation helps all children feel welcome.

Hampton underscored the importance of giving local artists a voice in a project, noting that “You want that story to be told. …. I would say nine times out of ten, we’re just floored when we let [local artisans] have creative license.”

LUMA Hotel in San Francisco

On the Pacific Coast, San Francisco’s LUMA Hotel celebrates Mission Bay’s history and beauty through a wetland-inspired palette and spectacular waterfront views in a distinctly different application.

When guests walk through the lobby, they are greeted with a large mural that depicts the area’s original marshland and salt ponds before the city’s infrastructural boom in the 1800s. Meanwhile, white flooring and sleek wooden panels pay homage to San Francisco’s modern identity as a high-tech business incubator.

Soft blues, greens, and grays dominate the boutique hotel and evoke some of the textures and organic aesthetics of its surroundings, harmonizing the natural environment and contemporary features of the design. Recyclable materials and low-energy lighting support a sustainable design, allowing LUMA to maintain a LEED Silver certification.

Hotel Tonnelle in New Orleans

Hotel Tonnelle in New Orleans underwent a striking renovation with //3877 to reflect its eclectic Garden District location, with the property’s lush live oaks bringing outdoor inspiration to the interior. A blend of green hues and jewel tones meets vintage and one-of-a-kind decor to tie the hotel’s Victorian design to the landscape.

Upgrades concentrated on creating a cozy and communal lobby with local artwork, a small library, and whimsical textiles, such as a Tibetan tiger rug. Some of the details were more about curating treasures that already existed in the local furnishing and arts economy. Reflecting on the project, //3877 senior associate Molly Forman, NCIDQ, said, “Our favorite design elements were ones where we got to engage with the community to curate things specifically for this space.”

For instance, the design team worked with local shops to acquire the reception desk’s chandelier, repurposed an old fireplace in the lobby, and utilized various pottery tiles from prominent New Orleans streets.

Artwork Elevates Commercial and Institutional Spaces

Artistic architecture appears beyond the hospitality industry, from transportation centers to government buildings, schools, and healthcare facilities. Meaningful artwork can create a unique brand or location identity, improve wayfinding, and make occupants feel more connected to both their surroundings and their purpose.

Studies have long shown that even when passively viewed, artwork can be grounding and calming to people in medical settings, as reported in the American Journal of Public Health. As a result, artistic elements have been introduced into children’s hospitals, like CHOC Children’s in Orange County, California, to help reduce young patients’ fears. In a collaboration with the nonprofit RxArt, artist Rob Pruitt transformed the radiology suite and corridor with a whimsical seascape and nautical theme to set children’s minds at ease for positive outcome.

In an entirely different environment, art can connect workers to their organization’s mission and provide navigation cues. For example, in Indianapolis, the Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center—a massive military workplace—features 17 large custom-painted murals that depict battlefields central to American military history. In working with the General Services Administration and design team, artist Adam Cvijanovic opted to focus on the landscapes, rather than depict people in conflict, to orient occupants to different areas within the facility’s many long corridors—and provide a reminder of the past’s connection to the present work.

The Pacific Park Campus of Intermediate School 653 in Brooklyn, New York, is also no stranger to embedding interior artwork that connects students and staff with the wider neighborhood, to generate a sense of belonging. The artistic duo Ghost of a Dream created a captivating glass mural with the phrase “Remember When Tomorrow Came” repeated in 170 languages. The different languages represent the vast multiculturalism of the local residents, while interlocking geometric shapes symbolize unity within this diverse community.