Grounded, a new community hub that celebrates wellness and productivity through biophilic design, has launched in Washington, DC’s historic Anacostia neighborhood.
The spatial concept and build, led by local Black-owned interdisciplinary design firm Drummond Projects, meets the vision of DC natives Mignon Hemsley and Danuelle Doswell.
Engaging the local community
What began as an online plant subscription service during the pandemic is now fully realized as a brick and mortar space.
The two women aimed to engage the primarily Black demographic in Wards 7 and 8—where there are high rates of poverty, food insecurity, and mental health conditions—in experiences centered on healthy living.
The 3,070-square-foot open-plan store guides guests through a series of interconnected spaces that transition from coworking space, plant shop, and café to a yoga studio at the back.
The immersive retail experience blends soothing, muted green hues, tactile textures, atmospheric lighting, and verdant foliage to engage the senses.
A journey through Grounded
Upon entering, guests are ushered into a central gathering area, where a hand-plastered terraced bench offers a flexible communal space for lounging or working. Subtle imperfections and the raw plaster surface lend an organic quality, while LED light strips follow the curves of the steps to accentuate the bench’s form.
Plants are embedded into the seating and walls to create visual appeal and partition the areas.
Throughout, Natural wood elements add warmth and texture to the space, and polished concrete floors introduce a grounding element that contrasts against the wood and greenery.
A bendable rock wall panel, meanwhile, wraps the barista bar to create a boulder-like effect. Its irregular, dimensional and textural appearance delivers an earthy feel and reinforces the space’s biophilic narrative.
In the wellness studio, a recessed curvilinear ceiling, sepia-tone mirrored wall, and desert-color backdrop envelop guests in a moment of serenity.
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