Celebrating and Enriching Communities, By Design

Over two weekends in October, D.C.’s most talented interior designers, artists and makers were given the keys and full creative license to transform their 250-square-foot room inside the former Motel 6 into a design showcase.

Each takeover had its own unique story; together, they formed an immersive experience brimming with the potential of spaces re-imagined. Some home goods, apparel and artworks were available for purchase—meaningful keepsakes from a unique and unexpected hospitality experience. In just eight days, approximately 7,200 visitors came through Union Market District for the free event.

Style and inspiration have long been pillars of this neighborhood, with “Room Service” as the catalyst for Union Market by Design, EDENS’ next step in our commitment to creating a place where people can gather, be inspired and celebrate beauty in everyday life.

Design for Community, Commerce
and Meaning

EDENS designs our places to inspire guests to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Integral to our (re)development process, our team follows a road map for the efficient and thoughtful planning of our places based on our three tenets: design, curation and engagement.

• According to the Project for Public Spaces, well-designed public spaces can increase foot traffic by up to 30%, boosting both social and economic engagement.
• Placemaking through design celebrates a community’s unique culture, history and values, reflecting and reinforcing local identity.
• Welcoming design features like wide walkways, lighting, conversation zones and inclusive amenities ensure that everyone can participate in community life.
• Placemaking initiatives have been shown to increase local business revenue by 10–15% and reduce vacancy rates in adjacent properties, driving economic resilience.

Brick-and-mortar retail is not just a momentary transaction, but an opportunity to create experiences that deepen emotional connections between people and places. When executed with intention, the result increases trips, dwell time and multichannel transactions, as well as community cohesion and overall prosperity.