The Hues at City View

The Hues at City View transforms industrial legacy into an immersive, design-driven lifestyle. Bold expression and historic character converge to create a place that feels as layered, vibrant, and alive as Richmond.

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Located in Richmond’s evolving Manchester neighborhood, The Hues at City View transforms the historic Sampson Paint factory site into a vibrant residential community rooted in color, craft, and context. Anchored by the preserved brick smokestack, the project honors the industrial past while reimagining it through a bold, contemporary lens.

An integrated scope across brand, interiors, and experience elements ensured a cohesive narrative from concept through execution, within the existing building framework. The design draws inspiration from the rhythm and form of the nearby iconic Manchester Bridge, weaving these references into both structural gestures and finer details. The result is a boutique-scale living experience that balances heritage and modernity, where expressive design, thoughtful amenities, and a strong connection to the surrounding arts scene and riverfront create a distinctive sense of place.

The lobby is a soaring, double-height space anchored by two custom commissioned artworks, one inspired by paint stirrers partially dipped in metallic finishes, and the other a sculptural grid of reclaimed wood blocks evoking dollops of paint on a palette. Just off the lobby is a coffee bar, leading into the mail and package area. Overlooking the space is an open coworking area enclosed by a warm satin nickel railing with distinctive arched gussets that echo the interior and brand’s architectural language. This upper level includes a communal worktable, quiet lounge seating, study desk, and two enclosed work-from-home pods tucked into an adjacent area.

The Hues’ interiors are conceived as an immersive expression of color and texture, translating the site’s legacy of paint-making into a richly layered spatial experience. Amenity spaces feature bold, saturated palettes drawn from a curated spectrum of bold and grounded jewel tones, applied in intentional “color drenches” that define each environment. Tactile materials including glazed tile, warm woods, and patterned textiles balance these hues.

Arched interior elements echo the form of nearby bridges, introducing softness throughout the spaces. Furnishings further reinforce this language, blending sculptural silhouettes and vintage-inspired forms with contemporary detailing.

Third floor amenities include an entertainment lounge, with radiused niches picking up on the language of the entry arches, perfect for personal breaks or small group gatherings. The entertainment pantry also serves as an informal coworking zone during the day, with a sculptural banquette anchoring the space and providing overflow seating for the oversized central dining island. Private dining is off of the entertainment pantry, where residents enter through an arched glass opening into a room draped in velvet curtains, offering an elevated experience for parties and gatherings.

The brand identity for The Hues reflects the fluid, expressive nature of color itself. At its core is a custom script logotype, whose hand-drawn quality evokes brushstrokes and painted signage, and its soft curves draw from the arched forms found throughout the project. This establishes a visual connection between graphic identity and built space. The identity expands through a broad color spectrum. Rather than sticking with a signature hue, the strategy embraced multiple palettes, ranging from deep, grounding tones to lighter, more atmospheric variations. “Paintmix” gradients further extend this system, referencing the act of pigment blending and the layered history of the site.

These concepts carry through a comprehensive signage program, where arched details are reflected in form and layout, and circular motifs with bold color blocking take cues from paint can lids. Together, these elements guide residents and visitors through the building while reinforcing the brand as a visual thread. Across every touchpoint, the level of craft and detail aligns with the brand’s elevated yet approachable positioning.

Together, these elements create an identity that is not static but experiential, one that mirrors the lifestyle offered at The Hues: vibrant, expressive, and deeply connected to its origins.