Residences at the Finery

Project Statement

The Residences at the Finery, part of the larger Finery master plan, sets a new standard for apartment living in Nashville’s dynamic Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. This six-story, 415,963-square-foot development includes 383 residential units atop a vibrant ground-floor mix of office, retail, and amenity spaces, all lining a 640-space parking structure topped with a residents’ pool deck.

Inspired by the bold spirit of the neighborhood’s artists, makers, and entrepreneurs, the design strategically breaks down the scale of the development into three distinct forms. The West Building is grounded and rusticated, the East Building is bright, playful, and elevated above a glass-walled mixed-use base, and the North Building responds to the site's descending topography along Gray Street. Together, these varied forms create an engaging, human-scaled streetscape while providing a vibrant mix of uses that reflect and enhance the evolving character of the neighborhood.

Framework for Design Excellence Narrative

Design for Integration

The Finery Residences are composed of three distinct building masses, each expressing a unique facet of Wedgewood-Houston’s layered identity. Together, they form a cohesive whole that reflects the neighborhood’s past, present, and creative pulse. Each mass stands as a storyteller—distinct in identity but united in purpose—offering residents and visitors an architectural narrative rooted deeply in place.

Design for Discovery

For this project, the typical residential wrap typology was challenged by introducing a publicly accessible pedestrian path that carves directly through the heart of the block. This deliberate void invites the neighborhood in, creating permeability and fostering a deeper connection to the Wedgewood-Houston district. Above, the building mass is broken and lifted to form a generous covered overhang—offering an activated, weather-protected threshold.

Design for Change

The Finery Residences establish a vital new hearth at the center of Wedgewood-Houston—a place of warmth, connection, and shared experience where none existed before. Designed not simply as a residential development, but as a cultural and social connector, the project redefines how housing can serve a broader urban purpose. At street level, the architecture opens itself to the public realm with an active edge—welcoming neighbors and visitors alike through a curated mix of public-use programs, such as cafés, flexible gallery or maker spaces, and informal gathering zones. These spaces are intentionally designed to evolve with the neighborhood’s rhythms, supporting daily life and amplifying moments of celebration.

This integration extends beyond physical form into community participation. The project is embedded in the lifecycle of Wedgewood-Houston’s creative scene, playing an active role in organized events like the monthly Art Crawl. During these events, the site transforms into an open platform—hosting installations, performances, and spontaneous gathering—further reinforcing its role as a civic stage. By bridging private living and public life, The Finery offers more than shelter; it offers a place to belong, a space to connect, and a setting for a new kind of neighborhood life to flourish.

Design for Well-Being

The Finery establishes a truly unique ground plane—one that sets a new precedent for urban living in Nashville. Unlike traditional developments that prioritize enclosure and exclusivity, this project opens itself to the city, offering a porous, welcoming landscape designed as a shared civic experience. At its core is a generous, walkable public path—woven through the site and anchored by a series of community-oriented programs. Framed by the lifted architectural massing above, this passage is shaded and sheltered by deep overhangs that provide comfort and protection in all seasons. Rain or shine, the space remains active and usable, fostering daily rhythms of movement, gathering, and exchange. The Finery redefines how the ground floor can function in dense urban neighborhoods—serving not only its residents, but the broader community through an architecture of openness, generosity, and belonging.

Departing from the typical sunken courtyard approach, The Finery places its pool atop the parking deck—elevating both views and experience. This strategic move maximizes sunlight, privacy, and visual connection to the city, transforming what is often a hidden amenity into a vibrant, central feature. By reclaiming rooftop space for leisure and community gathering, the project reinforces its commitment to making every layer of the building work harder, smarter, and more beautifully.

Design for Water / Ecosystems

The Finery takes a proactive approach to water by integrating natural systems into the everyday experience of the site. Strategically placed bio-retention ponds manage stormwater at its source, reducing runoff and filtering pollutants while enhancing the landscape. Pedestrian bridges cross these planted basins, creating moments of pause and connection. Rather than hiding infrastructure, the project celebrates it—turning water management into a visible, engaging, and ecologically responsible feature of the public realm.