ATTRACTOR, PASEO GULCH TOWER ONE PARKING SCREENS

The façade's flowing, oscillating contours draw inspiration from the natural topography of Nashville’s Gulch district—a distinctive landform depression that descends southward to the Cumberland River waterfront. Prima Tower, a landmark addition to this vibrant and rapidly evolving neighborhood, stands at the apex of this unique geological feature. Architecturally integrated onto two sides of the residential and mixed-use tower, the façade elegantly screens four levels of podium parking from both street-level and pedestrian views.

Rising on the skyline like a luminous beacon, the façade signals a warm welcome to the heart of this multi-tower district. Its imposing scale and visual intensity contribute a bold, artistic statement to Nashville’s thriving creative hub. Designed to engage viewers at multiple scales, the façade complements the towering neighboring buildings—both existing and forthcoming—while captivating pedestrians with its intricate geometric patterns up close. Composed of thousands of porous “tiny windows,” the finest measuring just ¼-inch wide, the design reveals its subtle, mesmerizing intricacies to those who experience it both from the outside and within. From oblique angles along Fogg Street and Paseo walkways, the elliptical patterns appear to dynamically shift and transform, stretching and compressing in sync with the observer’s movement.

The façade's solid-void interplay creates a surprisingly soft, almost painterly visual effect that contrasts sharply with the crisp geometries of the surrounding contemporary architecture. Perforations are arranged in concentric rings, their sizes growing and shrinking in harmony with a generative growth algorithm. This approach imbues the flat surface with a striking three-dimensional quality. Thin metal bridges within the design form an organic, branch-like geometry that emerges subtly within the overall pattern, adding another layer of visual depth.

Fabricated from laser-cut 3/16” thick aluminum sheet panels, the façade is finished in a crisp white coating, offering a striking contrast to the darker porous openings. From the interior, the screen comes alive with natural light, casting ever-changing shadows while framing dynamic outward views. This delicate interplay between light, shadow, and geometry transforms the screen into an ever-evolving experience for both passersby and occupants alike.

Faulders Studio was awarded the public art commission to design the podium screen for the newly constructed 16-story Paseo South Gulch Prima Tower. Commissioned by an affiliate of SomeraRoad Inc. and represented by NINE Dot ARTS, the project finished completion in 2024.

My Role

I played a pivotal role in this project during my time at Faulders Studio, contributing to conceptual development, design refinement, parametric design, 3D modeling, drafting, post-production rendering, and final image processing.

Faulders Studio team

Thom Faulders, Yue Liu, Baowen Jiang

Building Executive Architect

ESa/Earl Swensson Assoc

Façade Engineering

Wallace Design Collective

Façade Production

John W. McDougall Co.

General Building Contractor

Clark Construction Group

Developer

An affiliate of SomeraRoad Inc.

Art Representative

NINE dot ARTS

Façade Lighting Design

Bliss Fasman Inc.

Nashville, TN_2024 Construction completed