Battery Square, Silver Award, Infill

Battery Square

Nashville, Tenn.

Entrant/Builder/Developer: Focus Builders

Designer/Architect: P Shea Design

Interior Design: The Mix Interiors

Landscape Design: Daigh Rick Landscape Architects

Photographer: Studio Buell

Size: 4,000-4,700 sf

Hard cost, excluding land: $192/sf

Situated only 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, this new, four-unit gated community has brought new life to a dilapidated single-family lot in Green Hills, one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. The property’s creative infill design centers around a common, rear courtyard where residents can mingle. The communal nature of the design has spurred a new genre of cluster development in the area, says Seth Argo, president of Focus Builders.

“It’s a really unique take, and something that hadn’t been done before,” Argo says. “Rather than just lining up four houses, we took a little time to think about the landscape and aesthetics and how it would all work together."

The white brick exterior of each home allows for uniform flow without exact duplication. Two units have modern interiors, while the other two are traditional. Residents, many of whom are on-the-go executives, enjoy the maintenance-free lifestyle (the landscaping and common areas are maintained by a homeowners' association). Socials on the common lawn are routine. "The hope was to create a place where neighbors would want to spend time together," Argo says.