Fast forward to 2022, we had the opportunity to reconnect with the Corgan team, accompanied by the BNA curator. Their vision for the garden walls had evolved beyond simple captures of the surrounding nature. They desired artistic representations that would encapsulate Nashville's vibrant culture and diversity. Excited by the prospect, our design team eagerly delved into this endeavor. We started by immersing ourselves in understanding what Nashville and its airport symbolized for travelers, as well as comprehending Corgan's vision for the extraordinary lobby space. The goal was to seamlessly blend art and nature into two cohesive designs, intended to be showcased at the security screening area. As we looked for inspiration, we were captivated by the beautiful Cumberland River, winding through Nashville with its green banks and rolling hills. It inspired us to create vibrant gardens that celebrated the city's culture and diversity. In our first drafts, we played with abstract patterns inspired by the music of Nashville and included representations of rivers and hills. We also had an option with a preserved plant design of a local landmark, which turned out to be the favorite. During our revisions, we had a realization. We noticed the significance of two famous bridges in Nashville: the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge. These bridges were like anchors in the landscape, leaving a lasting impression. We thought it would be great to incorporate their essence into our artwork, seamlessly blending art, nature, and the spirit of those iconic structures.

So these gardens eventually were not designed to mimic a living wall, or a typical topography, rather as art pieces reflecting local landmarks, telling stories of a specific Geography. As much as local visual concepts are used in these stories, the main theme in these two gardens are the “Bridges” that represent the connection between two geographical location, just like airports can be considered as bridges to bring people together, make connections between two far locations. NA Nashville Airport is a bridge to the rest of the world, to other airports near and far, connecting travelers, businesspeople, families, and friends. And now it is embellished with 2,065 square feet of preserved gardens. We’re so proud of this impact. It's fascinating how our journey of inspiration ultimately led us to the airport itself, where our biophilic artwork would be proudly showcased. We couldn't help but draw parallels between the airport's role in facilitating connections and the function of those iconic bridges as connectors within the natural landscape. It was a remarkable alignment of concepts. And so, our collaboration with the Corgan team evolved from their initial consideration of preserved gardens to the realization of a design that harmoniously blends art, nature, and the vibrant spirit of Nashville. We're genuinely thrilled to have brought these visions to life in the 'BNA Grand Lobby Project'.

And from there, we really got into the weeds! Countless hours of design, planning, fabrication, consultations with architects and general contractors, numerous on-site visits, and more followed. But what beautiful interior installation built to impact and influence countless lives and last for years, doesn’t require the same time, dedication, and passion?

Have you traveled through BNA airport in Nashville? If you have, you simply cannot miss these miraculous gardens. And if you haven’t, then it’s worth the trip to see this biophilic flight of fancy! (Not to mention the other attractions Nashville has to offer!)