Home and Office at 16th & Russell

ArchiNerd PLLC

1521 Russell Street resides in the historic East Nashville Neighborhood of Lockeland Springs. The home and attached office are in the classic craftsman style which is prevalent and typical of 1920s architecture in this area. What is unique is the corner facing storefront.
The property was first placed under the Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Conservation Zoning in September of 1985 and is currently zoned as MUN-A (Mixed Use). The building has been designated as many different types of establishments in its history. Most recently, the attached office has become the home of ArchiNerd, an architectural and design firm. Previously the property was a boutique florist, pharmacist, butcher, and even a five and dime.
This project was a restoration of a 1920s craftsman style residence damaged by the March 2020 tornado. During the tornado, the roof and 2 exterior walls were blown across the street, leaving the home open to rain for 5 months. Many of the
original features of the building were damaged or lost due to the storm. The purpose of the project was to preserve original architectural elements of the house during the rebuild. The design allowed for additional heated square footage at the upper floor without adding new building footprint to the lot.
Major structural elements like the roof and upper floor framing had to be completely redone, while elements with minor damage (like staircase and main floor plumbing fixtures) were able to be salvaged and repaired. The design philosophy behind this construction was to keep historic character and precedents on either new or repaired elements while modernizing the function of the home for a young family. Repurposed and enhanced design features include door casings, large windows, exterior doors, stair balustrades, and porch columns.
This project is unique in that it is a mixed use property listed under the historic neighborhood conservation overlay. The building houses a private residence and offices with commercial storefront at the sidewalk of 16th & Russell.

No unusual precedents were set - which we see as a good thing. Working closely with the Historic staff of Nashville, the rebuild added substantial square footage to the home while remaining compatible with the historic design guidelines of Lockeland Springs. Many of its struggles were not unique, however the finished product is a testament to how following historical standards. This project not only beautifies the surrounding community with a familiar archetype, but also shows how we can keep these structures around for a lot longer.