Artisan Build Construct _____________________________________________________________________________________
architects and designers, the company found itself drawn to the commercial space.“ We typically gravitate towards adaptive reuse projects, which usually means taking an existing building or structure and repurposing it for restaurant, bar or hospitality use. Some of our earliest commercial projects included converting an old fire hall into a restaurant and transforming a welding shop into mixeduse medical office and co-working spaces. Today, we primarily take on projects that require a higher level of custom work, such as restaurants, hospitality facilities and bars. Leaning heavily on our in-house carpenters, we select projects based not just on the design team and the client, but on the community the project sits within and the level of finish it demands. We will probably never build a chain restaurant, as our projects are always for an individual owner or a small investor group,” Tony explains.
Prioritizing preservation
The depth of Artisan Build’ s capabilities is perhaps best illustrated through its restoration work, including a home that survived a major fire and, most notably, the Priest House. This project came about following the tornado that struck Nashville in 2020, particularly affecting East Nashville and North Nashville. Artisan Build had recently completed a detached additional dwelling unit, garage and carriage house apartment for the same client, with plans for a minor renovation already in place when the tornado struck.“ It looked like a dollhouse where you could see every floor from the back, completely open,” Tony recalls.
The scale of the damage caused by the tornado created an opportunity to create something unique. Artisan Build carefully removed the key design elements the client cared about most, including chandeliers, fireplaces and the staircase, and replicated the original materiality and aesthetic in the rebuild. The company added an additional 2000 square feet across three stories at the back of the house, constructed a safer basement serving as a tornado shelter, and updated windows, doors and siding throughout. Furthermore, the project incorporated a wide range of modern amenities, including kitchen appliances, smart home features, audiovisual equipment, lighting controls and significantly upgraded energyefficient insulation. At the same time, historic elements damaged in the storm, like the pocket doors, walnut flooring and original stair parts, were carefully restored or replicated.
“ It was a defining project for us in terms of staying true to the historic overlay, and the Priest House went on to win a Metro Historic Preservation Award, so we are very proud of that house. It is even more special knowing that the insurance company
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