Nick Dryden

Photo: Daniel Meigs

The first time I met Nick, I was interviewing him for a real estate story I was writing for the Tennessean. As I recall, we were talking about the pros and cons of downtown development, a subject he spoke about passionately and eloquently. This was back in the mid-aughts, when Nashville had yet to become “It City.” But, as I’d come to understand and deeply respect, Nashville has always been It in Nick’s eyes.

Perhaps more than anyone I know, Nick Dryden loves Nashville — from the ground up. Driven by his work as a world-class architect and founder of Dryden Architecture + Design, and his personal passion for historical preservation, he holds Nashville accountable for doing right by its past. He makes sure his renovation projects maintain their original integrity and that his new construction looks appropriate in its surroundings. 

I got to see first-hand how Nick operates when we worked together on the team that opened Noelle, a boutique hotel in downtown Nashville — and hands-down my favorite project ever. Nick tapped me to curate the on-site store, Keep Shop, a gig that not only changed my career (The Callaway also did PR for the project launch and published a newspaper for the hotel called The Line), but also allowed me to watch Nick in action. There was research and a lot of great thought put into every decision he made regarding the architecture and interior design of the space. And it shows. Thanks to Nick, Noelle is a monument of historical integrity.

Beyond his work, Nick’s a terrific friend, always down for fun, and an incredible wit. I don’t think he’ll mind me saying that he can be a bit of a goofball (and it takes one to know one), which is one of my favorite traits in anyone, but especially in him. That said, he’s wicked smart — I always learn something new about Nashville or Tennessee when we hang out — and just a kind and decent person all around. 

I could go on. But I won’t, because I want you to get right into his answers, which I love.  

— Libby

What’s your name? Nick Dryden

Where were you born? Kingsport, Tennessee

Did you have any nicknames growing up? Nicky D, Tricky Nick, and Q, from James Bond. In real life, he is the head of a team "responsible for innovative technology and gimmicks and gadgets and things like that.”

 When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? An inventor or designer, of all things.

What do you do now? I am an architect, designer and placemaker. 

How long have you lived in Nashville? 26 years — since 1996

Which Nashville neighborhood do you live in? 12South

What’s the best thing about living where you do? I can walk to anything I need. My studio is a half-mile away. I appreciate living and working in the same neighborhood every day. Our house was built in 1895 and we renovated it nine years ago. It continues to be a work in progress and I encourage everyone to think of their house in this way: it’s never done.

 Tell us some things that are rocking your world at the moment.

 To wear: I miss wearing suit jackets and ties. One goal of mine for 2022 is to dress up, not down.

To eat: Give me anything on the menu at Locust, any day of the week. The best restaurant in Nashville right now, if you haven’t been yet (1).

At home: I recently found some large format prints by one of my favorite designers, Ronan  Bouroullec, for my studio (2). He and his brother Erwan are like my generation’s Charles and Ray Eames. Also, I will always find a place in our projects for a photograph by my wife, Caroline Allison (3). We should all be Investing in art that helps express who we are and personalizes our spaces.

To read: I recently read Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck while I was outfitting my own Airstream (4).  

To listen: My favorite podcast is Broken Record with Rick Rubin and Malcom Gladwell, any episode (5). So many favorite albums, but one that I can’t seem to stop listening to is Beck’s Hyperspace (8). How does he continue to keep outdoing himself?

To stream: I just watched The Beatles’ Get Back documentary… insane. Insanely good (7). To see those songs get picked out of the sky in real time was such a gift to watch.

Favorite Nashville business: City House (8).

What word or phrase best describes your personal style? Timeless and layered. I like mixing classic pieces with modern pieces — just like my buildings and spaces. I like being current, not dated, and having conversations with the past and the future simultaneously. 

What’s the best style axiom you live by? It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.  Nashville has the habit of being underdressed. I like seeing it getting dressed up a bit, being more sophisticated. I like seeing the field of architecture and design elevating as well. I don’t consider that as fashion, but it’s related somehow.

What’s your favorite piece in your closet? My made-to-measure Billy Reid navy suit. I can dress it up with a tie and loafer or down with denim and sneakers (9).  

What’s your favorite space in your home? The Library. It’s the most adult room in our house and is a quiet meditative space. It’s where we can have friends over for drinks and feel like we are in a hotel. That room has been a bit of a design laboratory for the last eight years. It’s always evolving.

What’s the best road trip you’ve ever taken? Marfa, Texas. The Transpecos Music Festival.  Music, friends and everything Donald Judd (10) .

What’s a road trip you want to take next? Big Bend National Park (11). I recently bought an Airstream that I have been kitting out. I can’t wait to take a big trip out west. So American of me…

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given? Kindness

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? A beautiful handmade book my office made for me when we celebrated our 20 years in business last year. 

WILD CARD!

What’s your favorite building in Nashville? May Hosiery (12). This is a collection of six buildings in the neighborhood now known as Wedgewood Houston. We have been working lovingly on the renovation of these buildings for the last six-plus years. It has been an incredible experience rehabilitating these buildings and now seeing them filled by retail, creative offices, Apple Music and Soho House Nashville. It goes to show what value historic buildings have to offer to the identity of local communities and neighborhoods.