Louisiana-Style Home Design: Acadian and Plantation Architecture of South Louisiana
Le Presbytere de La Chapelle des Attakapas, Vermilionville, LA, employs an exterior staircase leading to an attic garconierre where young men in the family were required to sleep. The house is built up 'poteaux sur solle' (posts on soil) due to frequent flooding.Classic Acadian cottages, Spanish rooflines, the separation of buildings in plantation style, and pigeonniers give character to south Louisiana, making it one of the most identifiable regional styles of architecture in the United States. There are few places where regional architecture rewards the visitor so richly. The manner of speech, the cuisine, their way of making music, remarkable individualism, and the buildings reminiscent of a bygone era, are still unique and convey a romantic sense of place. Courtyards, archways, porches and patios receive as much attention to detail as the halls, doorways, and windows of the interior of a home. Use is made of old, often abandoned materials, such as enormous sugar cane kettles, hand-operated water pumps, olive jars, antique timbers and flooring. Unpainted cypress porches, stairs, and wood shingles lend a subtle color palette with their natural weathering. Roof slates and double doors impart a distinct flavor of France; interior courtyards with fountains and brick arches remind us of Spain. This Old World ambiance blends with the tones of Louisiana’s Spanish moss and massive gnarled old oak tree and contrasts with lush variegated greens and bright colors of its tropical vegetation revealing influences from the Caribbean and Africa. This amalgam of culture and manner produces an eccentric charm, personality, and spirit like no other American style. Other distinct regional architectural details seen are: columns; transoms; high ceilings; wooden rockers and porch benches; niches with statues, often of St. Francis; cypress picket fences; wide plank pine floors and beamed ceilings; sun rooms; tall wooden shutters; rear stairways, raised porches with louvers above and lattice below; bird houses and birdbaths; under-the stair doors and closets; and lily-pad shaded ponds.
Vegetation in south Louisiana is often described as “aggressive’ in growth and out-of-control in appearance. Some of the region’s most distinguished architects have learned to incorporate the plant materials in the design, rather than try to fight them. Nature, aided by balmy warm weather, is encouraged to participate and produce algae, weathered structures, and a gently-worn appearance, further enriching the character of the aged wood, brick, and stone. As a result, the outdoors contribute as much to the living spaces as the interior of the home. It's a laissez faire meets laissez les bon temps roulez kind of ambiance!
Photo captions, left to right, top to bottom:
Acadian 01-On many early Acadian homes, the topmost row of shingles extends over the roof top
Acadian 02-Cypress fence, elegant simple column & rafter tail forms
Acadian 03-Shutters hinged from the top with hand-wrought hinges, lap siding
Acadian 04-Wood porch planking, wood handrail & column
Acadian 05-Wooden cistern in yard for collection of rainwater, example of early sustainable design
Acadian 06-Study by Steve Chambers, AIA, for design of a raised Acadian plantation-style home
About Steve Chambers
Steve Chambers AIA, Residential Architects, Dallas TX. Steve is a Residential Architect and a licensed interior designer. He achieves unique styles by enquiring into what his clients think would be their ideal home and building a home that meets their stylistic aspirations while centering the design of their home around their daily habits.
Visit his portfolio or contact Public Relations Director, Stephanie Chambers.
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