Preservation with Imagination

Like many older communities, St. Francisville (established in 1809) is particular about its built environment: existing structures in the St. Francisville Historic District, some dating back to the early nineteenth century, are safeguarded for posterity, while any new buildings and additions must be integrated with care. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; moreover, as a federally recognized Main Street Community, it must adhere to the standards and guidelines established by the Secretary of the Interior for preservation-conscious building practices. 

In 2012, James Dart and David Parker began renovating a crumbling, two-room cottage on Prosperity Street that had been in Dart’s family for decades, seeking a weekend retreat from their home in New Orleans. The structure, known as “Miss Lise’s Cottage,” once stood in the bustling port town of Bayou Sara, just down the bluff along the banks of the Mississippi River below St. Francisville. Catastrophic river floods year after year forced many structures to be painstakingly moved up the hill to the high and dry town of St. Francisville, eventually leaving no trace of the city below. 

Miss Lise’s home was saved from the river in 1890, when it was moved to its current location and became a fixture in the historic district. For many years the building housed a law office while gradually becoming ravaged by neglect and the savagery of termites. Barely a wall was standing in the two-room house when Dart and Parker began work.

Dart, an esteemed architect who has taught and practiced in the Northeast for the past thirty-plus years, intended the building’s renovation as a study in environmental sustainability, affordability, energy efficiency, and longevity in a brutal climate, all the while maintaining its historic significance. But first, the couple’s plans needed approval. 

Dart was familiar with St. Francisville’s pride of place. His own mother, Elisabeth Kilbourne Dart, was co-founder of the West Feliciana Historical Society. Established to help honor and preserve the rich history of West Feliciana Parish, the Historical Society also conducts a yearly event, known as the Audubon Pilgrimage, to commemorate the time during which renowned naturalist and artist John J. Audubon lived among the citizenry there. “With Libby at its head, aided by some very strong compatriots, the West Feliciana Historical Society served as our preservation conscience in this area,” said Anne Butler, author and owner of Butler Greenwood Plantation, which has been in her family since the late eighteenth century. Butler described Kilbourne Dart as “a great researcher and historian, gifted writer and musician, [and] beautiful strong lady, and it’s a damn shame she never did write the book she had in her.”

Butler described Kilbourne Dart as “a great researcher and historian, gifted writer and musician, [and] beautiful strong lady, and it’s a damn shame she never did write the book she had in her.”

“As she insisted,” added Butler, “the pilgrimage had as much to say to us residents as it did to visitors, and by seeing through their eyes we stopped taking for granted our illustrious history and incredible architectural and horticultural treasures.” Kilbourne Dart had particular wishes for how St. Francisville should preserve and interact with its own history. “She also insisted that the entire community participate in the pilgrimage and that we did it, by God, with a smile!” said Butler.

The society is a separate entity from the Historic District Commission, an architectural review board consisting of five members from the residential and business communities, plus a member from the Planning and Zoning board, according to Laurie Walsh, chairman of the commission. It was to the commission that Dart and Parker presented their design intent for the humble clapboard cottage on Prosperity. Meticulous drawings and plans outlined every detail of their vision. The commission approved: Miss Lise’s Cottage would be rescued and revived, revamped for modern living. 

Work got underway to refurbish the existing two-room structure, removing the dividing wall and fireplace and installing all new flooring, walls, lighting, and electrical infrastructure. A wing was added perpendicular to the original house, in an “L” shape, containing the new kitchen and an enclosed courtyard. Adjacent to the new kitchen, new baths and bedrooms were added in a wing to mirror the original structure at the front in exactly the same size and proportion. 

Progress would soon prove to be fleeting, however. Ironically enough, Dart was in Chicago attending an architectural preservation conference when he got a frantic call from Parker, who was worried by the town review committee’s questions about their project. There was confusion over the design of the exterior cladding. Eschewing traditional wood siding for the outside walls, Dart had specified a “green wall” instead. This would consist of a framework of panels over which fast-growing Confederate jasmine would climb and eventually form a carpet of green plant material. Quite literally a wall of green ... a Chia Pet on steroids.

There was confusion over the design of the exterior cladding. Eschewing traditional wood siding for the outside walls, Dart had specified a “green wall” instead.

While approval had indeed been given to construct the specified “green walls” on the sides of the building, alarm bells went off among the townfolk as they saw the concept unfold in real life. The house was covered in a strange black waterproof membrane and a bewildering framework of panels was installed. It became clear that the commission had not grasped exactly what had been shown to them in a two-dimensional format. 

The town swiftly issued a “stop work” order until the board and the homeowners could come to an agreement as to how to proceed. Dart was convinced that the green design would be a natural fit within the historic context of downtown—not to mention energy efficient, environmentally savvy, and well suited to our difficult South Louisiana climate. There would be no fading, cracking, or chipping paint to be maintained. Besides, a considerable investment in the panel system and waterproofing had been made. Giving up now would mean considerable cost and time lost. 

Dart was convinced that the green design would be a natural fit within the historic context of downtown—not to mention energy efficient, environmentally savvy, and well suited to our difficult South Louisiana climate.

Liaison Laurie Walsh worked to interpret and articulate the board members’ concerns. Parker set about seeking common ground and acceptable solutions. After numerous meetings and discussions (and more drawings and presentations), the couple realized that this fight was about more than a green wall. Both “sides” had a strong respect for the neighborhood and valued neighborliness over outright victory. 

A compromise was reached: The panel system would be replaced with traditional clapboard siding. Cedar trellises would create privacy screens upon which the jasmine could grow, a nod to the original design concept. Today, the charming wood frame cottage turns heads with its striking tones of grey painted siding and smart rows of boxwood and sweet olive flanking the generous front porch. Dart and Parker are pleased with the end result of the design project, even if their most ambitious plans were set aside. 

The irony is not lost on Dart that his own mother, a stalwart in the community, was instrumental in preserving the historic nature of St. Francisville thus creating the need for an architectural review board. He’s convinced she would have loved his green design and its embrace of the modern ideals of sustainability within a historic framework. She also would have approved of the addition’s mirroring the original structure, adding space but remaining true to form.

The irony is not lost on Dart that his own mother, a stalwart in the community, was instrumental in preserving the historic nature of St. Francisville thus creating the need for an architectural review board.

The board’s design guidelines will be more detailed after this experience but will come from a greater understanding of how to create rules that achieve preservation objectives without stifling the needs of modern homeowners. The house will be on the annual Audubon Pilgrimage tour this March, featuring a style which is a significant departure for the event but will reflect a new enthusiasm for the historic district. Libby Dart would be pleased indeed.