In Louisiana, Innovation Is Our Tradition

Two projects that address modern day challenges in regional architectural design

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The most documented expressions of Louisiana’s architectural legacy, such as the Old State Capitol building in Baton Rouge and the French Quarter in New Orleans, are marvels of the state’s rich history. However, it is not these collectibles that keep Louisiana in the global dialogue about architecture and design. It is instead the tradition of design innovation that living in the terra viscus (mushy lands) demands. From the ephemeral nomadic dwellings of the region’s indigenous communities to the raised camps of Holly Beach and the historic typologies of the Acadian cottage and the shotgun—the extreme nature of living in Louisiana has long pushed architectural design forward and continues to do so. 

Initially before technology and colonization, the heat, humidity, insects, heavy vegetation, and unpredictable flooding in southern Louisiana prompted its residents to build lightweight, transient, palm-covered dwellings. These could be quickly assembled and disassembled anywhere branches and foliage were available, then left behind with little trace. These dwellings were aerated enough to let any meager breeze pass through. Loss to flooding was inconsequential, and the simplicity and materiality of the dwelling meant it could adapt to any place. 

[Read this: Acadian-Noveau Architecture—How Louisiana's blended cultures created a one-of-a-kind architectural statement] 

With colonization came different dwelling needs. New populations from Europe were more accustomed to sedentary lifestyles that originated far from a swampy alluvial plain. Over time, these newcomers learned to adapt and modify their architectural traditions to better suit the challenges of their surrounding environment, often relying on the wisdoms of the region’s indigenous peoples.

The Acadians, who came from climates where steep roofs were designed to shed heavy snowfall, now discovered those steep roofs could shed rain and simultaneously allow heat to rise, making them well-suited to a humid climate. Their cottages, which had before sat on the ground or on basements, now had to be set on cypress piers so their foundations would not rot, and their homes would not flood. 

The shotgun dwelling is another example of such innovations, with origins traced back to West Africa and carried through the Caribbean and Haiti to New Orleans via free people of color following the Haitian Revolution. The design of the shotgun was quicky adapted in Louisiana due to its passive air flow technique created by a pressure change. This was achieved by keeping the footprint narrow, having every room access the continuous corridor that ran from front to back, and hinging doors at both ends. Combine the shotgun corridor with floor to ceiling triple-hung windows that provide a myriad of arrangements (top sash open-air flow and safety, bottom two sashes open, another doorway, etc.) and high ceilings that allow the heat to rise—and suddenly the sultry summer nights of August in Louisiana become something tolerable. 

[Read about the history of the shotgun dwelling in this story from our August 2021 issue.]

Similarly to the Acadian cottages, the New Orleans shotgun dwellings also had to be raised to avoid the threats of flooding posed by the Mighty Mississippi and a storm-prone coast. Over time, adaptations became even more extreme, and more savvy—raising the dwellings a full floor above the ground and constructing the ground floor with materials that could sustain moisture (brick, stucco, tiles, tin, etc.). As the dwellings of South Louisiana evolved from the temporary to the permanent and the new settlers came to better understand their extreme environment, innovations expanded beyond the home footprint. No longer was it about surviving a flood; it was about stopping a flood. Individual homeowners began building levees on their property to hold back rivers and bayous. This innovation eventually became a municipal design practice, and then, during the Industrial Revolution, a national design practice sustained by the Army Corps of Engineers. 

Today, many people consider our buildings and towns to be styled by the past, arguing for preservation and emulation. Much of our tourism comes from people that want to see these historical buildings and hear their stories. But, just as our ancestors adapted their cuisine, culture, and building practices to sustain life in their new environment, we must continue to adapt to our changing landscape. Still battling the challenges of our predecessors—a hot humid climate prone to flooding—many of these historic building strategies remain valuable. But in the 21st century, architectural design must also contend with more complex cultural, ecological, and lifestyle challenges experienced in our modern world. 

Adapting to New Realities

As a collaborator with emerymcclure architecture in Lafayette, I recently worked on two new homes which investigate innovative approaches to dwelling that respect and utilize past principles in building, while also striving to adapt to the contemporary conditions of our changing world. 

One challenge designers face in our contemporary building landscape is that of convention, tradition, and expectation. As Louisiana homeowners and architects respond to a need for increased energy efficiency, sustainability, and integration between the outdoor and indoor environments—aesthetic precedence can at times be a hindrance to creatively overcome. 

Such was the case with VVilla, a home located on a narrow plot of land along the Vermillion River in Lafayette. The original concept for this project was a high-modern home that employs time-tested practices for sustaining life in this region. Clad in white brick and black steel, designed to illuminate the colors of the native flowering flora surrounding the exterior, the home’s modest street presence is intentional in design—creating a sense of seclusion amidst a landscape of architectural collectibles.  

Faced with strict design guidelines from a traditional neighborhood development authority, expert architects Ursula Emery McClure, Michael McClure and Sarah Young were challenged to strike a balance between style and performance. The guidelines prioritized aesthetics, abandoning regional building traditions in favor of emulating the appearance of regional identity. This way of building requires greater dependence on air conditioning systems to keep the home comfortable and makes them less resilient during occasional power outages and seasonal flash floods. The only solution was to adapt the permitted guidelines for sustainable, South Louisiana living—just like the generations before. 

One such adaptation was the roof. Per the neighborhood design guidelines, the roof had to look like it belonged to a Mediterranean villa. Per Louisiana’s climate, it also had to carry the necessary pitch to shed heavy rains and efficiently ventilate the home. The architects’ multi-faceted solution combines traditional water irrigation technique with a context-sensitive design approach to prevent water from standing around the home. The peak of the roof is expertly positioned along the center of the design, so that it can hastily shed rain to the north and south of the property. Using the site’s natural slope, water seeps into French drains dug deep in the earth, and soaks into a prairie of native plants, before releasing any excess into the Vermilion River. 

[Read this: Water Under Everything—The world-building techniques of science fiction writers can be inspiration for architects imagining solutions for rising sea levels in South Louisiana] 

The client made one thing clear from the beginning: they appreciate Louisiana’s natural beauty and detest the maintenance of manicured lawns. This presented another hurdle to overcome in the design guidelines, which detailed expectations for maintaining traditional lawns and planting beds. In response, the architects rigorously researched native flora and designed a backyard oasis that would support the river’s annual fluctuations, not battle against them. Referred to as the “Cajun Prairie,” this bespoke native lawn was crafted with the support of experts from Boutte Landscapes and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Office of Sustainability, as well as the Lafayette Consolidated Government Native Planting Guide. With great effort, we advocated for the Cajun Prairie through the very end of construction, developing a detailed maintenance plan that would satisfy the neighborhood standards, while simultaneously communicating the prairie’s beauty and its contribution to the river and local wildlife.

The Cajun Prairie and several other native planting beds can be viewed from any room in the house. The interior, which was less beholden to the rigidity of the neighborhood’s aesthetics, features floor to ceiling operable window walls that capture indirect sunlight and connect the client to the natural environment just beyond the walls of their dwelling.

Another recent project I worked on with emerymcclure architecture addresses quality of life concerns for our aging population, with an emphasis on the realities of aging in Louisiana. Sited in a rural community on Hidden Hills Lake in Arnaudville, this home is nestled in the shade of two large sweet gum trees. The clients envisioned a place where they could live out the rest of their lives as independently as possible, in a rural area, with limited access to extended family. 

"The innovative building traditions in this region grew out of necessity, as well as a deep connection to the terra viscus ecosystem of which we are part, and now make up the basic ruleset for keeping contemporary homes cool and dry in south Louisiana. As we look to the future and face the projected consequences of a changing climate, the paragon of good architecture will be its capacity to respond to our constructed realm, while offering potential contributions to a healthier, more symbiotic future." 

The result is a single-story home, constructed on a small footprint, with durable, low-maintenance materials. The heart of this spacious-feeling home features sky-scraping ceilings that flood the interior with natural light, dissolving a wall of windows into the view of the lake beyond. The space is grounded by an open, dark kitchen, and flanked on either side by bedrooms and bathrooms.

The Hidden Hills project is an example of how the inclusion of unique lifestyles and habits into design considerations can ensure a home will age along with its dwellers and can accommodate the challenges of aging before they arise. The design includes no door thresholds and a single floor material throughout, reducing potential tripping hazards. Every room is accessible by wheelchair, every door fashioned with single-motion lever hardware, and the walls were proactively constructed for easy installation of grab bars when necessary. 

The exterior, an assembly of durable steel, cement panel, and brick, will require little maintenance as the home ages alongside its dwellers, and the high-pitched roofs easily shed heavy Louisiana rain. Their bespoke curved edges, paired with a vibrant blue paint color, give the home a non-conforming character, capturing the charms of boaters and bird watchers passing by. 

These contemporary agriculturalists intend on sustaining a long life, filling their days with gardening, mechanical work, and caring for rescued animals. To alleviate the wear of this lifestyle, their home is designed to include a screened porch overlooking the river and enclosing a raised spa pool for sit-in access. Wide sills and many windows create perches for the felines to watch birds nest in the trees. On the east side of the home, an enclosed yard allows the canines to relieve themselves on their own schedule. Custom design details such as these offer the capacity to sustain active lifestyles and independence well into old age. The specifics of the couple’s established routines, hobbies, and traditions are what gave order to this project, but a desire to be self-sufficient is what forced the adaptation—resulting in an innovatively conceived home that is functional, resilient, and a place of respite.

Improving Upon Tradition

These projects are beautiful in large part because they work—both in how they respond to their external environment, and how they form around the lifestyles of the dwellers within. They are certainly not one-size-fits-all, but they illustrate the impact of context-sensitive design and emphasize the inherent value in creating something built to last, illustrating how engaging the process of design can result in a project unique to a lifestyle, a community, or an entire culture. 

The innovative building traditions in this region grew out of necessity, as well as a deep connection to the terra viscus ecosystem of which we are part, and now make up the basic ruleset for keeping contemporary homes cool and dry in south Louisiana. As we look to the future and face the projected consequences of a changing climate, the paragon of good architecture will be its capacity to respond to our constructed realm, while offering potential contributions to a healthier, more symbiotic future.

It is adaptation and innovation that have sustained life in this region for centuries. And it is adaptation—improving upon our traditions—that will help us embody the resilience needed to sustain life in this region for the century ahead.