9th Ward

The ninth ward of New Orleans is the city's largest of 17 wards. Within the ninth ward there is an upper and lower section. The upper ninth ward is most widely known for it's Habitat for Humanity Musician's Village. This village was started after Hurricane Katrina by Harry Connick Jr and Branford Marsalis. In early 2006, shortly after Katrina, Habitat for Humanity gained about eight acres of land in the upper ninth ward. This area would eventually be turned into the Musicians Village, which consists of 81 homes constructed for displaced New Orleans musicians.

The lower ninth ward unfortunately gained major attention for the tragic devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. A well known are of the lower ninth ward is the Jackson Barracks, which also double serves as the headquarters for the Louisiana National Guard when they are in New Orleans.

Resources: New Orleans Official Guide. (2015). The Ninth Ward. Retrieved from http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/neighborhoodguide/gentilly.html

Downtown and Warehouse District

The downtown district and warehouse district of New Orleans are actually two separate districts. The downtown district is also known at the city's central business district. The downtown or business district is home to many of the cities hotels, restaurants, and bars. The warehouse district on the other hand, is also known as the cities art district.

As previously mentioned in the Garden District blog post, after the Louisiana purchase the new American settlers wanted to separate themselves from the European residents who were already here. The French Quarter and Jackson Square were already mostly occupied by the Europeans so the Americans moved to an area of their own. The area eventually became the city's center for business and visitors. The downtown area has a variety of different architecture from from high rise office buildings to 19th century homes, and renovated warehouses.

What came to be known as Lafayette Square was the center of this district. Lafayette Square was basically the Americans version of Jackson Square. Lafayette Square is the home of St. Patrick's Church and Neoclassical Gallier Hall which was the city's City Hall from 1853-1956.

Just a few blocks away is the warehouse district, which is full of art activities. This district is the home to the Contemporary Arts Center, National WWII Museum, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

Resources: New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. (2015). New Orleans Downtown & Warehouse District. Retrieved from http://www.neworleanscvb.com/visit/neighborhoods/downtown-warehouse-district/

Functions of Design Features

As you tour throughout the city of New Orleans, you will notice that many of the residences are tall, narrow, and close together. This is because the city itself if not extremely large. Therefore, in order to accommodate all of the guests and residents, they started building houses on top of eachother.

(neworleansonline.com)

(neworleansonline.com)

Another thing one may notice is the fact that many houses in New Orleans are right on the sidewalk, they have no front yard. This is because in the late 1700's a massive fire broke out in the heart of New Orleans and destroyed a majority if the city. So, building houses right on the sidewalks was done as an attempt to quicken response time and accessibility for firemen. 

The weather in New Orleans can produce heavy amounts of rain. Therefore, another function added to the homes include tall gables, shutters over the windows, and over-hangs that all work to direct rain away from the front porch and windows. This protects the houses from being badly damaged from severe weather.

 (nola.gov)

(nola.gov)

Lastly, something that is predominant of plantations are the very large windows that are located all around the home. The function that these windows serve in southern homes is to keep the house cool. When all the large windows are open, a nice circulation of air is created which will lower the temperatures inside, even though the temperatures outside may be extremely hot.

 (nola.gov)

(neworleansplantationcountry.com)

Garden District

The historic Garden District of New Orleans can simply be described as beautiful. The Garden District is a popular destination for visitors due to it's mansions, gardens, and charm. Boundaries for this district include St. Charles Avenue to Magazine Street and Jackson Avenue Louisiana Avenue. 

The Garden District was originally created in 1832 by Bathelemy Lafron after the Louisiana Purchase. The district was originally meant for the new American settlers who did not wish to associate with the European residents who lived mostly in the French Quarter. The new wealthy Americans were able to hire leading architects of the time to create the homes that are in the district. The homes vary from italian, greek, and victorian style. These homes were built on larger amounts of land which allowed for the creation of the amazing gardens for which the area is named.

The famous district has been featured in several movies and some celebrities even live in the area. The neighborhood is also home to the famous Lafayette Cemetery #1. This cemetery is one of the cities most well maintained and is a popular tourist attraction. 

Resource: New orleans convention and visitors bureau. (2015). Garden district. Retrieved from http://www.neworleanscvb.com/visit/neighborhoods/garden-district/

Neighborhoods: Faubourg Marigny, Bywater, & Treme

 (gonola.org)

 Faubourg Marigny, also known as the Marigny, was developed in the early 19th century. Today, it is one of the most intact neighborhoods from the 19th century. According to the New Orleans Official Guide, the Marigny "is a top choice for New Orleaninans and visitors looking for great music, fine food and an authentic, historic neighborhood" ("Faubourg Marigny,). It is located directly from the French Quarter, making it a very accessible, popular spot. The architecture includes Creole and Classic Revival houses that have been restored and people from all over the world have made the Marigny their home.

  (architecture.tulane.edu)

The Bywater neighborhood is also located just a few minutes away from the French Quarter. Therefore making it another popular spot within New Orleans. According to the New Orleans Official Guide, Bywater "has become haven for preservationists and do-it-yourself renovators" ("Faubourg Marigny,). The atmosphere in Bywater is filled with colorful, artsy houses and greenery. Many residents tend to have an artistic quality. When it comes to dining, some of the city's trendiest restaurants and bars are located here such as Booty's Street Food. This particular neighborhood has a self-proclaimed emblem. The emblem of Bywater is the mirliton, which is a pear-like fruit. Every fall, Bywater residents hold a festival in order to celebrate the mirliton which just helps capture the essence of New Orleans.

(movoto.com)

                      

(nola.eater.com)

(bywatermirlitonfestival.com)

The Treme is another popular neighborhood found within the heart of New Orleans. An easy way to find the Treme is to go just beyond the French Quarter. From there, you will see the great arch of the Louis Armstrong Park on Rampart Street ("Treme"). When you have arrived at the arch, you have found the Treme. Within the park lies the legendary Congo Square. In the 18th and 19th century, "the enslaved, free people of color, Europeans and Americans gathered" to drum, dance, and trade ("Treme"). The Treme is also home to the historic St. Augustine Church which was founded in 1842 and established by free people of color ("Treme"). St. Augustine Church is the oldest African-American Catholic  church in the country ("Treme").

(neworleanscvb.com)

Works Cited

"Faubourg Marigny and Bywater." Faubourg Marigny & Bywater. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.

"Tremé." Treme New Orleans. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.

French Quarter

While there are several neighborhoods in New Orleans, the one that many people know is the French Quarter. The French Quarter also known as Vieux Carre, is the oldest neighborhood in the city. The French Quarter was established by the French in 1718. The district is considered a National Historic Landmark and is surrounded by popular streets such as Canal, Bourbon, Royal, and Decatur Street. The French History has a combined history from many different cultures including French, Spanish, Italians, Africans, and others. The atmosphere of the French Quarter is a melting pot of different cultures.

The majority of the architectural design in the French Quarter is the work of the Spanish who had to rebuild the city after two different fires in 1788 and 1794. Several of the buildings have ceramic plaques that inform visitors of the street names during the Spanish rule such as Calle de Borbon. New Orleans most famous landmark is located in the French Quarter, Jackson Square. The square is named in honor of Andrew Jackson, who was the hero of the Battle of New Orleans. The square is filled with historic buildings such as St. Louis Cathedral, Presbytere, and Cabildo.

The French Quarter is so full of history and endless things to do and places to visit. The following is a link to a map and more specific information regarding the different places to visit in the French Quarter.
http://www.neworleanscvb.com/meeting-planners/marketing-resources/fq-walking-map/

Reference: New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. (2015). French Quarter. Retrieved from http://www.neworleanscvb.com/visit/neighborhoods/french-quarter/

How the City Speaks through its Architecture

As one travels and tours the city of New Orleans, several different styles of buildings and homes will be discovered. From the article City of New Orleans: Historic District Landmark Commission, a segment titled, "Building Types and Architectural Styles" explains just that. Each style provides those who pass by with a sense of nostalgia, as many homes in New Orleans are historic. Seeing the historic homes allow the viewer to  go back in time and imagine New Orleans as it was during that era. In other words, New Orleans relies greatly on its architecture to speak to its residents and visitors. The different building types and architectural styles display homes from every era; from when New Orleans was just beginning to now.

Some examples of building types found in New Orleans include Creole Cottage, Center Hall Cottage, Townhouse, Shotgun, and Bungalow (Hawkins).

Creole Cottage 1790-1850 (Hawkins)

 Center Hall Cottage 1803-1870 (Hawkins)

 Townhouse late 1700s - mid 1800 (Hawkins)

 Shotgun 1850-1910 (Hawkins)

Bungalow (Hawkins)

 Architectural styles in New Orleans vary from Creole, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne / Eastlake, and Colonial Revivial / Neoclassical / Edwardian (Hawkins).

Creole styled homes (Hawkins)

                 

 Greek Revival style (Hawkins)

 Italianate styled homes (Hawkins)

Queen Anne/ Eastlake (Hawkins)

Colonial Revival/Neoclassical/ Edwardian (Hawkins)

 Basically, the types of buildings incorporate the different architectural styles. In other words, for example, a Townhouse can incorporate the Italianate architectural style. 

 Each of the building types and architectural styles originate from a different era and provide New Orleans with history and culture which helps the city speak through its architecture. This link will provide a more detailed explanation of the different building types and architectural styles: https://www.nola.gov/nola/media/HDLC/Guidelines/03-TypesStyles.pdf

 Works Cited

Hawkins, Dominique, and Catherine Barrier. "Building Types and Architectural Styles." Nola.gov. City of New Orleans Historic Distric Landmark Commission, 1 May 2011. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.