Map of the French Quarter
Architecture of the French Quarter
The French Quarter is full of unique and intricate designs in architecture. Most of the buildings in the French Quarter are the work of the Spanish, who rebuilt the city after the two major fires that happened in 1788 and 1794. The architecture of the French Quarter represents the melting pot that is New Orleans.
Creole Townhouses
The dominant building type in the French Quarter are the Creole townhouses. These buildings typically have shops on the first floor and homes above it. Often, these buildings have multiple large bays or windows, and these were all opened to combat the humidity and hot weather of the south. Another dominant feature on these buildings are the balconies or galleries. Galleries are supported by columns, and balconies are free standing on the side of the building. The ironwork on the balconies or galleries is usually elaborate in detail. Another important aspect of the townhouses is the courtyard. The courtyard is in the middle of the building, and there are often balconies around the courtyard as well.  |
| Gallery in the French Quarter. Notice the columns holding it and the intricate ironwork. |
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| Courtyard in the 1850 House Museum |
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| Courtyard in the 1850 House Museum |
Pontalba Buildings
New Orleans is home to the first apartment buildings in the United States. They are called the Pontalba Buildings and they were ordered to be built by Miceala Leonarda Antonia Almonester, also known as the Baroness Pontalba. They were completed in 1851, and they still have residents living in the upper floors above the shops. The buildings are on either side of Jackson Square, a prime location in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The architecture of the buildings is a mixture of Creole, Parisian, French and Greek styles. What made these buildings unique was the concept of stores on the first floor of the buildings, and homes in the upper levels. Also, the use of cast iron for the galleries was the Baroness's personal design. Within the ironwork are the initials A.P. for Almonester Pontalba. |
| One of the Pontalba Buildings |
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| Initials A.P. for Almonester Pontalba. |
The St. Louis Cathedral is likely the most popular sight in New Orleans, and it is the oldest cathedral in the United States. The present day cathedral is actually the fourth church on the site because of the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788, rebuilding, and expansion. It stands in Jackson Square, with the Presbytere and the Cabildo on either side of it. The cathedral we see today was designed by French architect DePouilly. He designed the cathedral with a combination of "Roman motifs, underlying medieval-inspired shapes, and an unconventional openwork iron steeple" that created controversy throughout the city. The steeple was later sheathed in slate in 1859. Since that time, renovations and repainting of murals has taken place, but the design of the cathedral is still in the style of French Romanticism.
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| The St. Louis Cathedral as it stands today |
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| Inside of the cathedral. |
The Presbytere stands to the right of the St. Louis Cathedral when facing these buildings. It was built in 1791 to match the Cabildo on the other side of the cathedral. The original Cabildo was destroyed by the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788. The first floor of the Cabildo was completed in 1798 and the second floor was completed in 1813. What is interesting about the architecture of these buildings is they were designed by Spanish architects and built in Spanish styles except for the roof. The roofs of these two buildings are mansard roofs, which are French in style. The arches on the buildings are in the Spanish style.
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| The Cabildo |
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| The Presbytere |
The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, and it sits on the highest ground in the city. It was founded by a French Canadian naval officer by the name of Jean Baptiste Bienville in 1718. Although the French Quarter was under Spanish rule for nearly four decades, the French period endures through its architecture, town square, street names, and many other aspects. Here is a brief and informative video of the history of the French Quarter.
Sources:
Reeves, Sally. "Brief History of the French Quarter." New Orleans French Quarter, http://www.frenchquarter.com/brief-history-of-the-french-quarter/.
Masson, Ann. "St. Louis Cathedral." Encyclopedia of Louisiana, 1 April 2013, http://www.knowla.org/entry/1407/
Reeves, Sally. "Historic Building Styles in the French Quarter." New Orleans French Quarter, http://www.frenchquarter.com/quarterarchitecturetypes/
Reeves, Sally. "Madame Pontalba's Buildings." New Orleans French Quarter, http://www.frenchquarter.com/pontalbabuildings/
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