Treme

Map of Treme

Architecture of Treme
The neighborhood of Treme is full of different architectural styles. On a single street, you will find a mixture of creole townhouses and shotgun houses, all inspired by many cultural styles. The shotgun home is long and narrow, which makes it perfect for the narrow lots of urban New Orleans. These homes are usually no more than twelve feet wide, and the rooms are arranged one behind the other with doors at each end of the house. As the years have passed, these homes have been updated to fit a more modern style, but they still have the original style of the shotgun house. Shotgun houses can can either be single or double, meaning there may be two houses connected and separated by a central wall. It is theorized that the shotgun house style traces back to African and Haitian influences. These shotgun houses in Treme also have influences from Greek, Eastlake, French architectural movements. 

Shotgun House

 

Layout of an Early Shotgun Home

Also in Treme are Creole cottages and townhouses. Creole cottages are different from shotgun houses in two key areas: the roof runs parallel to the street, and there is a small second story where a bedroom can fit under the steep, small roof. These houses typically have shutters, French doors, tall windows and ceilings, and wood floors that are in typical Creole style. For more in-depth information regarding Creole townhouse architecture, visit the French Quarter page of this blog.

Creole Cottage in New Orleans

 

Different styles of houses in Treme

Brief History of Treme
The neighborhood of Treme is named after Claude Treme, who was a real estate developer and hat maker. He arrived to New Orleans in 1783 from Burgundy, France, and he owned a portion of Treme for about a decade. Treme is America's oldest African American neighborhood, and it is the site of many significant events that have shaped Africans in America. During the 18th and 19th century, enslaved African were able to buy their freedom and purchase land in the area of Treme. During this time period, slaves in America were not able to do this, but it happened consistently and regularly in New Orleans. 
The site known as Congo Square is in Louis Armstrong Park in Treme. This site is significant because this is where slaves would gather to sell their goods to buy their freedom, sing, dance, drum, and socialize with each other. Some say Congo Square is where music in America originated due to Jazz being influenced by the music that was heard there.

Congo Square in New Orleans today.

 Sources:

 "Treme." New Orleans Official Guide. 
http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/neighborhoodguide/treme.html

 Alsup, Allison. "New Orleans Houses: The Creole Cottage." Go NOLA. 11 June 2013. http://gonola.com/2013/06/11/new-orleans-houses-the-creole-cottage.html

Lisa. "Shotgun Homes in New Orleans." Crescent City Living. 22 July 2013. http://crescentcityliving.com/for-buyers/shotgun-homes-in-new-orleans 

Page created by Hannah Keenan