Read up on the history, layout, and preservation of this Southern architectural style and its unique name.
From the French Quarter to the Garden District,New Orleansis full of architecturally diverse houses.
Here’s more about this fascinatingly unique house layout and how it became popular in Louisiana.
Credit: Hector Sanchez
What Is A Shotgun House?
Shotgun houses are small, single-story buildings that are only one room widetypically no more than 12 feet across.
Where Did The Name Originate?
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
The history behind the meaning of a shotgun isn’t crystal clear.
Shotgun House Exteriors
There is some variation in the exterior of shotgun houses.
Most shotguns are wood-sided houses, but others are brick- or stone-covered.
These exterior facades also vary in architectural styles, fromCraftsmanto Greek Revival.
Layout Of A Shotgun House
Shotgun houses in New Orleans and across the country share similar characteristics.
When these homes were first built in the early 1800s, bathrooms weren’t part of the dwelling.
Later, they were often added in a rear or side addition.
This simple house layout was efficient and practical for the locale.
A variation on the traditional shotgun that saved even more space was the double-barrel shotgun.
While two-story shotguns are basically unheard of, some homes added what is known as a camelback addition.
It is a partial second story on the back half of the house.
The houses are also symbolic of the architectural history ofNew Orleans, as well as many other U.S. cities.
Organizations outside of New Orleans have also been working to preserve shotgun houses in their respective regions.
Hawkins DM, Barrier CE.Building Types and Architectural Styles.
City of New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission.
Lienhard JH.Shotgun Homes & Porches | The Engines of Our Ingenuity.
University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering.
Campanella R.The geography of the shotgun house.
Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.
Published March 16, 2019.
