Shotgun Houses, the iconic, colorful homes scattered throughout the American South stand out in New Orleans because of the overt personalization. Through color, detailing and decorative ornamentation each expresses the individuality of families as well as a cohesive vibe of the community.
Created as housing for workers and an influx of immigrants early last century they incorporate many different styles with Caribbean, French and Spanish influences. The defining feature of Shotguns are the lack of hallways. Variations built on this structure include Double Barrels, two homes side-by-side sharing a wall (like a duplex) and Camelbacks which have a second story addition in back. Living in a space packed close to family and neighbors offers limited privacy. This is reflected in openness of the people. Families and friends gathering on porches and waved to us as we passed by. Families and friends gathering on porches and waved to us as we passed by.
When we visited New Orleans this past year there was a noticeable decrease in the number of Shotgun houses than our last visit the year before Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, many people were displaced, and homes were lost and replaced by modern apartment buildings. However, we were happy to see that some remain that have been passed down for generations and have been painstakingly repaired and refurbished. Newcomers have also recognized these homes as the stage for their lives as well as preserved the valuable culture and history of the community.
