Historical reference is a key component in our design approach and we are pleased to highlight one of our recent residences, a Louisiana Acadian Plantation Cottage. Currently under construction in Fairview, Texas, the house is an example of successfully blending authentic period architecture with the spatial and functional requirements of today’s home and twenty-first century technology and building materials.
Louisianan Acadians are descendants of the 17th century French colonists who settled in the Eastern Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. After the British conquered the Acadian territory in 1710, the Acadians lived under their rule for the next 40 years.
During the French and Indian War, the British deported approximately 11,500 Acadians from the region. Many travelled to Louisiana, a French territory claimed for France by the explorer La Salle and named for Louis XIV, and settled in a 22 parish area which became known as Acadiana. The Acadians developed a unique building style in Louisiana merging French farmhouse building traditions with covered porches that provided much needed shade in the sub-tropical climate.
Architecturally, a Louisiana Acadian Plantation Cottage is clearly identifiable with its steep, sloping roof that covers a large porch and a welcoming front entry. Another defining characteristic of an Acadian home is its raised elevation. This was a necessary design element that responded to the Gulf Coast’s climate and the propensity for the area to flood.