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Urbanism
and Architecture
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Credits |
Cultural Center |
Urbanism
and Architecture –
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he original plan for New Orleans was signed by Pierre le Blond de la Tour and dated April 23, 1722. It was an orthogonal grid design of 11 by six blocks identical in size. Adrian de Pauge, de la Tour's assistant, had originally conceived the plan in 1721. The central line of blocks was perpendicular to the river, behind St. Louis Cathedral and the Place d'Armes (the main square), and subdivided in two. The city faced the river and was protected by a line of fortifications with four corner bastions, which were more impressive in the drawings than in reality. The area once known as the Vieux Carré is now referred to as the French Quarter, although no building from the French Colonial period has survived. The only exception is the Ursulines' convent, which began construction in 1745. The convent was designed by Ignace Francois Broutin, and built by Claude Joseph Villars Dubreil. The building is a national historic landmark. A canal linking Lake Pontchartrain and the river was proposed (currently Canal Street) between the city and the Bienville Plantation, whose main buildings were erected near the river. The canal never materialized. This area is where most of modern New Orleans stands today. Canal Street became the main business street of the city. It is a lively corridor of tall government and office buildings, banks, fancy hotels and restaurants, expensive shopping malls, and even a new casino. In 1719 Bienville received immense extensions of land in recognition of his efforts in making the city a reality. Due to restrictions concerning conflict of interest for government officials, Bienville had to sell a piece of his large estate to the Jesuits in 1726, and grant the use of other sections of the land to various settlers. The Jesuits built a convent and a complex of various buildings (now the location of the central business district). Most of these buildings were constructed of wood that could not withstand the climate. The Jesuits stayed until 1763, when they were expelled and most of their buildings were razed to the ground and the land sold. On Good Friday, March 21, 1788, a fire destroyed a great part of New Orleans. After the city was reconstructed, it extended into what had been part of the Bienville Plantation. That plantation had been resold and subdivided following a plan by Carlos Laveau Trudeau, and the new neighborhood was called Arrabal Santa María. In trying to keep the city perpendicular to the river, the expansion was given a diagonal direction in relation to the original layout. It had its own little square or plaza, which is now Lafayette Square. The San Luis fortress was built by the river between the new and old sections. It retained the original brick arsenal that was designed in 1730 by Ignace Francois Broutin. During the fire of December 8, 1794, the arsenal blew up. Magazine Street, which was nearby, probably received its name for that. Other faubourgs were added, such as Faubourg de l'Annunciation, Faubourg Lacourse, Faubourg Deplantier, Faubourg Delord, and Faubourg Saulet. Some of those names derived from the former owners of the subdivisions of land that originated from the Bienville-Jesuit Plantation. After Louisiana was purchased by the United States, newcomers to the city preferred to settle in Arrabal Santa María, which was re-baptized as Fauburg St. Mary. The Creoles contemptuously called it the "American side." Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the distinguished architect and Surveyor of Public Buildings of the United States, designed a new Customs House that was built by Robert Alexander (in the same location occupied by the present one). The brick neoclassical building featured the columns, white trim, and green blinds characteristic of New Orleans' new architecture. Latrobe's son designed the Gothic Christ Church at Canal and Bourbon, and the Charity Hospital between Baronne and University Place. The center of worship for the Catholic population of New Orleans was Saint Louis Cathedral, located in front of the square at the Vieux Carré. With the arrival of Protestants and Jews to the city, temples for the practice of other faiths began to be constructed. The first one was the Second Christ Church at Canal and Bourbon, designed in Greek style by Gallier and Dakin, New York architects. The second was a Gothic-inspired Presbyterian temple between Gravier and Union Streets, designed by William Brand and constructed of bricks brought from Philadelphia. Unitarian, Episcopal, and Methodist churches also were built, as was the Touro Synagogue and the Masonic Temple. Among the newcomers after Louisiana became part of the United States were citizens of Irish descent. Around 1833 they built a new Catholic church in Faubourg St. Mary, outside the old Quarter. The original St. Patrick Church was built as a temporary temple, designed by Sidel and Stewart. James Dakin designed the second building. Architects Dakin and Dakin designed classical-styled residences that were later destined for various commercial uses. The eclectic mood around the time of the Civil War brought out a number of other styles, such as the Italian style used by J. K. Collins and Co., Architects and Builders, in a private residence that later became the Shakespeare Club (now demolished). Spanish ironwork, a trademark feature of the Vieux Carré, was used in the structures erected along Canal Street in verandas, galleries, and ornamental details. Unfortunately, many of these features were lost during the urban renovation of Canal Street in the 1930s. Iron was a material in fashion due not only to its decorative qualities, but its industrial and structural possibilities. It was used in the construction of the City Water Works building, which was never used for that purpose. Cast-iron columns were better than wood in resisting the effects of the weather.
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