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Traditional Building "Operation Comeback" Demonstration House
October 17-20, 2007
New Orleans, LA
The Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference in collaboration with the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans and Louisiana architect David Dillard, AIA will be restoring an 1870 double shotgun house in New Orleans’ historic Holy Cross neighborhood. The project will demonstrate how the city’s damaged historic fabric can be preserved and brought back to life despite the ravage of Hurricane Katrina.
Over the years’ alterations to this circa 1870 double shotgun house at 4804 Dauphine St. in Holy Cross, have resulted in the loss of most of its historic fabric, including its wood windows and front porch columns. Then, during Hurricane Katrina, a fallen 60-ton Pecan tree nearly destroyed it when the tree split the roof in half and rested on it for a year.
Project Scope
This house is currently a four-room deep double-shotgun home constructed of barge board framing with a shed-roofed rear addition. Archival research and physical evidence suggests that the house was originally built as a four room cottage with a two-room accessory building and that subsequent infill additions resulted in its current shotgun double configuration. Remaining architectural details include an original decorative wood panel front door with transom, original wood window sashes and frames, wainscoting, baseboards, chair rail, picture molding, fireplace mantels, interior door frames with transom windows, hardwood floors, tongue and groove wood ceilings, and exterior wood weatherboards.
The renovation project will involve a partial re-opening of former exterior space and insertion of a side screened porch at that location. Bathrooms, closets, and storage spaces are to be housed in the remainder of the former exterior space, so that original room volumes and proportions are retained. The non-original shed addition to the rear of the building will be removed, and original doorways at the rear elevation are to be restored. To take advantage of the large side yard and views of the river levee, a two-story accessory building may also be constructed. The first level would serve as a potting shed and provide additional storage, and the second level is designed as an outdoor viewing platform enclosed with operable louvered shutters and a hipped roof to match the main structure.
The house is located in a local historic district (Holy Cross) and therefore all exterior work falls under the review of the Historic Districts Landmark Commission (HDLC).
Renovation Philosophy
The goal of the renovation project is to return the building to top condition with new systems consistent with contemporary codes. The structure will be restored to a single family residence comprising two bedrooms and two baths. The original fabric of the building shall be preserved to the greatest extent possible. Therefore, all existing chimneys, flooring, weatherboards, door and window casings, window sashes etc. shall be repaired and re-used whenever feasible. All changes to the floor plan are designed to create a gracious 2 bedroom, 2 bath single family home that takes advantage of the large lot on which it is situated.
The Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference will make the house a demonstration project for its Fall 2007 event in New Orleans, October 17-20. There will be seminars, workshops and tours of the “Comeback House” to discuss lessons learned from this restoration project. The project will exemplify how a historic house and neighborhood can be devastated but not broken, and emerge with a restored past, as well as vision for the future. There will be bus shuttles out to the demonstration house.
Katrina and Rita destroyed more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 commercial and public buildings in Louisiana, and countless more along the Gulf Coast. But through the resolve of citizens and billions of dollars in funding, the region is poised to come back stronger than ever. Lessons learned in the wake of Katrina and Rita need to be shared with professionals and owners who are rebuilding the entire Gulf Region and as well with those at work throughout the nation.
David Dillard, AIA is a New Orleans architect devoted to preserving the historic architecture of the city. Since Katrina, he has dedicated his practice to the restoration and preservation of endangered historic homes in New Orleans. Dillard obtained his Masters of Preservation Studies from Tulane University, under the direction of Dr. Eugene Cizek. He has served on the Architectural Review Committee of the Vieux Carré Commission since 2004. He lives in a 1903 Greek Revival home that is "always" under restoration.
Visit www.historicprojects.com
Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans is a private non-profit organization founded in 1974 to promote the preservation, restoration and revitalization of New Orleans' historic architecture and neighborhoods. The Preservation Resource Center's Operation Comeback promotes the purchase and renovation of vacant historic properties. Started in 1988 as a focused effort to revitalize the Lower Garden District, Operation Comeback expanded rapidly and now works with dozens of neighborhood associations and community development corporations citywide to renew New Orleans.
Special Thanks to The Operation Comeback House
Donating Sponsors:
Be sure to visit their websites by clicking on their logo
Wood Restoration Products - Abatron, Inc.
Millwork - Ailes Millwork, Inc.
Shutters - Atlantic Premium Shutters
Gas Lanterns - Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights
Electrical Services - Bradley Electrical Services, Inc.
Kitchen Sink/Bath Tub – Copper Sinks Direct
Water Heater - Gulf Coast Tankless Water Heaters
Columns and Porch System - HB&G Building Products
Roofing - Ludowici Roof Tiles
Lighting and Hardware - Rejuvenation, Inc.
Paint - Sherwin-Williams
Wood Flooring - Sinker Logs of Louisiana
Floor Tiles - Tile Source, Inc.
Tile Source, Inc.
HVAC System - UNICO, Inc.
Kitchen and Laundry Appliances - Whirlpool Corporation
Interior/Exterior Trim - WindsorOne
Media Partners
Restore * Rebuild * Revitalize