Pitot House, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA

1992 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Entry
Significance: Pitot House is an example of West Indies architecture. This type of construction is well suited to the climate of New Orleans which, like the West Indies, is hot and humid. The house is supported by a masonry chain wall foundation. The first level is paved in brick. This flooring, though not the most elegant, aides in the cooling of the house and wears well in the rooms used for work, dining, storage, and deliveries. All the walls on the first floor are of solid masonry construction covered with stucco. The large Doric columns on the first level are also masonry construction covered with stucco. Cypress planks are used to floor the second level. The majority of these planks in the house today are the originals. These planks, and the brick flooring on the first level are coated with "Old Creole Varnish," a mixture containing equal parts of boiled linseed oil, turpentine, vinegar, and paste wax. The walls on the second level are of "briquette-entre-poteaux" (brick-between-post) construction. As is the case on the first floor, the walls are covered with stucco. All of the millwork in the house is made of cypress. The original roof was made of cypress shingles. Today, the roof is a fiberglass replica of the original.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-135
Survey number: HABS LA-1229
Building/structure dates: 1805 Initial Construction