RR-200.1 Building Area: (sf) 4,700 total Cost per Square Foot: $300 Construction Cost $1M Date of Completion: Spring 2013

Program Summary: First Floor renovation to an existing French Quarter residence originally built in 1828. Program Statement: The renovation to this historic 1828 masonry and wood construction building in the French Quarter of New Orleans encompassed the desire to bring back several important historic characteristics and references, as well as the need to address materials deterioration with conservation techniques that would allow for the longevity of the building for the future. The focus of the renovation was the first floor, where the communal living spaces are located, but the materials conservation and restoration are throughout the entire building as needed to create a stable structure. The existing entry foyer and rear loggia of the main building were renovated to bring an exterior characteristic to the spaces, which were once themselves exterior but needed to be maintained within the interior footprint of the building due to functional concerns. The main intervention is the reintroduction of an historic arched opening at the rear loggia on the first floor, and historic arched window on the second floor above. The mitigation of rising damp is done at the base of the masonry walls, and references the troughs that ran historically down exterior alleys and walkways. The quality of the spaces and has been improved while maintaining a sensitive approach to the historic details and materials of the almost 200 year old building, and the strong connection to the adjacent courtyards, a defining feature of French Quarter properties, is once again reinstated.

RR-200.2 This French Quarter residence was originally constructed in 1828. A typical two-story, four square layout for the main building with an entry foyer and rear loggia wrapping around. The entry foyer and loggia were both historically exterior spaces. At the intersection of the entry foyer and the loggia is the historic stair, and beyond that is an attached dependency. The building is constructed of thick masonry bearing walls with wood framing between. The building was originally part of a bakery complex that spanned through the block, and this building was used for commercial retail space on the ground floor [front rooms along the sidewalk only] and residential above. A side courtyard allows for off-street parking through arched gates at the old carriageway, which processes through another pedestrian-scale archway to a quieter rear courtyard for the residents to enjoy. The renovation included, on the exterior, all masonry repair and conservation required, as well as new paint selection / approval by the Vieux Carré Commission, a new slate roof, and all new copper flashing, gutters and downspouts. New openings in the exterior walls were introduced as described with the floor plans and photographs throughout.

RR-200.3 Illustrated here is the existing floorplan at the time of the renovation, which had been modified over time from the historic layout, character, and flow. The exterior loggia along the rear and the entry foyer along the edge of the main building connect the single room rear dependency [upper right of the floorplan] to the main building. The loggia and foyer spaces have been enclosed over time. The rear loggia of the main house was cut off from the side courtyard by a bathroom and washer / dryer closet. The existing arched door and sidelights to the rear courtyard remained intact. The four square layout of the main building was modified with openings between the rooms, and a large portion of a center wall was removed between the two adjacent rooms containing existing, historic fireplaces. The rear attached dependency was converted into the residence’s kitchen.

original first floor plan

RR-200.4 Illustrated here is the renovation floorplan, which opened up the rear loggia to the side courtyard again by an historic arched opening, reestablishing an historical connection that had previously been broken. The front four square rooms were reprogrammed to contain the office and living spaces along the street front, the kitchen off of the rear loggia, and the last room was partitioned to accommodate the shaft for a future elevator, with a grouping of additional support spaces [pantry, laundry, powder room] around to contain them in one central location within the building. The attached dependency is now the formal dining room, with direct access to the rear courtyard as well as the loggia and foyer spaces. No interior work was done on the detached dependency building noted at the upper left of the site plan.

new first floor plan

RR-200.5 The front entry foyer was given a similar treatment as the rear loggia, to reference and reintroduce the exterior character of the original space within a space that is to remain functionally interior. The new doors leading to the office and the future elevator have shutters relocated from the rear loggia space, and the Hundi lanterns and marble flooring brighten the space while bringing in natural and ambient light for an exterior feeling. The heavy masonry walls throughout the building had an issue of rising damp, as is prevalent in the French Quarter. To mitigate this issue for the conservation of the historic masonry and plaster which was deteriorating due to a former owner applying elastomeric paint on all surfaces, the plaster was removed from the bottom 4” of the wall, allowing the brick masonry to be exposed at the ground level within “troughs” created between the bottom of the wall and the finished marble floor, and therefore allowing the rising damp moisture a way to escape the wall and evaporate before it has the chance to rise up behind the plaster and remain trapped. This technique was used on this project as a case study, and has been successful in its function execution of its expectations. To create a “finished” look to the space while still allowing for vapor transfer, patterned wood screens were laid flush with the polished marble finished floor of the foyer to cover the troughs.

original entry foyer new entry foyer

RR-200.6 The rear loggia design was proposed to reintroduce the exterior character of the historic space while still allowing it to function as an interior element of the residence. The marble finished floor and overall white paint help diffuse the natural light in the space to create an airy feel, and the Hundi lanterns add an exterior character. The restored arched opening at the side courtyard is kept enclosed by a frameless glass door and sidelight assembly, which is pulled back from the arched opening in the masonry façade to further emphasize the exterior feeling and visual connection to the outside. The original, historic patterning of doors and windows is maintained, and all HVAC components are recessed into the thick masonry walls to visually minimize their presence in the space.

original rear loggia new rear loggia

RR-200.7 Office and living space was given custom built-in casework. The original exposed joists of the floor above have beaded board furring to conceal the electrical conduits.

new living room + office original living room

new living room

RR-200.8 The new and updated kitchen is located in one of the four square rooms of the main structure. End grain wood floors are used for their durability and natural texture, and the new custom millwork includes a generous island for entertaining. The countertops are all enameled lavastone, which has a beautiful crazed finish, and the custom metal hood which spans the length of the rear counter and range was fabricated by a local blacksmith using a historic metal finishing technique that burnishes wax into the metal, creating an almost iridescent blue-black finish to the steel. As with the historic front rooms of the building, the exposed wood joists of the floor above were left untouched and exposed, but between each runs beaded board furring to conceal the electrical conduit for the lighting.

original room original room

RR-200.9 The renovated floor plan allows for the attached dependency to become the formal dining area for the residence. A herringbone pattern brick floor with border was laid and the historic fireplace was uncovered and left as found [with a clear sealant to protect the masonry from spalling]. Custom designed casework at the far end of the dining room allows for the display of several pieces, taking into consideration the requirements to respectfully and appropriately display the Buddha statue at the far left. The doors of the storage cabinets have been milled to create a lacey and delicate woodwork pattern that is referential to an Eastern aesthetic which ties into the items on display and the Owner’s collection.

original attached dependency [kitchen] new attached dependency [dining]

RR-200.10 A newly renovated bathroom for the office located at the front of the main house uses materials selected to make the small room feel spacious for guests- a Carrara and Thassos marble mosaic tile floor, which extends into the curbless shower, expands the feeling of the space. The continuous marble wall tiles with built-in niche and linen cabinet achieve the same effect and provide functional elements to the room. The marble wall tile is patterned with a honed pencil line near the middle and top of the walls.

original bathroom new bathroom

RR-200.11 Detailing of the new insertions include a frameless glass pivoting double door with fixed sidelights, a design choice to minimize the visibility of the enclosure and door in the rear loggia space. It allows the maximum amount of natural light into the space, to brighten it for everyday use and to strengthen the connection to the historically exterior character of the space, while still keeping it within the interior footprint of the building for the current function of the residence. The floor height difference between the entry foyer and the adjacent office space is mitigated with a stone step that is reminiscent of the steps used to ascend into horse-drawn carriages, which formerly lined the sidewalks of the French Quarter. The wood screen covers on the troughs along the masonry walls can also be seen in these details. The rising damp is able to evaporate in these troughs from the exposed brick beneath the screens, before it is able to get trapped in the masonry behind the plaster finish on the walls. The screens provide a finished look that is consistent with the high-level finishes of the overall residence while still allowing for vapor transfer and evaporation to occur. This technique is one of the most passive and successful ways to mitigate rising damp.

RR-200.12 The side courtyard elevation of the main house shows the existing conditions before the renovation and the proposed new openings and shutters, as well as the rescoring of the plaster finish with the “stone look” pencil lines that were historically present at this façade [including a darker penciling at the scores to create the final look]. The rear loggia and upstairs loggia new openings restore historic arched openings at their appropriate locations, after the bathroom [first floor] and wet bar [second floor] from the 1970s were removed from the flooplan. The attached dependency remains untouched on the exterior, with the exception of new slate roof with copper flashing, and painting of the existing plaster, which was in good condition at the time of the renovation.

original elevation

new elevation

RR-200.13 At the exterior, the restored arched loggia opening and a new arched window at the second floor [restoring a former historic opening] bring back the connection of these interior spaces to the French Quarter courtyard and reintroduce the historic character of the building. By recessing the glass doors on the first floor back from the restored arched opening, the reference to the former exterior quality of the space is strengthened on both the exterior as well as the interior of the building.

original façade detail original courtyard detail

new courtyard detail new façade detail

Project Name: French Quarter Residence Project Location: Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 Owner/Client: Private Client [Name Withheld At Owner’s Request] Architect(s) of Record: (names and addresses) Wayne Troyer, studioWTA 1119 Tchoupitoulas Street New Orleans, LA 70130 Project Team: Wayne Troyer, Architect Toni DiMaggio, Project Manager / Designer / Preservationist Landscape Architect: work forthcoming Consultants: Lance Bonadona, ADG New Orleans LLC [Mechanical Engineer] Perry Brown, ADG New Orleans LLC [Electrical Engineer] Rick Martindale, Wells Keown Associates [Lighting Consultant] Beth Jacob [Conservation Consultant] General Contractor: William D. Finley LLC

RR-200.x Credit Slide This slide will not be seen by the judges. It replaces what in past years has been in the sealed envelope. Please fill out the information requested to the left. As with other slides please set the correct Entry Number above; OK to leave slide# as “x” Some of this information will be added to the slides when used for the Awards Presentation at the AIA Louisiana Convention. Note: on this slide if you run out of space please adjust font size as necessary or move more information to the second column. Please submit 2 Power Point Submissions on CD as indicated on the instructions sent to you with your entry number (one w/credit slide and one without).

Photographer(s): (please list which specific slides get credited to each photographer(s) listed). RR-200.2 credit studiowta All other photographs credited to Neil Alexander