The Louisiana Vernacular is an indigenous style of housing that has many identifying architectural elements. Generally the style utilizes deep porches, high ceilings, full-length windows and French doors. These elements help to maximize energy efficiency. The deep porches create pockets of shade on the exterior while the high ceilings allow heat to rise above occupied space on the interior. The use of French doors and tall windows helps to encourage wind movement through the house, in return cooling the space and limiting the need for supplemental heat-reducing elements.

Victorian

The Victorian style, named after England’s Queen Victoria, became a national style in the United States during the late 19th century. Its widespread popularity resulted from the publication of pattern books that enabled both affluent and average people to use the designs.

Architecturally, Victorian houses are elaborate, highly textured and finely detailed. However, although generally composed of complex forms, the Victorian style became simplified in Louisiana. Still, many of the style’s essential elements remain, including porch ornamentation, railing details and decorative cornice millwork.

Classical

The classical style in Louisiana was a period of revival, turning back to the classical style of architecture that originated in the late 19th century. The revival of the classical style in the United States took place in the early 20th century and has continued to be reinterpreted. Generally, much like the Victorian style in Louisiana, the classical style was also simplified in the region.

The main volume of a Louisiana classical style home is simply proportioned and symmetrically composed. In some instances, a wing or annex is added to the main volume to provide more space and complexity to the house. Oftentimes, Ionic or Corinthian columns mark the large front porch. Unlike the Victorian and vernacular styles in Louisiana, the windows of the classical style are often wider in proportion then they are high.

Arts and Crafts

The arts & crafts movement originated in England in the late 19th century but found its place in the United States and became known as the craftsman style. This style of architecture is especially expressive and utilizes a rich palette with creative pairings of colors. The "hands-on" nature of the arts & crafts movement is often evident in deep overhangs which reveal the structure of the eaves through exposed roof rafters. Local Louisiana craftsmen often modified this style’s patterns, incorporating local materials and traditions where applicable. This in turn resulted in a variety of uniquely crafted details.

Ranch

Ranch houses are the most common architectural style in the post WWII suburban developments of Louisiana. The first ranch house was designed by Cliff May and built in San Diego California in 1932. The style quickly gained in popularity with the growth of suburban development in America’s cities.

Ranch style houses are typically single story with a low-pitched gable roof. In Louisiana they typically have a brick exterior and lack ornamentation. The interior plan is generally open with few interior walls compared to older styles. In keeping with their suburban setting, ranch homes also often have an attached garage. Of particular relevance to hurricane recovery, ranch homes differ from older styles in that they are typically built on a concrete slab at grade.

Modern

The modern style of architecture began in the 20th century, and unlike many other styles, modern architecture does not try to recreate or reinvent the past. Rather, it seeks to find new building technologies and innovative design solutions. With a new desire to relate and respond to the environment, the modern style has become a contextual style. Its buildings establish a relationship between interior and exterior, usually by incorporating large amounts of glass and open floor plans. Half-walls and movable walls are just a couple of the ways in which modern architecture achieves a flow between spaces both inside and out. Generally, modern architecture is simple in form and lacks ornamentation.

The building materials associated with modern architecture include iron, steel, concrete and glass. Today, this material palette has been expanded to include many other innovative materials and building technologies that have allowed buildings’ overall mass to reduce. The structure of modern buildings are often expressed as part of the buildings' design aesthetics. Modern architects are not afraid to expose beams, mechanical equipment and other necessary building components that were masked because they were deemed ugly and undesirable by previous eras and styles. This notion works hand in hand with the overall machine aesthetic often attributed to modern architecture. However, this does not mean that all modern architecture must be cold and industrial. Simply put, the modern style strives for functionality and efficiency and utilizes technology to eliminate lavish and unnecessary ornament in order to achieve an authentic architecture of the time.