New Orleans architectural detail

[Doug Kerr]

New Orleans, Louisiana, has some fascinating architectural detail.

These are from the Vieux Carré (French Quarter).

This is a wonderful application of nature's "history brush"

Douglas A. Kerr: New Orleans: Using the history brush . . .​

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I was intrigued by the clarity of this building number sign, framed by a window lintel:

Douglas A. Kerr: New Orleans: Each building's address should be clearly marked​

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This is all from our new Canon Powershot SX20 IS.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

Doug

These are a beautiful rendition of Orleans"
My family on both sides are from there- yes I am Creole- born in Dallas though
very nice work
I especially like the last shot- nice photo with strength-

Charlotte-

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Charlotte,

These are a beautiful rendition of Orleans"
My family on both sides are from there- yes I am Creole- born in Dallas though
very nice work
I especially like the last shot- nice photo with strength-

Thanks.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Doug Kerr]

I found this juxtaposition of style fascinating:

Douglas A. Kerr: Progress?​

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In New Orleans, on/off Poydras Street.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

I found this juxtaposition of style fascinating:

Douglas A. Kerr: Progress?​

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In New Orleans, on/off Poydras Street.

Gosh and golly, Doug!

Things have changed in New Orleans. I guess this is not near Bourbon Street. What height above sea level was this during the flooding of Katrina? It's so amazing that the architects so not take into consideration where they are putting things. Architecture should serve the purpose of the building, yes, of course that's true, but the Architect should be required to express something of the land and life where the building will live. To make buildings just to fit a footprint is disappointing.

I know this would never be allowed in Santa Barbara!

Asher

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Asher,

Gosh and golly, Doug!

Things have changed in New Orleans. I guess this is not near Bourbon Street.

This is outside the French Quarter, but not too far from it (about 0.75 mi from Jackson Square). It is at the southwestern corner of Poydras and Camp Streets (just north of Lafayette Square).

The older building is the Whitney Wyndham hotel. As one can easily imagine from the style, it was originally the home of the Whitney National Bank. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The newer building is Poydras Place (yawn). Spending my usual search quota of 7 seconds, I find no historical information about it.

What height above sea level was this during the flooding of Katrina?

The elevation of the street level in front of the Whitney Wyndham at that time was presumably then (and is now) approximately 5 ft MSL.

I believe that this area was not affected directly by the Katrina inundation.

Now for comparison, here, (just about two blocks further toward the Mississippi River), the elevation is approximately 8 ft MSL. (We see the Whitney Wyndham hotel at the far upper left of the frame.)

Douglas A. Kerr: New Orleans, 8 ft. MSL​

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Best regards,

Doug

 

[Doug Kerr]

It appears that the equilibrium water level of the post-Katrina inundation was approximately 2.4 ft MSL. The level is actually given in terms of the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88), a more precise reference than MSL, as 3.0 ft NAVD88. In New Orleans, elevations expressed with reference to MSL are approximately 0.6 ft less than elevations expressed with respect to NAVD88.

Thus the elevation at the foot of the monument shown in my picture above can be expressed as 8.6 ft VAVD88.

Now remember, guys, subtract foresights and add backsights.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Douglas A. Kerr: New Orleans, 8 ft. MSL​

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Tell me about the circle she is located in? An interesting motif! What could it mean?

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Asher,

Douglas A. Kerr: New Orleans, 8 ft. MSL​

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Tell me about the circle she is located in? An interesting motif! What could it mean?

It is a technical annotation, added here (like the line of scrimmage and first down line in football broadcasts), intended to make specific the location of which I assert the elevation!

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Bob Rogers]

I was at a conference in New Orleans and one of the speakers was an investor who had purchased the old Masonic Building on Charles St. (It's a Hilton now) IIRC, they closed the loan just prior to Katrina. After the storm the streets were dry (in that location) fairly quickly, but they coudln't get anything done because all the mechanical equipment (electric, elevator, HVAC) was in the basement, which was flooded.