Atkinson Architecture

The house is situated on the edge of a small wood and oriented in such a way as to obtain optimal natural ventilation. The plan is laid out around two orthogonal axes. Along one axis extend the two volumes with a single roof, while on the other a wooden boardwalk runs through the building and continues into the wood. At the point of intersection of the axes a covered external space has been created that separates the day zone from the night zone.

The organization of the plan is based on the “dogtrot,” which allows the two rooms to be cooled by means of a central roofed passage that favors ventilation, a necessity given the hot climate in the south of Louisiana.

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This small house, originally built in Louisiana, pays respect to local historical house types of the dogtrot and the shotgun. Its use of vernacular materials and minimal detailing make it both an ode to local traditions while still retaining a universal character. The house was destroyed in 2005; however, it was rebuilt in Ramseur, North Carolina in 2012.