Center Hall Villa

The Center Hall Villa.
A house type developed by Anglo-Americans in New Orleans, the center hall villa could be considered the city cousin of the larger rural plantation houses of the first half of the 19th century. They are often called center hall houses in areas outside of New Orleans. Center hall villas were the first house type in the city's history to respond to the heightened interest in free-standing houses set in landscaped grounds which arose in the 1840s. Many local examples are set on large lots, resulting in almost rural settings within the city proper. The plan of these houses, as their name implies, is based upon the central placement of the hall, which served to divide the interior into public and private zones. The hall was also the location of the staircase to the upper half story of the house. A rear wing provided space for kitchens and other service rooms, as well as additional bedrooms.

External Features and Characteristics.
Center hall villas are set on lots which tend to be wider than average, a fact due to the great width of these houses. They are always set back from the street, in some cases by some distance, with the front property line marked by an ornamental cast-iron fence. In examples built between 1855 and 1875, when side bays became a common feature, a side yard of some size was also desirable.

The most common building material for these houses is wood frame construction, with brick examples being very rare. All examples are set on a brick pier foundation, which can vary in height from three to seven feet. Some examples are raised high enough to allow for an actual ground level floor, or raised basement. Access to the main floor of the house and its full width verandah is provided by a set of stairs placed on axis with the center hall. The verandah is framed by six columns, which serve to support the verandah's roof. The column treatments used in these houses can vary, but the most common versions are simple square columns, or round, fluted columns, most often with Corinthian capitals. Occasionally, square and round columns are both used, with the square columns being placed on the outer corners of the verandah. The railings set between the columns are either of cast-iron, or vase-shaped turned wood designs.

The significance of the center hall plan is emphasized on the exterior by the prominence given to the front door frame. In both Greek Revival and Italianate style versions of this house type, the door frame is quite broad, with the door set within a frame fitted with sidelights and a transom. The four windows that open onto the front verandah, two on each side of the doorway, are full length so as to provide access from the interior. These windows are fitted with louvered shutters of corresponding size. The main facade wall of these houses often presents a smooth surface, which was produced by means of stucco applied to wood lathe, or by wood siding that was installed with tongue and groove boards butted together. If the butted board method was used, the siding was often painted with sand so as to simulate a masonry surface. Another wood siding treatment used on the facade wall of this house type imitates a stone finish by simulating individual blocks of stone set within deep mortar joints.

The columns of the verandah support a substantial entablature, which on Italianate style designs, can be richly ornamented with brackets. The side gabled roof that rises above the entablature is often broken by dormer windows. A popular treatment is the placement of a single large dormer on axis with the front door, with the face of the dormer built flush with the face of the entablature. Italianate style center hall villas are often designed with large projecting side bays on one side of the house, which most often house the dining room. These side bays are highly visible, and were ornamented with a fully detailed entablature which often matched that found on the front verandah.