Acadian-Style House Plan

Features

• The Acadian home is a modest type of cottage. Many are built off the ground, supported by pillars with a design that became popular because of its practicality. The Acadian design style first took hold in Louisiana, and building the homes off the ground helped prevent flood damage. The space beneath the house can be functional, used for storage or narrow enough to serve no practical purpose beyond flood-damage prevention. Building materials are often simple to keep with the theme of the design, and homes are commonly finished in wood or stone. The roof of the house is prominent and deeply pitched, and the home's front door often sits in the center of the house. Acadian homes with two stories often have an exterior staircase and an upper floor supported by columns and overhangs a ground-level porch.

History

• The name of the design comes from the region of Nova Scotia where the founders of the design were from. In the middle of the 18th century, thousands of French individuals were exiled from Acadia, Nova Scotia. They traveled south to Louisiana, and began building new cottages in a style that combined their classic French architecture with a practicality their new environment demanded. The Acadian design spread through other areas, becoming popular outside of the river valley, as its raised design was beneficial in areas where the melting of heavy winter snows could also flood an area.

Design Benefits

• Acadian homes have a simple yet attractive design. A large bay window opens up the main room, giving the house an airy feel. The design embraces not only the simplistic feel, but the use of natural materials readily available in the area the home is built. This can cut down on building costs considerably. A long or wrap-around porch is one of the common features of the style, originally added as a way to give the family a place to relax that was protected from the hot southern sun. The number of rooms is flexible, along with the layout of the home. This affords designers the flexibility to expand the home to fit any size family while still holding onto the feel of simplicity that defines the style.

Difficulties With Design

• For some, the simplicity of the design can be limiting. To stay true to the spirit of the style, there should be little decoration on the home; while expression and a personal touch is possible to create, it can be difficult. The raised structure of the home can present problems with wildlife, as animals from snakes to raccoons may decide to build their homes in the shelter of the gap. The steep roof will keep snow from building up, but repairs and maintenance can be difficult. In completely authentic Acadian floor plans, there is often only one staircase leading to the second floor, and this is usually an exterior staircase.