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Here are a few design secrets to create a modern, functional oasis within a timeless design. When the West African and Haitian immigrants arrived in New Orleans, they brought this building style with them. As the standard lot measured 30 by 120 feet, this design made efficient use of the land. It has long been believed that the shotgun originated in the French colony of St. Domingue (now known as Haiti), where enslaved West African slaves built similar dwellings based on the architecture in their homeland.
Double Door Shotgun in New Orleans, LA
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Some were picked up and moved a couple of blocks inland; they had no foundations anyway. Shotgun houses can also be found in places like Atlanta, Nashville, Raleigh, Louisville, and other cities. Though they can also be found elsewhere in the country, it’s fair to say that true shotgun houses are found predominantly in the South. Their influence can be seen in Northern row houses or railroad apartments, though those styles differ slightly in function. This design choice is most easily accomplished in new constructions; in a remodel, building and plumbing costs could prove challenging. However, moving the two busiest rooms to the center allows access from both the front and back of the house.
Two-Story Camelback Shotgun in New Orleans, LA
City-based shotgun homes tend to be close together, meaning you can expect very little separation from your neighbors. Inside, you’ll be living in close quarters with your co-habitants as well, a reality that Kattengell says may deter buyers with larger families. While shotgun houses have plenty of perks, there are a few downsides that you’ll want to consider before…jumping the gun. However, there is some indirect truth to the idea of shotgun house tax savings. Property taxes are based on assessed home values, which are influenced by appraisals.
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This caused many of the original structures constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries to end up in disrepair. In the 1960s and 1970s, at the peak of urban renewal efforts, many of these shotgun houses were torn down. According to O'Connor, double-barrel shotgun houses are two identical shotgun houses that share a center wall but still make up a single building. Nashville may be a city for music lovers, but its breathtaking shotgun houses make it an under-appreciated destination for architecture fans. Each of these two enviable shotgun homes in Germantown boasts a whopping three stories of luxury living. The second floor balcony is relaxation-ready with plush seating, sheer curtains, and a fan, making it the ideal getaway from everyday life.
Key Features of Shotgun Homes
Most shotgun homes are woodsided, with some brick and stone-covered ones existing as well. The frames—commonly made from local cypress wood—help resist water, insects, and rot, allowing the structures to survive in the city’s notoriously humid climate. Because of their association with poverty, shotgun homes started to dwindle in popularity by the late 1900s.
Cozy Camelback Shotgun in New Orleans, LA
The original shotgun homes of the 1800s didn't have bathrooms, so many historic shotgun homes have bathroom additions in the back of the house. (also called humpback) is a shotgun house with a partial second floor built over the rear of the structure. The layout is essentially the same as the original shotgun house – except for the back stairs leading to the second floor. The second floor provides extra bedroom space for single and double camelback shotguns.
Partial Walls to Define Spaces
The original shotgun design places the kitchen and bathroom at the very back of the house. While helpful in reducing hot airflow, this setup restricts ease of movement for its residents. A design that moves them towards the center of the house simultaneously creates easy access and more privacy for everyone. The kitchen sat in the back of the original shotgun since it was the hottest room of the house.
The single shared bedroom can fit two beds, and a dining area is squeezes alongside the kitchen. Sky-high kitchen shelving doubles the room’s storage potential without minimizing living space. These include the single shotgun, the double shotgun, the camelback, the side galley, and the North Shore. The living room in a shotgun house is typically entered from the front door, with one or two bedrooms set behind and the kitchen in the very rear.
A shotgun house is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually no more than about 12 feet (3.5 m) wide, with rooms arranged one behind the other and doors at each end of the house. It was the most popular style of house in the Southern United States from the end of the American Civil War (1861–65) through the 1920s. Alternative names include shotgun shack, shotgun hut, shotgun cottage, and in the case of a multihome dwelling, shotgun apartment; the design is similar to that of railroad apartments. In some cities, shotgun houses were torn down to make way for high-rise apartments or commercial buildings. Sometimes, historic home preservation societies stepped in to prevent them from being completely obliterated. Homebuyers tend to gravitate toward open concept living and dining spaces; they like bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.
More recently in 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused damage to New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, which was composed primarily of shotgun homes. However, the mass prevalence of shotguns in The Big Easy—as well as preservationists’ reignited interest in the house style—ensured they were sustained, and they continue to be a hallmark of New Orleans’ culture today. They are deeply ingrained in the fabric of New Orleans, as Haitian and West African refugees, immigrants, and enslaved people brought them to the area at the dawn of the 19th century. The city was originally inhabited by the Chitimacha and other Indigenous nations until the French (and briefly the Spanish) colonized the area. Fans of the Kentucky Derby can end their quest for the perfect accommodations near the race track by taking up shelter at this Germantown residence.
Built in the 1890s, the spacious shotgun is home to two bedrooms, two full baths, and an open floor plan that fits a kitchen, living and dining area. Nicknamed “Beurre Blanc,” that’s French for white butter, this inviting townhouse in the heart of New Orleans’ Garden District likely derives its moniker from its ivory visage and decadent details and landscaping. Elegance on the outside in the form of bay windows and delicate trim, mirrors the luxury indoors—from the milk-white walls to the hardwood floors, and eclectic artwork. This shotgun in the New Orleans neighborhood of Marigny stands out from the crowd with its sunny, yellow facade, ornamental flourishes, and bold red front doors. That same warmth permeates the interior, where a combination of vintage and modern furnishings are set against color-drenched walls to evoke a sense of history without feeling stuffy. Some believe it was a nod to the idea that you could fire a shotgun at the front of the house and the bullet would pass straight through to the back of the house.
The rooms are built one behind the other – with each room opening into the other – and only partial walls between the rooms. With this design, shotgun houses found inventive ways of fitting all of the necessities without much square footage. At the time they were built, there was no indoor plumbing, so bathrooms didn't exist.
We aim to tell you all about these charming, colorful houses (with an equally colorful name!). This signature New Orleans architectural style may be small in size, but it has a ton of character.
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