Modern Architectures of North America

Lack of Interior Hallways

Creole architecture's lack of interior hallways comes from Haitian tradition. In 1809, many Haitian refugees fled to New Orleans, and they brought with them the tradition of building homes without interior hallways (Edwards, "Shotgun"). Soon the lack of interior hallways become a trademark of Creole design. Cultures, like Creole, who develop homes without interior hallways are particularly sociable, or at least not willing to sacrifice living space to just occasionally pass through (Campanella). Seen below is a traditional Creole "shotgun house." These houses were one room wide and many rooms deep. In order to pass through the house, every room must be entered. Shotgun houses were originally from Haiti, but incorporated early on into Creole architecture, along with all of its other characteristics,

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