New Orleans new site

New Orleans neighborhoods perfectly reflect the city’s diverse and long history. Right next to the French Quarter, whose architectural highlights I have already raved about here, the Central Business District (CBD) / Warehouse District to the west has its own character.

If you cross Canal Street from the French Quarter, you are immersed in another world. It is home to skyscrapers, office buildings, abandoned warehouses, innovative residential buildings and art galleries. The CBD/Warehouse District may seem a bit confusing and thrown together at first glance, but on closer inspection it offers a wealth of highlights for architecture fans, art lovers and culture freaks, so that you could easily spend two full days in this district. I’m going to take you on a walk through the neighborhood and show you my personal highlights.

Canal Street is home to the first historic building – the Joy Theater (1200 Canal Street). The theatre has its origins in 1947 and was reopened in 2011. By the way, the first New Orleans Film Festival took place in here in 1989.

Afterwards we go down Canal Street, which is dominated by striking hotel buildings at the end. Turn right onto Tchoupitoulas Street and stop at Piazza d’Italia to admire the postmodern layout of the square. Italy and postmodernism – yes, that’s also the case in New Orleans – a really weird combination that seems slightly out of place and yet fascinating.

The walk continues up Andrew Higgings Street, which catapults us directly into a museum hot spot. At the intersection of Andrew Higgings and Camp Street are the National World War II Museum, the Center for Design, the Conemporary Arts Center, the Confederate Memorial Hall Museum, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art – as I said, you can easily spend two days here. The National World War II Museum is particularly popular with American tourists. We chose the Ogden Museum of Southern Art from the abundance. The largest art collection with works from the southern states shows both traditional and innovative works. Some of the exhibited works reminded me of my kindergarten drawings… :). I can recommend the rooftop terrace, from where you can enjoy a view over the rooftops of the CBD/Warehouse District.

Just around the corner is the building of the Howard Memorial Library, which is slightly reminiscent of a castle and was built in 1889. The architect of the building was a true Southerner – Henry Hobson Richardson – but this is his only building in the southern states. Much better known is the Trinity Church in Boston, which he built.

On the way back towards Canal Street, it is worth stopping at 930 Poydras Street. This building, which is almost 90 m high, is not, as it seems, an office building, but houses nothing but apartments. The building was built as part of the revitalization after Hurricane Katrina. The aim is to bring more life into the city centre. By the way, the striking glass box on the 9th floor is a kind of lobby and public area where residents can meet and exchange ideas. Exciting concept, unfortunately I don’t know if it works.

All the way we are accompanied by the unfortunate Plaza Tower. This high-rise is one of the tallest buildings in the USA and has been vacant since 2002. Asbestos problems are one of the reasons why no one wants to use the tower, which was built in 1969. It’s a pity.

If you wander through this part of town, keep your eyes open, because almost on every corner you will see something interesting – be it art (in all shapes and colors), architecture, design or even great cupcake cafes (for example at Bittersweet on Magazine Street).