The Southern Architect
In architecture, technology has changed nearly everything. The way we draw houses, the efficiency with which they are built, the manner in which they are lived in and enjoyed – all have been immeasurably changed and improved by technology.
Doors get a lot of attention at our office. We design them, test materials for them, critique them and travel the world looking for them. To us, a door is more than just a functional way for a person to enter and exit a room. It’s even more than an architectural or design element. A […]
Old-growth tidewater cypress is as beautiful as it is rare. Even if you can find it, it’s often just too darn expensive. New growth cypress, on the other hand, is readily available, significantly less expensive and when done right can look like a million dollars (or roughly the value of old-growth tidewater cypress).
If bell peppers, onions and celery are the “holy trinity” of South Louisiana food, then butter, heavy spice and a cast-iron skillet are the cuisine’s patron saints. After all, only a blessing from those patron saints could help a fancy fish from the great white north find favor in the eyes and stomachs of the […]
There was a time when the entire Southeast of America was virtually blanked by long-leaf pine trees. After 1900, there were close to zero remaining. An ever-growing and expanding America required an abundant, durable and attractive wood for its homes, schools and buildings. Three-hundred-year-old long-leaf pines, specifically the very center of the tree (known as […]
1. Hire An Architect, Not A Name The biggest mistake you can make when hiring an architect is to make your choice based on the architect’s name instead of their work. Every architect has a particular style. Though we have great diversity in our homes at Al Jones Architect, there are common elements – elements […]
The New Orleans soft red – you would be forgiven for thinking a soft red might refer to a species of Gulf seafood or a rich creole dish for which the city is famous.
A Louisiana home designed by Al Jones Architect, the Baton Rouge based architecture firm of renowned architect Al Jones, is featured today on the national Facebook page of the American Institute of Architects.
There was a time, not that long ago, when our firm would never consider using anything but a wood window. After all, we pride ourselves on authentic and honest designs marked by fine craftsmanship. But we also pride ourselves on building livable, modern homes for the families who entrust their home design to us. In […]
There’s a home in a town in Louisiana you’ve never heard of with a quality of craftsmanship you can’t imagine. It’s a place where a simple brick walkway will make you stop dead in your tracks and a potting shed will make you actually want to garden in a hot and humid Louisiana summer. It’s […]