A local architecture tour that may surprise you

Published 10:45 am Monday, May 13, 2019

When you think of southern architecture you likely think of antebellum homes, A. Hayes Town homes and grand manors along the Teche with towering columns.  However, an equally important style of architecture prominent in the area will soon be showcased during a tour of modern homes in New Iberia set to take place on June 1.

Growing up David Bailey would stare out of his mother’s car window and marvel at the homes in New Iberia and dream of one day owning one.  Today, he and his partner, Jeffery Weiss, own a mid-century modern home just off of Main Street. After purchasing the home they began to learn more about its architect, Ashton Smith, who designed the A-frame home for the Romero family in 1960. Bailey decided that he wanted to showcase the unique modern architecture in Iberia Parish.

“I wanted to educate people about mid-century modern, because I think people have forgotten about it in a way,” Bailey explains. “These homes are starting to be inherited and they need to be rehabilitated and restored. I want to show people that these homes are works of art in our community.”

Bailey and Weiss met with preservationist Peter Patout who connected them with the Executive Director of the Louisiana Architecture Foundation Stacey Pfingsten. After a few rides around New Iberia scouting architecture, the tour began to take shape. “We are excited to be partnering with Iberia Cultural Resource Association and the Iberia Parish Visitors Bureau in highlighting this eclectic array of modern design of New Iberia, focusing on the 50s and 60s eras,” says Pfingsten.

One of the homes that will be featured on the tour is the Main Street home of the Landrys. Alice Landry explains that the property is where her father, Smitty Landry, was born in 1927. The original property was torn down and in the 1960 the Landrys commissioned Ashton Smith to create a home for their family of 8 (eventually 11) children. The home ended up being what Landry refers to as a “modern unicorn on Main Street.” She recalls the freedom and the openness the children felt growing up in the home. Landry also admits that it never occurred to her until much later in life that the house was unusual.

“Today, I really appreciate what a unique piece of architecture it is,” she reasons. “I’m so grateful for everyone who put this together because there are several homes of this style in the area that deserve to be showcased. There is so much beautiful old southern architecture in Acadiana. The modern style homes are often overlooked, but equally as interesting.”

Self-Guided Tour:  The tour will take place on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be seven sites open to tour, including six homes (both Bailey’s and Landry’s homes will be features) and one modern-style church.

Tickets: Purchase tickets at Louisianaarchitecture.org/events, at the Bayou Teche Museum starting May 23 or by called LAF at 504-266-0560. Online price is $30 ($25 for members of LAF and ICRA). Day of sales $35 ($30 for members of LAF and ICRA).

VIP Reception: Tickets including the tour and VIP reception will be $55 ($50 for members of LAF and ICRA). The reception will be held on June 1 from 4:30-6 p.m. at one of the unique homes on the tour. Delicacies will be provided by Lagniappe Too.

Panel Discussion: On Friday, May 31 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, there will be a panel discussion on New Iberia’s modernism with local architects and designers in the field. The panel discussion is free and open to the public.