StudioPatina
The Pythian (1908) &
Gravier Building (1961)
New Orleans
The Pythian was a significant building for African Americans providing a venue that furthered the development of jazz, and during WWII, was the offices of Andrew Higgins "...the man who won the war for us. ... If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different" - D. Eisenhower.
The overall objective of performing this finish analysis was to discover the original paint color schemes on portions of the exterior and interior windows and spandrels of two very different buildings. Many of the original windows were extant manufactured in New Orleans by the A. J. Nelson company and had all the original paint layers intact.
The adjacent nine story building located on Gravier Street was constructed with the present aluminum slipcover in 1961 and was to be matched while the Pythian Temple was to be returned to an earlier period of significance - 1908.
In order to provide visual continuity between two adjacent buildings that were rehabilitated to reflect vastly different styles, the element of color on the windows of the Pythian Temple and on the replacement aluminum/enamel panels on the Gravier Street building was used to unify.
Original enamel over aluminum panels were in remarkable condition - upper left. Sputters on the panels - upper center - were typical style of the era - counter tops and flooring received similar color on color or monochromatic layering.
Pale turquoise color was also typical of the era as on the cladding New Orleans City Hall - upper right - within sight distance of the Pythian Temple and Gravier buildings. This was perhaps intentional since the concept at the time was to remake the entire neighborhood into a civic paradise.
Chromacronology above of the interior double - hung window shows the blue green color choice on the first layers except for the tan (read from the bottom) that would have appeared in the 1920's.
The result (below) showcases the two buildings at night.
A thorough history of the building and rehabilitation written by Danielle del Sol highlighting the Pythians and tenure of Andrew Higgins can be found here:
https://prcno.org/triumphant-return-pythian/
Julie Babin, architect, studioWTA
Green Coast Enterprises, Developers
Photo of exterior buildings at night by George Long