A New Orleans Brick Between Post Home
August 26th, 2009
Often when you live in an area, things can become so second nature you may not remember that visitors may not have an inkling of what you are speaking about. A brick between post home is a perfect example of such terminology. Just what is that? It simply refers to a historic home most likely constructed in the 18th century whose walls are built with bricks placed between wooden posts. In the Creole vernacular, it is referred to as brique entre poteaux. For most visitors, Lafitte’s Blacksmith shop, located at the corner of Bourbon and St. Philip in the French Quarter, springs to mind as the best known example of a brick between post construction.
Most historians can trace the beginnings of brick between post construction to the establishment in 1725 of the first brick yard in New Orleans. At that point, brick foundations replaced rotting sills and bricks were soon placed between posts for greater stability and insulation in homes rather than basic wood construction. Due to the porous nature of our bricks and coupled with the exposure to the elements, it soon became apparent that it was necessary to cover the bricks first with boards and later with cement stucco for protection. The Pitot House Museum in the Faubourg St. John neighborhood is a prime example of a brick between post home covered with stucco. 
Today you occasionally can find an exposed brick between post home that has been restored and sits among our other great historic homes. The advent of sealers has meant that covering the bricks with stucco is no longer the only option, although it may be the correct historic option.
Learning about local historic architecture can prevent costly and unwarranted mistakes. Following Katrina, an investor bought a home in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood that had been neglected for several years. Imagine his surprise when during construction a brick between post home emerged with the addition of a painted advertisement on the brick for French Market coffee. 
What a find! Those of us in the area were thrilled at his good fortune and could not wait to see his ultimate restoration. Sadly, for whatever reason, the investor removed every brick and post in that historic home. It can never be replaced. Now it sits as a shell of itself while the investor and the Historic District Landmark Commission come up with a solution for what has occurred. Not a happy ending, but just a cautionary tale.
Please call me at 504-812-8481 if I can be of any help in searching for one of our many historic homes including a brique entre poteaux!
Posted by:
Carol-Jean Dixon
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