Fluid Architectural Design

Fluid Architectural Design Residential and commercial; historic/non-historic; new construction and renovation.

Claire Pickering, Principal at Fluid Architectural Design, LLC, is licensed in Louisiana and has over 23 years of experience on a wide variety of project types and sizes.

We pass by markers like this all over New Orleans every day and rarely slow down to read them.According to this plaque, ...
06/02/2026

We pass by markers like this all over New Orleans every day and rarely slow down to read them.

According to this plaque, Oak Street was originally designed in 1833 as “Fourth Street” and remained mostly residential until levee realignment in the 1890s pushed riverfront businesses inland. Because Oak Street connected directly to River Road, it transformed into the neighborhood commercial corridor we know today.

I love the last line: Oak Street still “retains the feel of a small-town main street.” That really is the magic of the area.

And “Oak Street” has a nicer ring to it than “Fourth Street,” don’t you think?

I love how New Orleans ironwork changes depending on the light.During the day, the shadows create patterns across sidewa...
05/26/2026

I love how New Orleans ironwork changes depending on the light.

During the day, the shadows create patterns across sidewalks and porches. At night, especially in the French Quarter, the lantern glow catches the curves in a completely different way.

It’s one of those architectural elements that feels alive depending on the time of day and the angle you happen to catch it from.

It’s fascinating how even the “security features” in New Orleans became art. Scrolls, fleur-de-lis details, floral motif...
05/19/2026

It’s fascinating how even the “security features” in New Orleans became art. Scrolls, fleur-de-lis details, floral motifs, and hand-forged twists turned ordinary fencing into craftsmanship worth stopping to admire.

The iron spikes and pointed finials seen throughout the French Quarter originally served (and still do serve) a practical purpose: security.
Before modern alarm systems, wrought iron fences and gates created a protective barrier while still allowing airflow in the city’s heat and humidity. The pointed tops made climbing more difficult, especially in the narrow alleyways and courtyards of the Quarter.

Some of these pieces have likely stood here for over a century, quietly becoming part of the streetscape we now associate with New Orleans itself.

Did you know this corner of the CBD has a direct connection to one of America’s most influential architects?226 Carondel...
05/12/2026

Did you know this corner of the CBD has a direct connection to one of America’s most influential architects?

226 Carondelet, now the Hampton Inn, was originally designed in 1902 by Daniel H. Burnham, the same architect behind Chicago’s early skyscrapers and the visionary behind the City Beautiful movement!

When this building was first proposed, it was a big deal. A 12-story steel-frame structure, fireproof, modern, and right in the heart of New Orleans’ financial district. At the time, it was one of the city’s earliest skyscrapers and a symbol of how quickly New Orleans was evolving.

It’s easy to walk right past it today, but if you look closely at the stone (and the engraved cornerstone), you’re standing in front of a piece of architectural history that helped shape the modern city.

I always love when buildings like this get a second life. From a groundbreaking bank building to a hotel that’s still very much in use, it’s a reminder that good design really does last.

Next time you’re on Carondelet, take a second look up!

Still caught up in the beautiful ironwork from Puerto Rico, we walked into Jazz Fest to find a full exhibit on New Orlea...
05/07/2026

Still caught up in the beautiful ironwork from Puerto Rico, we walked into Jazz Fest to find a full exhibit on New Orleans ironwork!

“Artistry in Iron: Blacksmiths of New Orleans” tells a story of the craftsmanship built, shaped and passed down through generations of Black blacksmiths, many of whom brought metalworking traditions from Africa, Haiti, and the Caribbean and transformed them into something distinctly New Orleans.

What’s amazing is how the curves, spirals, and symbols carry stories of spirituality, resilience, and identity. Even the familiar patterns we see across the French Quarter have roots in African symbolism like Sankofa, a reminder to look back and learn from the past.

It also adds a new perspective to the city itself. After the fires of the late 1700s, ironwork became part of rebuilding New Orleans, blending African, French, and Spanish influences into the streetscape we know today.

Many of these blacksmiths were enslaved, yet highly skilled. Some were considered among the most valuable laborers because of their craft. Others eventually passed those skills forward through apprenticeships.

Next time you walk past a wrought iron balcony, it’s hard not to see it differently.

You might think by looking at these photos that I might be somewhere in the French Quarter. Our recent trip to Puerto Ri...
04/29/2026

You might think by looking at these photos that I might be somewhere in the French Quarter. Our recent trip to Puerto Rico included a stroll down the streets of Ponce and San Juan, and it sure did remind me of home!

Just like NOLA, wrought iron became a defining feature of Puerto Rico’s architecture during Spanish colonial rule when skilled artisans began shaping iron into intricate balconies, window grilles, and gates. Much of it was influenced by Spanish, Andalusian, and even Moorish design, which is why you see so many curves, symmetry, and repeating patterns.

Some of the pieces feel almost impossibly detailed. Others show their age, worn and softened by salt air, storms, and time. I kept noticing how no two were exactly the same.

These balconies were designed for climate and culture. They allowed air to move through the homes, provided shade from the Caribbean sun, and created a threshold between public and private life. People could sit just behind the ironwork, watching the street below, connected without fully stepping into it.

Some nights, you accidentally double (or triple) book yourself… and it ends up being worth it.I started the evening at T...
04/14/2026

Some nights, you accidentally double (or triple) book yourself… and it ends up being worth it.

I started the evening at The Spyre Center for an adaptive reuse project presentation by Megan Bell and Lindsay Butler of Bell Butler Design and Architecture. The project was recently recognized by AIA New Orleans, and you can see why.

From there, I made my way to the Preservation Resource Center’s Beams and Brews event at 814 Howard Avenue to check in on another adaptive reuse project in progress.

And then one more stop… because why not?

I ended the night at a “New to the Vieux” event hosted by VCPORA at Succotash. The space is newly opened, but the history is still very much there.

You can see it in the details.
The City Park wall murals.
The terrazzo floors.
The original entry tiles.
That copper top bar.

It’s always interesting to see how these buildings evolve. Same bones, different purpose.

Imagine the historic Hibernia Bank on Gravier Street back in 1921 when it first opened. At 23 stories and about 355 feet...
03/24/2026

Imagine the historic Hibernia Bank on Gravier Street back in 1921 when it first opened.

At 23 stories and about 355 feet tall, it was the tallest building in Louisiana at the time. It must have felt like a really big deal.

And see that white tower at the top? It actually helped guide ships on the Mississippi.
The building has since been repurposed into apartments and office space, but it still holds its own in the skyline. Especially when the tower lights up for Mardi Gras or Christmas. It’s one of those small details that makes the city feel connected to its past.

I always like thinking about what these spaces used to be like compared to now.

One of those small details that says a lot about how these French Quarter buildings were originally built.In these histo...
03/19/2026

One of those small details that says a lot about how these French Quarter buildings were originally built.

In these historic renovations, the slate roof doesn’t just stop at the top. It continues up the sides of the dormer windows, almost wrapping them. You can see it happening here as the slate transitions from the roof plane to the vertical surface.

That extra layer helps move water away from seams, protects the wood underneath, and holds up better in our humidity.
It also keeps the roofline looking clean and continuous instead of breaking it up.

Details like this are easy to miss when everything is finished. During renovation, you get a rare look at how much thought went into both function and design.

Curious to see if this gets fully carried through in the final build.

I love when the history of old homes reveals itself during renovations.These decorative wood corner details caught my ey...
03/12/2026

I love when the history of old homes reveals itself during renovations.

These decorative wood corner details caught my eye immediately. The contrast of the wood tones against the lighter paint made the pattern visible all the way from the street.

Many 19th-century homes used layered wood trim like this to add texture before modern siding became common. It makes you wonder what the original design looked like before layers of siding and paint covered it over time.

I’m curious whether the renovation plans include restoring and reinstalling these corner elements. They’re a small detail, but they add so much character and craftsmanship to the facade.

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7500 Oak Street
New Orleans, LA
70118

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