Shotgun House

fall, 2025

The Shotgun House, as a foundational form of vernacular architecture, provides insight into how design can respond to climate, culture, and community. Examining its evolution uncovers strategies that contribute to creating resilient, socially driven, and environmentally adaptive spaces that remain relevant in contemporary architectural practice. This precedent study examines the shotgun house with climate responsiveness, cultural identity, and environmental adaptation. The forced migration of African, Haitian, and Creole communities during the Transatlantic Slave Trade is embodied in the shotgun house, and today it represents resilience. Through its linear layout, porch-centered social spaces, and natural ventilation, its functional design thrives in the humid South while fostering community connections in segregated neighborhoods. Analyzing its spatial organization and environmental performance, this study shows how traditional forms can guide modern sustainable design and address today’s social and ecological challenges.