Fluid Architectural Design

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

There’s a reason for that 👀Ever wonder why dormer windows are such a familiar sight on historic New Orleans buildings?Do...
08/24/2026

There’s a reason for that 👀

Ever wonder why dormer windows are such a familiar sight on historic New Orleans buildings?

Dormers allowed builders to make better use of the space beneath a sloped roof, bringing natural light, ventilation and additional headroom into upper-level rooms.

Long before air conditioning, in a city where buildings were often designed for narrow lots, architectural features had to work hard. The roof, windows, doors and ceiling heights all played a role in creating more comfortable, functional spaces.

One of the best parts of working with historic architecture is getting to see how these details were actually constructed. During restoration, layers that have been covered for generations are temporarily exposed, giving us a glimpse into how these buildings were put together.

Sometimes understanding why a detail exists makes you appreciate it even more.

Would you walk into a home if you knew its walls had been keeping secrets for nearly 140 years?The 1886 Mollie Walters H...
08/06/2026

Would you walk into a home if you knew its walls had been keeping secrets for nearly 140 years?

The 1886 Mollie Walters House is one of the last remaining buildings from Galveston's historic red-light district, once known as "The Line" during the island's Free State of Galveston era. Built by entrepreneur Mollie Walters, the home originally served as an elegant bo****lo.

Recently, the owners completed an extensive rehabilitation that stabilized the foundation, restored the original wood windows, rebuilt a missing bay window using historic photographs, stripped the original millwork back to its natural wood, and even incorporated flood-resistant materials on the first floor to better protect the home. Today, the fully restored property is available as a luxury vacation rental, allowing guests to experience a piece of Galveston's history firsthand.

One detail I especially loved was the intricate Victorian porch balustrades. The repeating cutout pattern adds texture, rhythm, and craftsmanship to what could have otherwise been a simple porch. Along with the restored heart pine floors, tall windows, rich millwork, and floral wallpaper, the house beautifully balances its Victorian character with modern updates.
It's amazing how a single house can tell a story about the complicated history of an entire city.

One of the biggest surprises from my trip to Galveston wasn't a house at all!Elissa, built in 1877 has been beautifully ...
07/21/2026

One of the biggest surprises from my trip to Galveston wasn't a house at all!

Elissa, built in 1877 has been beautifully restored and now serves as the official Tall Ship of Texas. Even more exciting, she's representing Galveston as part of Sail 250, joining the fleet celebrating America's 250th anniversary with stops in ports across the East Coast this summer.

As someone who loves architecture and history, I appreciate this type of craftsmanship. This tall ship shows a very different era of engineering when ships were designed as both functional machines and works of art.

It's amazing how much history Galveston has preserved. If you’re planning a trip, make a visit to Elissa! She’s still sailing after 150 years.

I was excited to participate in this year's Galveston Historic Homes Tour, an event that gives you the rare opportunity ...
07/14/2026

I was excited to participate in this year's Galveston Historic Homes Tour, an event that gives you the rare opportunity to step inside some of the island's most remarkable homes.

One of the tour’s homes, The Sam and Edna Maceo House, is a spectacular example of mid-century modern design. Built in 1951 on four lots in Galveston's Cedar Lawn neighborhood, this 6,000-square-foot home was thoughtfully designed around a central pool, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living.

One of the most fascinating details? The home was designed by the same architectural firm responsible for Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs home, and the similarities in the floor plan are easy to recognize.

While I loved the open layout, walls of glass, and colorful built-in cabinetry, my favorite architectural moment was the carport. The repeating vertical fins create beautiful patterns of light and shadow that transform a functional space into something truly memorable. It's a perfect example of how great architecture considers not just form, but the experience of moving through a space.

This home is a wonderful reminder that thoughtful design can feel just as inspiring more than 70 years later as it did the day it was built.

Stay tuned. There were so many incredible homes on this tour!

Spotted along Audubon Park, this beautifully preserved Queen Anne Victorian is a reminder that great architecture is fou...
07/07/2026

Spotted along Audubon Park, this beautifully preserved Queen Anne Victorian is a reminder that great architecture is found in the details. Built circa 1889, the home reflects the craftsmanship and creativity that defined the era with its dramatic turret, patterned siding, decorative brackets, and intricate woodwork. What first caught my eye was the curved turret and the layers of texture across the exterior.

But look closely at the painted porch spindles. They aren’t all the same shade!

The spindles are painted in varying tones of the same color family, creating an intentional play with light and shadow. The contrast gives the railing more dimension and depth, almost creating an optical illusion that highlights the woodwork.

It’s such a small design choice, but it completely changes how you experience the porch.

A little bit of mystery built into the architecture.The glass structure wrapping around the Dalí Museum is known as “The...
06/30/2026

A little bit of mystery built into the architecture.

The glass structure wrapping around the Dalí Museum is known as “The Enigma,” a free-form geodesic design made from more than 1,000 triangular glass panels.

Inspired by the dome at Dalí’s self-conceptualized and designed museum in Spain, it creates a dramatic contrast against the strong concrete walls: rigid and fluid, solid and transparent, practical and surreal.

Those contrasts weren’t by accident. They reflect the same ideas Dalí explored in his art: the meeting point between logic and imagination.

A staircase… or a sculpture?At the center of the Dalí Museum is one of its most breathtaking architectural moments… the ...
06/23/2026

A staircase… or a sculpture?

At the center of the Dalí Museum is one of its most breathtaking architectural moments… the helical staircase.

The design is inspired by Dalí’s fascination with science, mathematics, and the DNA spiral. It twists upward through the center of the museum, pulling your eye toward the light above.

It’s a functional element transformed into an experience, which feels exactly right in a place dedicated to an artist who challenged how we see ordinary things.

Sometimes the building itself is part of the masterpiece.The last time I visited St. Petersburg, the DalĂ­ Museum, a worl...
06/17/2026

Sometimes the building itself is part of the masterpiece.

The last time I visited St. Petersburg, the DalĂ­ Museum, a world renowned art museum, was in a completely different home. Returning years later, this new building felt like a brand new experience.

Designed by architect Yann Weymouth, the museum feels like a tribute to Salvador Dalí’s way of seeing the world: a balance between structure and imagination, order and surprise.

A simple concrete form is transformed by unexpected curves, light, shadows, and movement.

Do you have a favorite house in the city?Walking around New Orleans, sometimes you just see “that” house - the one that ...
06/09/2026

Do you have a favorite house in the city?

Walking around New Orleans, sometimes you just see “that” house - the one that almost takes your breath away.

This Esplanade Ridge home at sunset caught my eye with its sweeping front porch, graceful columns, and the curved turret roof. Not to mention the canopy of live oaks!

The turret roof looks like something out of a storybook, and I can only imagine the overall craftsmanship and detail.

Esplanade Ridge is the historic neighborhood that follows the grand corridor of Esplanade Avenue, stretching from the edge of the French Quarter toward Bayou St. John and City Park. It developed as one of New Orleans’ most beautiful residential avenues, known for its oak canopy, deep lots, and a mix of Creole cottages, Greek Revival homes, Italianate details, and Victorian-era architecture.

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?

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7500 Oak Street
New Orleans, LA
70118

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Monday 9am - 5am
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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