Beneath the Louisiana sun stands Lake Vista United Methodist Church. August Perez Jr. and Associates designed it. Completed in 1961 the church has been a neighborhood landmark ever since.
Lake Vista United Methodist Church is more than just a building. It is a testament to modern design. The church sits in Lake Vista a unique New Orleans neighborhood.
Lake Vista itself is fascinating. It was developed in the 1930s and 40s. The Orleans Levee Board directed the lakefront land reclamation project. The Federal Works Progress Administration assisted. Land that was once swamp was drained. A new beachfront drive emerged.
Hampton Reynolds designed this 800-lot suburban community. It sits six miles north of downtown’s Central Business District. Lake Vista was unlike any other New Orleans neighborhood at the time.
Reynolds prioritized pedestrian freedom. He paired cul-de-sacs with broad landscaped green belts. This allowed access by both car and foot. He found inspiration in garden cities like Radburn New Jersey.
Walking along the pedestrian allées you notice a quiet insularity. Lush greenery surrounds you. Expansive live oak trees provide cool shade. The designers built the neighborhood for New Orleans’ comfortable white middle class. They wanted their own taste of the good life.
Lake Vista celebrates modern design. The house-lined green belts radiate from a core of buildings. Homes are a short walk from the central complex.
Now let’s turn our attention back to Lake Vista United Methodist Church. It stands out even among the area’s architectural gems. The elliptical-shaped sanctuary catches the eye. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls invite the light. An intricate metal screen clads the glass.
The metal screen might have been inspired by Louis Sullivan’s designs. Sunlight filters through creating a beautiful effect inside. An early view of the screen can be seen in a photograph at Tulane’s Southeastern Architectural Archive.
August Perez Jr. also designed the Lake Vista Community Shopping Center. He worked with Wogan and Bernard on this project. The shopping center is located at the development’s center. The two-story Art Moderne storefront building is clad in brick and yellow stone. Streamline canopies and plate glass display windows add to its charm. The shopping center was completed in 1946.
Lake Vista was intended as an affordable community. Art Moderne apartment buildings ring the central quarter. These maintain a mix of family incomes.
Lake Vista United Methodist Church stands as a beacon. It reflects the neighborhood’s unique history. It also mirrors its commitment to modern design. The church’s beauty lies in its simplicity. It embraces both form and function. Its metal screen filters light creating a space for reflection.