Bousillage
Encyclopedia
Bousillage is the name of one of the components of the style of construction that uses vertical logs enclosed or filled by a mud mixture. This style was commonly used by 18th century French colonial settlers in the Americas.
Bousillage, in south Louisiana, was a mixture of clay earth and retted Spanish moss. The upright half timber framing system was called colombage. This was a technique used in France. It was brought to Louisiana by colonist and used from the 18th to 19th Century. In France the frame was typically filled between the post with brick, stone or earth mixed with straw. There was no stone in south Louisiana, and bricks were not being made during early colonial times. The colonist picked up on a technique that the Native Americans were using to build their wattle and daub structures, and that was heavy clay soil and retted Spanish moss as the binder. Split sticks or staves, known as a barreaux or rabbit, were used as rungs between the upright post. They were shaped to fit at an angle and hammered into place without the use of nails. A taché of mud and moss was shaped like a bread dough loaf and hung over the rungs being compacted as placed one next to the other. The finished wall would have been either lime washed or covered with plaster. The plaster would have use animal hair as the binder.
Bousillage, in south Louisiana, was a mixture of clay earth and retted Spanish moss. The upright half timber framing system was called colombage. This was a technique used in France. It was brought to Louisiana by colonist and used from the 18th to 19th Century. In France the frame was typically filled between the post with brick, stone or earth mixed with straw. There was no stone in south Louisiana, and bricks were not being made during early colonial times. The colonist picked up on a technique that the Native Americans were using to build their wattle and daub structures, and that was heavy clay soil and retted Spanish moss as the binder. Split sticks or staves, known as a barreaux or rabbit, were used as rungs between the upright post. They were shaped to fit at an angle and hammered into place without the use of nails. A taché of mud and moss was shaped like a bread dough loaf and hung over the rungs being compacted as placed one next to the other. The finished wall would have been either lime washed or covered with plaster. The plaster would have use animal hair as the binder.
See also
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- New FranceNew FranceNew France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
- French colonization of the AmericasFrench colonization of the AmericasThe French colonization of the Americas began in the 16th century, and continued in the following centuries as France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere. France founded colonies in much of eastern North America, on a number of Caribbean islands, and in South America...
- French architectureFrench architectureThe history of French architecture runs in parallel with its neighbouring countries in Europe, with France being home to both some of the earliest pioneers in many architectural styles, and also containing some of the finest architectural creations of the continent.-Roman:The architecture of...
- Poteaux-en-terre
- PierrotagePierrotageA construction technique in which rock fill is used between vertical wooden posts. It was used by French settlers in the Americas.-See also:*Ste. Genevieve, Missouri*New France*French colonization of the Americas*French architecture*Poteaux-en-terre...