Causecast

by SARAH NELSON, Contributing Writer

Hurricane Katrina took the lives of more than 1500 residents of New Orleans and cause more than $75 billion in damages. After being slammed by one the largest natural disasters ever recorded, the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans was left a wasteland with little hope of ever being restored. Hope is on the way. The Make It Right Foundation, founded by Brad Pitt, has released their newest home designs to help build a stronger and safer New Orleans.

New Orleans sits, in some areas, up to six feet below sea-level – making it a prime candidate for serious flood damage. It has never been a matter of “if” a Katrina-like storm would hit, but when. In partnership with Global Green, Make It Right is doing what others said would never be possible – they are bringing back the the Lower Ninth Ward and aiming to make it better than ever. Make It Right has worked to generate ideas to rebuild sustainably with an emphasis on design, while preserving everything that makes the Lower Ninth unique. Their solution? Floating houses.

Okay. They don’t actually “float.” But we think it would be really sweet if they did.

Rebuilding in the New Orleans has led Make It Right architectural partners to consider a rebuilding plan that would sustain future disaster – should it occur. The thirteen original single family unit designs were developed with four things in mind: safety, affordability, sustainability, and high design quality. Many of the new designs are elevated from the street level, or “floating,” which makes them more flood-resistant. The designs are all family-oriented, including duplex homes tailored for multi-family living, common in the New Orleans. The homes are designed with outdoor community space, like mid-level landings where families can gather together.

The fourteen new designs also adhere to the idea of Cradle to Cradle building. Make It Right partner, architect William McDonough, developed this thinking which suggests that everything we create can make a positive contribution to our society, the economy, and the environment. The new homes are solar-powered and highly energy efficient and new design ideas include stacking duplex units which reduces the environmental footprint of the home and makes construction easier.

In all, Make It Right plans to rebuild 150 houses in the Lower Ninth Ward and maintain their commitment to rebuild New Orleans to be stronger than it was be the levees broke.

Check out Make It Right’s 14 new home designs and find out more about the organization and what they are doing in New Orleans at www.makeitrightnola.org.

Photo by aimeesblog, flickr.