 
Rebuilding carries within the opportunity and promise for improvement. Three groups in particular have taken very different approaches to reach a common goal — to rebuild the South not as it was, but as it should be. The House That Hope Built Immediately receptive to the idea of improvement, in October 2005 Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi called for the Mississippi Renewal Forum, a conference on recovery strategy. It was organized by Miami architect Andrés Duany, a founder of the New Urbanism movement, who challenged builders, architects, and planners to design a durable, affordable, aesthetically pleasing alternative to the trailers issued by FEMA. Duany, who has lived in Florida through several hurricanes, has witnessed the deterioration of communities as trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency outlive their short-term intentions and become life-long residences. And in instances where inhabitants are able to move out, the waste left behind can be unsightly at best, environmentally toxic at worst. This was Duany’s motivation when he instructed his team of two hundred to design a home to meet both immediate and long-term needs. The result was the now-celebrated Katrina Cottage. The first Katrina Cottage was the brainchild of New York architect Marianne Cusato, who instantly recognized the prospect at hand. “[We] have the opportunity to build back better,” she explains. Her original design, a 300-square-foot storm-worthy cottage, is both permanent and charming. Sold at select Lowe’s stores, it is accessible to all, easy to assemble, yet hurricane-resistant and absolutely adorable. At the heart of Cusato’s vision is a need for community: while a cluster of trailers can be a neighborhood, a collection of colorful cottages becomes a small village that people are proud to inhabit. And, should they become ready to rebuild, residents can easily find new use for the cottage as a guesthouse or studio. While built for quick and easy assembly, the Katrina Cottage uses materials appropriate for the climate and is designed to withstand whatever the future may bring. “There are many givens in this world,” Cusato explains. “It is a given that disasters will happen. We need to build better for the future.” Gimme Shelter When many musicians lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina, the nation ran the risk of losing a valuable part of its musical pulse. It was this fear, along with a deep compassion for those artists whose work is the very soul of the city, that inspired local jazz icons Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis to envision a community where musicians could congregate with other families and inspire the musical appreciation celebrated in New Orleans. Teaming up with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity International, the men created the Musicians Village, a nonprofit organization with the goal of building permanent homes for some of the city’s displaced musicians and other qualifying families. A year and a half since its conception, the organization is well on its way to meet its goals: Building began in March 2006 on eight acres of land in the Upper Ninth Ward; forty-one homes are finished; ten more are in the early stages. The total plan, to be completed by the end of this year, calls for seventy-three single-family homes, five elder-friendly duplexes, and a toddler-friendly pocket park. In addition, construction begins in September on the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, named for the jazz legend. The multipurpose hub, envisioned to serve as a musical learning center, will comprise classrooms, a performance stage, access to computers, and will serve as a neighborhood meeting area. Since the mission of the Musicians Village and the Marsalis Center is to nurture musicians and encourage musical education, it is no surprise it has attracted the help of some very musical donors. Early on, the Dave Matthews Band raised more than $1.5 million for the program in a concert in Denver. New Orleans native Rocky Tornabene and his band Little Feat held a contest-fundraiser at every concert date throughout a tour. Last summer, blues singer Peggy Ratusz organized a benefit outdoor concert called “It Takes a Village,” while Jimmy Buffett donated the proceeds from the sale on eBay of a guitar with his autograph and the autographs of twenty-one Sports Illustrated swimsuit models . More than 25,000 volunteers participated in the program in 2006, but the Musicians Village is always looking for more hands. To get involved or make a donation, go to www.habitat-nola.org. Top Model Home Another charitable organization, Architecture for Humanity, helps victims of disasters around the world — from Kosovo to South Africa — by linking communities in need with architectural and design firms committed to building in sustainable, collaborative, and innovative ways. One project in particular, the Biloxi Model Home Program, used a design fair to connect designers and architects from around the country with residents of East Biloxi whose homes were destroyed by the hurricane but who want to remain on their properties. Pre-approved families were able to choose from drawings and models of homes presented by twelve nationally recognized design firms and begin working with them one-on-one to create plans within their budgets. The close relationship between families and firms lends individuality and character to the construction of the houses. Residents work closely with design teams to conceive homes that are durable, sustainable, and unique. That said, most families are simply happy to have any sort of shelter. When Arkansas architect Marlon Blackwell asked Biloxi resident Richard Tyler, a single father of two, about his preferences for his new home, Tyler replied, “Anything you do will be better than what I have.” Blackwell’s firm, chosen by Tyler at the design fair, has worked rigorously to design a home that is both sensible and exceptional. The house plan, called the Porch Dog, is intended to evoke a quiet toughness — to be strong and protective, yet appealing and comfortable. The house, built far above the ground in accordance with city guidelines, relies on the structure of a porch to form connectivity with the street. The porch was Blackwell’s answer to the challenge of creating a sense of urbanism in a town where houses are being built as mini-fortresses. The Porch Dog is planned to fit Tyler’s budget, yet uses modern technology to meet the demands of future needs. The shutters, for example, work, and should help protect the home should another storm hit. Steel and metal ensure that the house is responsive to the weather. Such measures will also provide the family with the sense of security they need after their experience in Katrina. While the program is helping a handful of families directly, its true intent is to act as an example for other victims of the disaster by providing “a model for how one might build,” says Blackwell. By finding sustainable means to build economical housing, AFH is paving the way for greater alternative methods of rebuilding. In doing so, the organization is providing much more than a few homes: It is instilling a sense of hope and renewal in a neighborhood once riddled with debris and heartbreak. For donations and further sponsorship information, contact Gulf Coast Development director Sherry-Lea Bloodworth at slb@architectureforhumanity.org. Learn More |
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