new orleans and buildings

Very behind on the blog front, which is ironic since for once I have so much to say. That is since I’ve been seeing and doing so much. Which is why I don’t have time to write. Vicious circle. But I’ll try to play catch-up, talking about New Orleans which was already over a week ago.

I am so glad I made the stop in New Orleans, to visit my friends Lawrence and Catherine. Having lived there for about 15 years, they are about to move to Greensboro, so this was my last chance. I’m not sure what I expected. They kept saying come visit, but it always seemed too far, and somehow was not near the top of my ‘must see’ cities. I was so wrong.

I love New Orleans. Even though I was only there for two days, I did manage to see a lot and what I saw had much more to do with architecture than I had envisioned. Beignets and fried oyster po boys I was expecting. But endlessly interesting, riveting and exciting architecture no. Ok, so maybe this had to do with my state of mind these days, talking about Italian rustic architecture non-stop. Also, Lawrence my host, is an architectural historian. But still, I was not prepared to be so seduced.

Lawrence, Catherine and Emmie their daughter live in the Garden District, in a double camel back. I learned quickly that there are a dozen or so designs of houses (double camel back being but one) that get repeated over and over. But each one is embellished and unique in its own way. Lawrence and I took Lily the dog for a long walk one day, and here follow some of my pix. (By the way, this area of New Orleans was not much affected by Katrina, since it was near the river and so on high ground.)






 
But the real revelation of my trip were the houses that Brad Pitt’s project, Make it Right, is building in the lower Ninth Ward. This was already a desperately poor neighborhood, and suffered was devastated by the floods.

I’ve always been very wary of Brad Pitt’s architectural claims. When someone keeps telling People magazine that they really wanted to be an architect, but just somehow ended up a mega-star along the way….well, it makes me wonder. But after seeing the Make it Right I have to admit a new respect for his architectural judgement.
 
While there are a lot of questionable issues surrounding the Make it Right project – including whether or not it is wise to rebuild in an area that may very well be flooded again one day – I think the efforts are going in the right direction. I’m a firm believer in the power of good design, and these houses (about a dozen completed so far) are gems. While they may not be solving all of New Orleans problems, they are managing to shine a very bright ray of light into a very dim situation. Here are some of the recently completed homes. All high up on stilts, the designs reflect the traditional long and skinny forms of the original houses, while bringing them firmly into the 21st century. While my friend Lawrence and his family may be moving on to Greensboro, I hope to make it back to New Orleans soon.