Can I submit a design to be built?
How do you pick designs to be built?
Why are the houses at different places in relation to the front yard?
How did you pick the location of where you build the houses?
How were the architects picked?
Was there a masterplan done before building?
Are you guys plan on doing any infrastructure in the neighborhood?
What is the floating house?
Will the floating house float away?
Why are there so many designs? Wouldn’t a more simple standard design be easier to build, faster to build, and more cost effective?
Are the design architects still involved?
What is the average square footage of the houses designed for the Lower Ninth Ward?
How much changed from the original designs to what are being built now?
Can I submit a design to be built?
At this time, we are not accepting designs. Due to a variety of factors, including strict cost restrictions, code adherence and the liability tied to design and construction, we are currently unable to utilize outside help.
How do you pick designs to be built?
Original designs were picked through an architect selection process by a committee set up by MIR which was comprised of several architects, the MIR board, and Brad Pitt.
Why are the houses at different places in relation to the front yard?
This is due to the city and our desire to get the houses closer to the street. In some cases, we left the houses at the current city zoning laws, in some cases houses had to be averaged due to existing structures, and in other cases, we were able to move the houses as close as 10′ from the front setback.
How did you pick the location of where you build the houses?
A target area was picked because we wanted to make sure that as we rebuilt, we were creating density in the neighborhood. The area was picked due to its location near South Claiborne, and its vicinity to where the levee failed. Brad was interested in rebuilding in an area that received much attention. TAYLOR: Do you know the whole story here?
How were the architects picked?
The architects were picked through a rigorous selection process with input from Make It Right, William McDonough +Partners, Graft, John Williams Architects, and Brad Pitt.
Was there a masterplan done before building?
In the Lower Ninth Ward, there have been over 15 master plans developed by the city and by private groups. While the city master plan deals primarily with larger matters concerning zoning, parking, etc, there are a wide variety of ideas in many of the other master plans. In a standard master plan, the developer owns the property or is in the process of acquiring the property that the plan relates to. In the case of the Lower Ninth Ward, Make It Right does not own all the property in the area, or even in its target zone. Property titles are often hard to clear up for purchase due to inheritance laws, which in the case of death passes on to the children of the owners. After two generations, property can be owned by a large amount of descendants, which can be hard to locate and track for purchase. Because of the difficulties of lot acquisition, along with the fact that Make It Right does not own all the property in our target zone, we have decided to focus on our current goal of rebuilding 150 homes.
Are you guys plan on doing any infrastructure in the neighborhood?
We have talked internally about this and with neighborhood associations, but at this time, we are focusing our funding on building the 150 houses that we initially set out to build. We have worked with the city to get new roads built in the Lower Ninth Ward, and that is currently being done.
What is the floating house?
The house known as the Float House is a house designed by Morphosis Architects. It was designed and built with a floating foundation similar to a boat. The idea is that if the Lower Ninth Ward floods again, the house would float as the water rises, and drop when the water drops.
Will the floating house float away?
No. The Float House has two steel masts at either end of the house that it is anchored to. The house is designed to float up while staying on the vertical masts.
Why are there so many designs?
Wouldn’t a more simple standard design be easier to build, faster to build, and more cost effective?
Brad Pitt and the original group that discussed rebuilding, realized that one solution for different people was not the best way to tackle the problem. What evolved were multiple designers and multiple design types to help facilitate different family sizes and different needs.
Are the design architects still involved?
The design architects are updated on changes to their designs due to cost limitations, and have access to the MIR construction photos
What is the average square footage of the houses designed for the Lower Ninth Ward?
Around 1200SF
How much changed from the original designs to what are being built now?
Changes are design specific. Certain houses have had to change quite a bit due to cost implications. Some houses we have built only once due to costs being too high to keep design intent intact.
Please see our Construction FAQ as some questions you may have also may be in that list.