The 9th Ward sustained the worst flooding after the storm, and thousands of lives were disrupted – lives still in limbo, but not defeated. Houses were smashed or thrown on top of cars or other houses as even the highest areas of the neighborhood were flooded. The force of the water resulting from multiple levee breaks due to Hurricane Katrina did far more than flood thousands of homes-it forced houses and families off their foundations. The population is majority African American, and their homes were built on land that was, in the Colonial Louisiana of the 19th century, plantation land and built and paid for in modern times, thanks to an industrious nature and commitment to independence. The 9th Ward is distinguished in many ways, not least the fact that more residents owned their homes than in any other part of the city. Porches and stoops were important places to catch up with one another and talk about everyday life. As one community leader aptly described it recently, the 9th ward had an ‘atmosphere of engagement’ that featured time spent with one another in dialog, in celebration of the music, words and history that make the 9th Ward so special. The 9th Ward of New Orleans is one of the richest cultural communities in the country and was, until Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005, a crossroads of families, music and social interaction in New Orleans. New Orleans Houses : Architects involved with charity Make It Rightīy Douglas Brinkley Author and Historian The mission is to accomplish this quickly, so that the first residents can begin returning to their homes in early 2008. The Mission of Make It Right is clear: It is to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower Ninth Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. That successful project inspired Pitt’s new focus: Make It Right. Pitt worked with local community leaders as well as experts from around the world to develop viable ideas for the Lower 9th Ward. He began by working with Global Green to sponsor an architecture competition aimed at generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainable. He understood instinctively that a New Orleans rebuilt without the 9th Ward would never be whole. Just as importantly, he wanted to help recreate and nurture the unique culture and spirit of the 9th Ward, which symbolizes the soul of New Orleans. Inspired by the courage and hope of the residents he met, Pitt resolved to do whatever he could to help them rebuild. The residents of the Lower 9th Ward told Pitt that while their terrible crisis had exposed their vulnerability, Katrina had also created an opportunity: to build something better than what had existed before. Their concerns have been validated by many scientists, who have concluded that climate change is increasing the frequency and strength of hurricanes, resulting in the erosion of wetlands and barrier islands that once protected the coast. The rising cost of energy placed a strain on the low-income households of the neighborhood and residents expressed concern about worsening environmental conditions. In a series of community meetings, residents of the Lower 9th Ward told Pitt about the challenges their community faced, both before and after the storm. Many were quietly saying there was no chance the Lower 9th Ward would ever be re-built. Pitt was even more disturbed by the lack of a clear plan to address the situation. When Brad Pitt visited the Lower 9th Ward for the first time after the storm, he was shocked by what he saw: the remnants of people’s lives strewn across the streets and an entire neighborhood torn apart and turned upside down. The slow reaction to the initial emergency and to the ongoing crisis exposed troubling realities about the response capabilities of the American government when the citizens of our most culturally diverse city were in desperate need of help. Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Make It Right : Housing In the Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans Previously Brad had worked with Frank Gehry on projects such as the Hove development, England Officially opened by former President Bill Clinton in March 2008 Pink House Images from Graftlab 1 April 2008įor charity Make It Right – run by Brad Pitt Graft – architecture practice based in Los Angeles Photograph : Mavis Yorks Make It Right Housingġ50 bright pink solar-powered and water-resistant housesįor homeless residents of New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.īrad Pitt & his wife Angelina Jolie and their four children are residents of New Orleans New Orleans Houses, Lower Ninth Ward – Designers + Images – not working now, link checker 11 June 2016
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