Flavorpill: Brad Pitt and the Trouble with Vernacular Architecture

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the designs of the Make It Right (MIR) houses in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward continue to transform the city and influence post-disaster vernacular in America. They also continue to stir discussion, and plenty of critique, from a broad spectrum of architects – certainly from preservationists, who complain the MIR designs are not New Orleans enough, and even from a few sustainability advocates who question whether these unique designs truly offer a cohesive sense of community, even whether they are replicable elsewhere.

In flavorpill, Kelsey Keith observes:

And though modern design enthusiasts (of which, generally, I am one) have been quick to praise the project — which is building ‘em lean, mean, and green, after all — design professionals with ties to New Orleans are hesitant. The Times quotes James Dart, a New Orleans-born, New York-based architect who describes the houses as “alien, sometimes even insulting,” adding, “the biggest problem is that they are not grounded in the history of New Orleans architecture.” Local broker Jennifer Pearl chimes in: “Brad has the very best intentions. However, had he come here with houses that looked like what had been here before, he probably could have had four times, five times as many houses up by now.

Still, it’s worth noting that the architects commissioned to deliver these single-family and duplex designs participated in a series of community charrettes with residents and potential homeowners to understand their needs and wants for this massive rebuilding effort. The Make It Right Foundation also provided guidance, asking that all designs reflect traditional New Orleans typologies; that homes are green, affordable, and storm resistant, and built using materials inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking. “And finally, they were asked to design homes that were aesthetically-advanced.”

In Updates to a Classic, MIR summarizes the design intent at the core of this project:

The thirteen architects who contributed to single family home designs all hewed to the traditional New Orleans shotgun house format - simple, narrow and fashioned to fit the long skinny lots in the Lower 9th Ward. They also all include porches - a feature highly valued in the neighborhood that places a premium on sociability and connectedness to the community. All of the homes have more complex floor plans, solar panels, rain water collectors and other green features.

Twenty-five houses are now in place, many of them occupied by new homeowners, with another 25 under construction and the remaining 100 scheduled to break ground before the end of this year. No matter what happens next with Make It Right, a statement has been made: a statement of change, of passive survivability, of looking forward from a place rich in history.