Tim Culvahouse argues that while the widely published and discussed post-Katrina rebuilding project is a worthy undertaking, its designers should take more cues from local building traditions.
Historic typological house models like the Creole Townhouse, with its street-facing stoop and balcony, or the Shotgun House, with its generous front porch, not only defined a New Orleans aesthetic, but also created a unique mode of casual, serendipitous socializing that persists throughout the city today. Other design conventions, like detached and isolated kitchens at the rear of the house, are environmentally logical in a sub-tropical climate and also encourage enjoyment of the backyard, says Culvahouse.
While some Make it Right models embrace these traditions, like David Adjaye's simple yet inspired design that bears resemblance to the traditional Camelback House, others miss the opportunity to create a modern yet distinctly New Orleans architecture, he says.
Culvahouse writes:
'Taking just this small set of typological patterns - the front stoop in intimate contact with the street, its space shaped by the scrolled overhang above; the balcony as a celebrated re-emergence of privileged social space into the wider streetscape; and the interconnection of kitchen to the out-of-doors - we might suggest a starting point for any housing endeavor that aspires to widespread deployment in New Orleans.'
FULL STORY: Stoop, Balcony, Pilot House: Making it Right in the Lower Ninth Ward

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie