Moore, Piazza d'Italia, New Orleans

Our last day in New Orleans started with a seminar in the Piazza D'Italia, a post-modern square designed by Charles Moore.
In the afternoon we split into two groups, the first went to the WWII Museum near our hotel, then visited two more Tulane projects, and took a drive out to Venice - a nearby fishing village.
The rest of the group stayed in the city. We went to Wednesday at the Square - a free concert in Lafayette Square, then headed to Jefferson Square to do a bit of reading. Afterwards we went to Cafe du Monde for beignets.

Piazza d'Italia

Piazza d'Italia





Make it Right, Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans

New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward is the site of Brad Pitt's Make It Right project - a response to the devastation that resulted from a break in the levee wall during Hurricane Katrina. The houses are raised off the ground to help in the event of future floods. A series of houses, designed by architects from all over the world, are repeated throughout the area.
Make It Right

Make It Right
Make It Right

Make It Right
Levee Wall in the Lower Ninth Ward
House of Dance and Feathers





UrbanBuild, City Park pavilions, New Orleans

In the morning we split up, some of us went to picked up two rental cars from Hertz, while the rest of the group took the streetcar to Tulane University library to get some articles for our debate. We met up at a store called Mushroom near the university, where we got some cds for the road. We split up again for lunch on Hampson St, at the riverbend (Refuel Cafe, Hana Japanese Restaurant, and La Macarena Pupuseria and Latin Cafe).
Afterwards we visited the New Orleans Mission. The facility provides emergency shelter for up to 300 people. The mission acts as a transitional living space that involves many of those who stay there in programs which help them find employment and regain financial security.
In the afternoon we visited a few more Tulane projects, then headed to the Musician's Village and the Lower Ninth Ward.


Duplantier Volunteer Pavilion

Duplantier Volunteer Pavilion

Duplantier Volunteer Pavilion

Eco Pavilion Sustainable Exhibition
Eco Pavilion Sustainable Exhibition

Eco Pavilion Sustainable Exhibition

























UrbanBuild, City Center houses, New Orleans

We took the trolly car to meet Emily from the Tulane School of Architecture. She took us on a walking tour to see some of Tulane's recent student design-build projects and some other projects in the area.

Trolly Car
Faubourg Delassize Community Garden
URBANbuild03
URBANbuild06
URBANbuild04
URBANbuild02









After our tour of some of Tulane's projects we decided to visit a nearby cemetery, but it was closed for Memorial Day. In New Orleans and a lot of the surrounding area the graves are all raised above ground because of the high water table. Next we began a long, hot walk through Audubon Park, then along the levee ending at The Camillia Grill.

high water at the levee





























































New Orleans

After breakfast at the Hilton we headed to get some prepaid cell phones then to Cafe Du Monde for Beignettes, but by the time we got there the line was about a block long. We spent the rest of the morning walking around the French Quarter, looking at different housing types in the area.







After sketching houses in the french quarter we went to a nice little outdoor cafe for lunch ( Cafe Amelie ). Then we went to Jefferson Square to sit and discuss the sketches and what we had noticed about the houses. We split up for the rest of the afternoon and met again for dinner at Praline Connection, then went to Snug Harbour to see some New Orleans Jazz but the show was sold out. We ended up going to Maison Frenchmen and saw a great band called Corporate America.

Corporate America




Bourbon Street, New Orleans

After having our flights cancelled we finally made it to New Orleans in time to check in at the Hilton Garden Inn, grab some dinner at Liborio's Cuban Restaurant then head to Bourbon Street to take in the night life.

Bourbon Street












Hand Grenades



Hollygrove Growers Market & Farm With Pavilion

Hollygrove Growers Market is located at 8301 Olive St. in the heart of New Orleans. This neighborhood suffered a lot of damage after Hurricane Katrina and needs extensive re-development. This project is an idea about providing the local community with locally-grown, affordable fresh produce. As a result, certification programs in urban agriculture will be produced.
The Hollygrove Pavilion was constructed by students and faculty of Tulane University. The pavilion will stand as an example of environmentally conscious architecture.



A detail in the butterfly like roof that directs rainwater into a cistern for use in the training gardens. Although this was the intention, the collected water is not actually used for what ever reason. Instead water from the main line is used.






On the left hand side this photo you can see a deep green behind the plexi, that is where the cistern is held.

Make it Right, Lower 9th Ward

The Make It Right Foundation is a response to the housing lost during Hurricane Katrina in the Lower 9th Ward which was the hardest hit with the most lives lost. Make It Right Focuses on Green Building in the areas of water conservation, improving energy-efficiency, using materials that healthy for humans and the environment and adapting design to the local environment to make the homes storm-resistant. These home designs are from architects all over the world. The first five images are information boards thats have been set up in the community to inform the public of the history and current situation.










Make it Right, Lower 9th Ward -- house of Robert Green

On our tour of Lower 9th Ward we met a man named Robert Green who had lost his mother, granddaughter and house to the levee break during Hurricane Katrina. Robert gave us a tour of his house and told us about the history of the Lower 9th before and after the hurricane. Robert also explained to us the significance and reasoning behind many of the Make It Right homes.
We gave Robert our contactinformation and sent us some links.
This is an amazing photo of Robert that won first prize in a compitition. The photo shows him on concrete steps that used to lead up to his old house before it was swept away.
The other link is an video interview with Robert on CNN.



A view from Robert's balcony.

Front of Robert's House.

Robert Green (on the far right) explains to us about the other houses in the neighbourhood from his balcony.

Trip To Tulane University

We were so hot and tired after walking around the Garden District and along a levee by the Mississippi river that we had to take a nap on the lawn of Tulane University. We had some time to kill before our meeting with Emilie Taylor. Emilie is the Senior Program Coordinator for the Tulane City Center and works with Scott Bernhard (Director) and Dan Etheridge (Associate Director). They have done a lot of interesting work which you can check out here.
Tulane City Center


Our architectural tour of New Orleans
2012: day1 - day2 - day3 - day4 - day5
2011:  day1(Bourbon St) - day2(French Quarter) - day3(CityBuild) - day4 (9th ward)  -  day5 (N.O. & Venice LA)
2010: shotgun houses - garden distr - cemetery - piazza d'italia - Botanical Gdn - CityBuild - hollygrove - 9th ward: #1 - #2 - #3 - #4



We also had time to get a game of frisbee in.

Dave driving the streetcar.


Various buildings on the Tulane Campus