The first Make It Right home designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry has been completed in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, the neighborhood most devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The LEED-Platinum duplex is one of only 22 Gehry residences in the United States and the only Gehry home in Louisiana. The 1,780-square-foot home includes a well-proportioned yard for each resident, a waterproof solar canopy on the roof terrace and six additional canopied porches, open interior and exterior staircases, and oversized windows in the bedrooms.
The front house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms; the rear unit has one bedroom and one bathroom. Bathrooms on both levels are stacked, staircases are stacked and the great room concept for living, dining, and kitchen were included in the design for construction efficiency.
The project incorporates many sustainable products and technologies: --Nichiha fiber-cement board siding is designed to last 50 years and withstand cracks, rot, hail damage and termites.
--The Ecoblu wood used in framing the home is treated to resist moisture, mold, fungus, wood rot, and wood-ingesting insects, including Formosan termites.
--Lumos LSX frameless solar modules produce clean energy from the sun and double as a waterproof canopy to provide shade on the two rooftop terraces.
--26-gauge metal roofs used on the lower porches absorb less heat, reduce cooling needs by at least 20%, and require minimal maintenance.
--Benjamin Moore’s Natura and Aura paints have zero VOCs and help create better air quality by eliminating off-gassing.
--Marvin Integrity All Ultrex Low-E windows help keep the building cool during the summer months and warm during the winter.
--Kitchen cabinets use sustainably harvested wood and environmentally friendly production methods.
--Unico System’s small-duct central heating and air conditioning system utilizes compact, modular air handlers and flexible tubing to heat and cool the home.
--Noritz tankless water heaters heat water instantaneously and are at least 80% more energy efficient than conventional heaters, reducing homeowners’ annual water heating cost by about 50%.
--Eco by Cosentino countertops and surfacing material are composed of 75% recycled raw material, including glass, mirror, porcelain, and a corn oil resin.
--Shaw EPIC Laminate Hardwood’s inner layer is made from post-industrial recycled content and uses approximately 50% less newly harvested wood than conventional alternatives.
--Shaw Green Edge carpet is made from post-consumer nylon and can be recycled into new carpet at the end of its lifecycle.
Make It Right was founded in 2007 to build sustainable homes for communities in need. All of the organization’s homes are built to LEED-Platinum certification standards. For EcoHome's coverage of the Make It Right Foundation’s approach to creating sustainable, successful neighborhoods in New Orleans, click here.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: New Orleans, LA.