Project Description
This 1,550-square-foot home was developed for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right
initiative in New Orleans’ Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Lower Ninth Ward.
Santa Monica, Calif.–based LivingHomes developed the structure based on
its standard CK5 floor plan, made up of three prefabricated modules that
were constructed in Austin, Texas, before being transported to the site
and installed in a single day.
A corner site allowed the
standard home plan to be modified to include two covered
porches—totaling 525 square feet and facing each street—effectively
increasing the house’s living area by one-third during good weather. All
construction is raised above grade to offer protection from future
weather events. The principal wing combines the living, dining rooms,
and kitchen within a single open space. Separated by a narrow entryway,
the second wing provides a master suite, two additional bedrooms, and a
guest bath.
The LEED Platinum design meets WELL Building
Standards and utilizes many Cradle 2 Cradle Certified materials.
Designed in response to a cataclysmic event intensified by climate
change, the Make It Right LivingHome demonstrates how thoughtful design
can provide affordable—and repeatable—solutions to far-reaching
problems. —Edward Keegan