Published in Building after Katrina: Visions for the Gulf Coast



In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, architectural design solutions must account for immediate problems such as above-ground sea levels, shortages of shelter and community spaces, and the lack of water and energy availability; at the same time, they should address long-term issues such as wetland depletion, energy-grid dependency, and inefficient government action.



This project took on the challenge of designing a school in the lowest area of New Orleans, the Broadmoor neighbourhood, at three metres below sea level.



The design scheme, situated among other houses for safety, separates the elements (individual classrooms, shared common rooms on an elevated, screened platform, and space for administration on a boardwalk structure) to enable a patchwork approach to construction.





These elements are placed around and within a constructed wetland, which could act as a buffer in instances of slight flooding.



The design prioritises lightweight, cheap, and fast construction techniques, leading to spaces that can operate without air-conditioning (which may not be available after disasters).



The wetland is also seen as an opportunity to educate New Orleans students; each classroom is located at a subtly different depth of water, giving each structure its own unique biotic microculture.