New Orleans, Floating

How can we rebuild The City of New Orleans and protect it from potential disasters with innovative design and construction methods, while maintaining its heritage, unique culture and personality?

Studies from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Army Corps of Engineers have shown the city of New Orleans sinking or losing land mass.Coastal erosion, global warming and severe weather has been one of the primary causes rising water levels and ultimately the failure of the levees.

In the case with New Orleans, careful attention must be paid to geological data, weather history and forecasting and rising water levels before any kind of new programs or structures are planned. There must be new strategies of drainage, fl ood protection and emergency evacuation in case of disaster. Emergency pumps and generators should be maintained and augment the existing pump stations.

Foundations to new or additional levees and fl ood barriers must be built to the proper depth on suitable soils. Importing suitable fi ll may be needed in the lower elevations. Altering elevations or grades for drainage or re-routing excess storm water. Shoring up or strengthening existing seawalls with innovative materials is possible. Adding land mass or offshore barriers that can block or defl ect water.

A program that compliments water while controlling it is a possibility. Flood or disaster prevention must be maintained at all times due to the upcoming hurricane seasons. In this area of the United States hurricanes, tropical storms, poor soil conditions and the event of fl ooding is an everyday fact of life. It must be dealt with a sense of urgency before new construction can commence.

Creole Cottage 1790-1850

ONE STORY SET AT

GROUND LEVEL

STEEP ROOF PITCH

WOOD/STUCCO EXTERIOR

SYMETRICAL 4 OPENING FACADE

SCATTERED THROUGHOUT NEW ORLEANSPREDOMINANTLY IN THE FRENCH QUARTER

water level @ 2-0”

water level @ 4-0”

water level @ 8-0”

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American Townhouse 1820-1850LOCATED IN CENTRAL GARDEN DISTRICT, LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT, FAUBOURG MARIGNY AND THE FRENCH QUARTER

Narrow 3 story wood framed w/ brick or stucco facade

Front exterior close to property line

Steeply pitched roof(sometimes) w/

severaldormers

WATER LEVEL@ 2’-0 A.G.

WATER LEVEL@ 4’-0 A.G.

WATER LEVEL@ 8’-0 A.G.

SHOTGUN HOUSE

WATER LEVEL@ 2’-0 A.G.

WATER LEVEL@ 4’-0 A.G.

DRY CONDITIONS

WOOD FRAME W/WOOD SIDING

OPENINGS FOR ROOMSARE ALIGNED FOR VENTILATION

1850-1910. The Shotgun House is a narrow residence approximatley12 ft wide. It can be found throughout New Orleans and many other Southern Towns. It’s name comes from aligned openings. One can“fi re a shot gun” through the front door and out of the back door withouthitting a wall.

WATER LEVEL@ 8’-0 A.G.

SITUATED ON BLOCK PIERS 2 TO 3 FT. ABOVE GRADE

Block piers on original shotgun houses

New Piles that raise house in case of fl ood

New Beams for “lifting” house as water level rises.

Make it RightActor Brad Pitt’s proposal for rebuilding the lower 9thward with affordable, sustainable homes.

SOLAR PANELS

CONCRETE PIERS@ 8’ TO 10’ ABOVE GRADE

WATERVILLAArchitect Herman Hertzberger’s “Watervilla” fl oats on a concrete box below. The home can be rotated at any angle.

The CitidelThe Netherlands have similar fl ooding conditions as New Orleans. Half of the country sits at below sealevel.Architects Koen Ulthius and Herman Hertzberger are taking a different approach to fl ooding problems by designing structures that fl oat on fl ood waters.

Floating InfrastructureJapan has 4 fl oating Airports

Kawai International Airport

New Kitakyushu Airport

Kobe Airport

Chubu Centrair International Airport

Coastal Barriers

Thames Barrier

Watergate

Oosterscheld Storm Surge Barrier

Watergate