Architect Frank Gehry has completed his first building for Make It Right, the charity founded by Brad Pitt to rehouse families made homeless in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Designed to be both sustainable and affordable, the two-storey building contains a three bedroom residence at the front and a single bedroom home at the back.
A canopy of solar panels provides power for the building and also shelters two terraces on the roof.
Fibre cement boards provide a damage-resistant exterior cladding and are painted in different colours to identify each home.
“I wanted to make a house that I would like to live in," said Frank Gehry. "One that responded to the history, vernacular and climate of New Orleans."
Pitt founded the charity back in 2006 with an aim to build over 150 homes in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans and has enlisted a host of architects to help, including Morphosis, Pugh + Scarpa and David Adjaye.
See all our stories about Make It Right projects »
Photography is by Chad Chenier/Make It Right.
Here's some more information from Make it Right:
First Frank Gehry Home Completed by Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation
LEED Platinum home is the only Gehry house in Louisiana
Make It Right, founded by Brad Pitt to build sustainable homes for communities in need, is proud to announce the completion of the organization's first home by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Gehry's duplex design was completed this week in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, the neighborhood most devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This home is one of only 22 Gehry residences in the United States and the only Gehry home in Louisiana.
“I really believe in what Brad is doing for the community and was honored to be included,” said Frank Gehry. “I wanted to make a house that I would like to live in and one that responded to the history, vernacular and climate of New Orleans. I love the colors that the homeowner chose. I could not have done it better.”
Design features of the 1780 square foot home include: front-to-back duplex organization allowing for maximum privacy between the homes, better flow of the interior spaces and a well-proportioned yard for each house; a waterproof solar canopy on the 510 square foot 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 home 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.
All Make It Right's homes are built to LEED Platinum certification standards.
“Make It Right is so grateful to Frank and the team at Gehry Partners for designing this beautiful home,” said Tom Darden, Make It Right’s executive director. “Frank’s work proves that beautiful, elegant, ground-breaking designs can go hand-in-hand with the practical needs and culture of a community.”