MIRF

MIRF
Every once in awhile I get some small request on the side for the Make It Right Foundation and figured that it would make for an interesting segway from the usual work. The Make It Right Foundation (MIRF as I call it) is a post-Katrina rehabilitation program founded by Brad Pitt to help bring new homes to some of the most devastated parts of New Orleans.

The project aims to build 150 new homes in the Lower 9th Ward, one of, if not the, most devastated areas in all of New Orleans. The new homes, from inspirations of a Global Green competiont that Brad Pitt help set up, will aim to retain the cultural feel of the Lower 9th Ward while incorporating sustainable building practices and high quality workmanship.

The most vivid part of the program currently is the "Pink Project" that uses monopoly inspired housing replicas to depict the progress of the funding for the MIRF. As certain funding goals are met, certain pieces of the houses are constructed. As the website states,

"The simple legibility of the pink monopoly house reassembled from smaller individual components intentionally focuses attention on a problem of manageable scale, allowing the individual to physically participate in the installation through donations. Contributions become incorporated into the built environment through architectural assembly. In this, there is a transformation from an individual American Dream into a collective one. Real beauty arises from harnessing the power of global awareness and global helplessness and providing an outlet. Pink is an opportunity to interact meaningfully with the world by rebuilding a torn cultural fabric."

The project will hopefully be a resounding success, but I worry that this well intentioned efforts will go to waste in the next Katrina-esque disaster. The levee's are not up to spec and the city is continually sinking further below sea-level while the natural protections of wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate. At any level, its a worthwhile cause and I highly recommend checking out the website and if your in the area, check out the project.
Cheers!