Brad Pitt-Home Builder

[Allan Edwards]

Interesting blog I read by Bill R's wife Kathy (I follow her on Twitter) about some homes built in New Orleans by Brad Pitt. Interesting architecture, I sort of like it but maybe not accepted by the native New Orlean's resident?

http://www.kathysremodelingblog.com/...-9th-ward.html

Great blog on remodeling by the way.

http://www.kathysremodelingblog.com/

[Allan Edwards]

By the way, regarding the architecture of the homes being built by Brad Pitt, I like it even though it isn’t in line with previous homes that were destroyed by Katrina. Which I guess is the issue:

New York Times
James Dart, a Manhattan-based architect who was born and raised in New Orleans, described the houses as “alien, sometimes even insulting,” adding, “the biggest problem is that they are not grounded in the history of New Orleans architecture.” But, like other architects I spoke to, he expressed admiration for Mr. Pitt. “He deserves a great deal of credit,” Mr. Dart said, adding that Mr. Pitt had “done more for New Orleans” than any government agency.

I think architecture changes and evolves with time, for better and worse. It is what it is for the times and reflects that generation’s culture, art, and values, including good and poor taste. I think you could even make the case it would be disingenuous had he tried to replicate previous homes.

[Dancing Dan]

I agree. I think architecture needs to reference local historical conditions but not replicate them. Don't know enough about NOLA architecture to judge these, but I think some of the designs are pretty cool.

[davenorthup]

We saw one or two of these in NO this fall in person. There is nothing like driving down a hill from the lake surface.... Weird feeling after knowing what happened in Katrina.

New Orleans architecture is interesting to say the least and pretty diverse outside the French Quarter. I think some of these fit in OK and some definitively stand out. I like a nice design; but they 'need to fit' or attempt to fit in with the surrounding area to be a complete architectural success like Dan mentions.

We also had the chance to drive the entire coast of Mobile Bay - some really nice architecturally designed house down there.

Interesting - thanks for posting that link.

[David Meiland]

I don't necessarily love 'em, but if they do a bunch like that they'll start to become part of the local fabric, a reminder of a turning point in history there, part of the era of rebuilding.

After the Oakland/Berkeley, a lot of very oversized stucco boxes got built where nice older redwood-sided homes had been. Not an improvement at all.

[Bill Robinson]

At first I was appalled by the design of these homes, they are certainly not typical.
One architect seems to agree with Alan in that might be disrespectful to try and replicate the traditional architecture.

And I was reminded by a local resident the homes there before the levees broke were not traditional in style New Orleans is noted for.

They are odd and mostly architectural egos at work.

Once all 150 are built they will not look so out of place.

Where they do miss the mark though is on affordability as in high cost.

Of the first six homes they built over 70% of the windows were installed incorrectly.

The most benefit is it keeps rebuilding in New Orleans somewhat in mind.

Bill R

[davenorthup]

So many things wrong with that installation.

The thing here is see daily on new construction is the taping the bottom flange with vycor or similar. It drives me nuts - lets trap that water behind the WRB - great idea.

Are they building them all in a cluster or spread out over the ward?

[Ohiobuilder]

Bill,


Bottom of the window taped and the house wrap taped tight above the windows?

[Lavrans]

Some are better than others. I understand what the people are saying though- architects can be a lot like artists- what they want to do isn't necessarily recognizable as art to the average person, just like the average person may have a hard time recognizing some of those structures as home.

This is where a lot of architects fall- their interests often don't include those little touches of comfort and familiarity that makes a home understandable to the inhabitants. The smaller a home is the more those bits of familiarity become important.

Doesn't matter if the old homes were or weren't "classic NO" architecture, they were probably somewhere between that and ranch, but probably weren't like these. :-)

But- I like what he's doing- and if they finish building they will have a new neighborhood with a new neighborhood style. Perhaps if they're lucky some of the particularly galling ones will meet the business end of a tornado, leaving the more interesting ones...

[m beezo]

I have seen the first couple that were in the 9th ward. I did not care for them but do not like some of the modern looks or whatever style it is. However, maybe Bill or Kathy can show you a picture of the riverboat house that is not far from those houses. It has some of the same detail as far as how elevated the house is. As I recall it and it has been a few years since I heard the story and saw part of the house, the first floor is able to be completely underwater if it had to be. It sits up high like Pitt;s houses do. But the style other than being long and narrow is not what I think of for a NO house. On the other hand, if you read some of the stuff about them, how the design is supposed to make them so energy efficient and such then maybe it will work.

I thought I also had heard that they were not coming in on budget at all. And I have to tell you, on a project like this, where everybody is watching, who is the idiot that let the windows be installed like that? Bill, was that corrected or do you know? My first thought was that on a high profile job like this that you would only attract the best to do the work and that mistake would have been caught.

What say you all, Bill.

Thanks Allan for the links. I just cannot get enough about the place. had planned on trying to go there this fall but will see if the economy pick up for me and I can afford it.

[Bill Robinson]

So many things wrong with that installation.

The thing here is see daily on new construction is the taping the bottom flange with vycor or similar. It drives me nuts - lets trap that water behind the WRB - great idea.

Are they building them all in a cluster or spread out over the ward?

The makeitright development is in a contained area. North of Claiborne Ave is not an historic neighborhood so they could get away with it.

On the windows, not only did they not get the water management right they missed on the structural requirements as well.

They installed impact resistant windows, we are in a 130 MPH wind zone and either impact resistant windows or some shutter accommodation is required.

Bill R

[Bill Robinson]

S

Doesn't matter if the old homes were or weren't "classic NO" architecture, they were probably somewhere between that and ranch, but probably weren't like these. :-)

It does matter Lavrans, if they had been traditional/historic the MIR group would not have been able to pull off this architectural experiment.

The HDLC (Historic District Landmarks Commission) is very diligent here and it is highly unlikely they would have been built.

Beezo, I would have to say the cast of idiots was numbered in hundreds.

I was eventually exiled from the site for trying to get someone to listen to the problem.

Long story shortened they are now installing them correctly and no they did not correct the mistakes.
Latest plans have 20 pages on window installaiton.



Even the beloved Mike Holmes built one there. That was a circus and Holmes did not disappoint.
In one case Mikey refused to build 24" OC even though it was engineered because it was not strong enough--just like he uses screws for framing.

Banned Bill R

[Lavrans]

It does matter Lavrans, if they had been traditional/historic the MIR group would not have been able to pull off this architectural experiment.

Sorry, not clear enough- I read in that and another article that the area wasn't traditional or historic- the "doesn't matter" was meant to be more about the expectations of buyers, not in reference to the historic definitions, and since neither article explained what the previous homes were like, my assumption was that they were probably between NO and ranch (ranch being the default of the post-war era).

[m beezo]

While some of the homes in the area are not what many would think of as a New Orleans area I think most of would have to wonder where those homes would fit in. I do agree that if they build that many it will be it's own unique area just as the French Quarter, Garden District, Algiers Point is a unique area. In another 25 years or less there will be tour busses looking at the area just like the ones mentioned above.

As with many of the homes shown on another thread of unusual homes, I cannot get used to them partly because they seem so out of the ordinary. Of course remember I am the guy who asked if a home without a chimmney was going to look odd!

Bill, I just saw my first Holmes on Holmes show the other day. Does he use screws for everything or just so you can see him working? Afraid to use a nail gun? No nail gun sponsors for his show? I saw it and wondered if it was just occasionally or all the time? I know but you brought it up!

[NW Architect]

The question of "fitting in" assumes that there is something to fit into. since that area was pretty much totally blown out, AND Pitt is doing a large number of houses, his development becomes its own thing. the only fitting in has to do with longs, skinny lots (30' wide is the norm) and the flood level.

The old stuff was built below the flood level and depended entirely on the levees. the new stuff is raised up. That leaves open parking spots under the houses. Parking never existed before, so that will be a major changed. The already narrow streets will not have to be lined with vehicles.

The old stuff was typically done on a shotgun layout. Room after room all in a row. Bathrooms ofetn were once-upon-a-time additions on the back of the house. Lifestyle provided no personal privacy since everybody had to walk through everybody else's bedroom to get everywhere.

I see entry doors and window patterns that suggest some side corridors in the flor plans. that would be another big change from the past.

It is probably going to be attractive to folks that are not old-line New Orleanians, or who ARE, but are seeking something different from what they had in the past. (I'm not sure the Lower 9th is a destination neighborhood for anyone who has never lived in NO).

By comparison, see the link for the houses in Musicians Village. This is housing intended to attract the the very same people that used to live there. Architectural change has been kept to a minimum (and it is apparently on higher land, as the floor line is closer to grade.

http://www.nolamusiciansvillage.org/...sp?displayid=1

I can only wish Brad, and other generous souls, the best. I look forward to going back to the devastated outer wards of the city someday, and finding neighborhoods that are more cheerful that what was there before.