As part of Architecture for Humanitys' ongoing efforts to help families rebuild tomorrow will see the launch of the Biloxi Model Home Program.
see full post for more information and invite.
The Model Home Program
The Model Home program is a program sponsored by Architecture for Humanity. The goal of the program is to provide design services and financial assistance for the construction of a number of new homes for families in East Biloxi whose houses were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. This fully-funded pilot program aims to assist families committed to rebuilding on their property by pairing them with architects, engineers and design professionals and others who can help them answer such basic questions as: Is it safe to rebuild on my lot? How will the new flood map elevations and building codes affect me? And, if I rebuild, what can I afford to build?
Families will be paired with a team of professional designers who will work with them one-on-one to design a new home for their property that will not only be affordable but will also be sustainable and meet the area's new building requirements. The pilot program is unique in that it offers families the opportunity to work one on one with architects and design professionals giving them access to expertise and design talent.
To jump start the program, Architecture for Humanity invited a number of established local and national firms to create proposals for homes that meet the new challenges of disaster-mitigation in the post-Katrina environment. Using the latest in materials research, disaster mitigation and sustainable building techniques, we see this as an opportunity for architects to help set the bar for new construction in the area. The designs will be on display at a house fair (see below) sponsored by Architecture for Humanity and hosted by the Salvation Army at their headquarters in Biloxi (Yankie Stadium) on Saturday Aug. 19th.
In addition to sponsoring the Model Home program, Architecture for Humanity is collaborating with the East Biloxi Coordination Relief and Redevelopment Center, Hands On Gulf Coast and the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio to bring volunteer designers and architects to East Biloxi. These volunteers have and will continue to assist community partners with everything from lot assessments, to training, to providing design services, to hands-on reconstruction.
Biloxi House Fair
To help mark the progress made in bringing families home to Biloxi, Architecture for Humanity is partnering with the Biloxi Relief, Recovery and Revitalization Center, the Salvation Army and a number of volunteer groups working in the area to host a House Fair, that will include a house tour and architecture fair.
The house tour will showcase just a few of the many beautiful homes that have been reconstructed with the help of volunteer groups from around the country who have so generously spent the last year helping families get back on their feet. The house tour will start at the Salvation Army Headquarters (Yankie Stadium) at the corner of Division and Lee St. All are welcome.
Currently in the United States less than 2% of first time homeowners work with architects in the construction of their future home. So it comes as no surprise that most of the general public the idea working a design professional is a foreign concept. To facilitate this approach an architects House Fair has been a novel and successful way in connecting design professionals with residents and possibly potential clients.
Instead of waiting to be approached many architects in Europe go out into the public and meet residents one on one to show their latest housing ideas. The initiative of a House Fair was pioneered in the Netherlands. Every year architects from across the country descend on Rotterdam to present their latest ideas for affordable single family housing to residents, where it is no wonder that design and architecture has become a household word. So we thought why not bring the idea to the Gulf Coast where so many are in need of architectural and construction expertise?
Rather than giving overly technical and dry presentations Architecture for Humanity is bringing local, state and national architects will meet with one-on-one with residents to discuss their ideas for low-income housing schemes that address FEMA regulations, issues surrounding elevation issues and disaster mitigation. A dozen nationally recognized architecture firms will showcase home designs created to address the specific needs of East Biloxi. Each firm will host a booth at Yankie Stadium. Residents and others are invited to share their ideas, ask questions and speak directly with the architects about their housing needs.
Finally, volunteer architects and designers from the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio and Architecture for Humanity New York will also host Design Your Dream Home workshops for neighborhood kids from 11am to 1pm.
Saturday August 19th 2005
Salvation Army HQ
Biloxi, MS
10AM-1PM
Biloxi House Fair
10am-1pm: Meet architects, see their ideas and talk with them about your housing needs.
Participating Architects
MC2 Architects - Houston, Texas
RBGC Architecture, Research and Urbanism - Charlottesville, Virginia
Gulf Coast Community Design Studio - Jackson, Mississippi
Huff + Gooden Architects - Charleston, South Carolina
Building Studio - Memphis, Tennessee
Studio Gang Architects - Chicago, Illinois
Brett Zamore Design - Houston, Texas
Rockhill and Associates - Lecompton, Kansas
Guild Hardy Architects - Biloxi, Mississippi
Marlon Blackwell Architect - Fayetteville, Arkansas
PHATT Collaborative - Miami, Florida
JBHM Architects - Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi
Design Your Dream Home Workshop
11am-1pm: Design Your Dream Home Workshop. Kids of all ages work one-on-one with volunteer architects to design their dream home. Homes will be developed into Sketch Up models (Parents, welcome too!)
House Tour
10am-3pm: House Tour of refurbished homes affected by Hurricane Katrina. This event will highlight the efforts of numerous relief agencies coordinated by the Biloxi Relief, Recovery and Revitalization Center. Driving directions will be provided at the Salvation Army Tent.
If you are in the area, please join us. All are welcome.
All are welcome. Come share in the food, fun and good design. oh, free hot dogs too.
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