The United States Green Building Council 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition challenged young designers to envision a LEED platinum home in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans.  Due to recent stipulations which require new homes to be raised above flood levels, the brief asked that entries find creative ways of addressing this prerequisite, while also maintaining strong ties to the neighborhood context, and designing under a $100,000 construction budget.

HAA’s design approach focused on the stoop as a critical physical and social space. By emphasizing this literal and conceptual middle ground between the public street and private home, the design attempted to mitigate contextual issues brought on by lifting homes above Hurricane Katrina’s floodwaters.  The resulting design directly opens traditionally public functions to the front of the home and the stoop, reinforcing the connection of the home to the community.

The design team also sought to mine and reinterpret the rich architectural history of New Orleans.  Drawing from influences of traditional shotgun and side gallery shotgun homes, we developed an architecture informed by cultural and historical traditions, which capitalized on the embedded logics and efficiencies of these traditional forms in new and unique ways.  The result is an elongated, 850 square foot, two-bedroom home that will fit in nearly any urban lot.  The design is strikingly contemporary in materiality and detail, but contextually referential in form and scale.

Environmental sustainability was also a key component in the development of the project. The home achieves a LEED Platinum rating through an integrated strategy of site and building components.  Major site features include minimized and pervious paving surfaces, native plantings, runoff/ rainwater collection and storage, family vegetable gardens, and strategic tree planting for shade.  The design was also required to provide one on-site parking space, which became seamlessly integrated into the overall site strategy.  Architecturally, the home’s reduced square footage minimizes the ecological footprint.  Solar shading and efficient mechanical and electrical systems reduce energy consumption.  Used for wall construction, the Structurally Insulated Panels provide efficient thermal and air barriers, reduce waste, and reduce material consumption.  The design also features low-flow plumbing fixtures, including toilet flushing from rainwater, increased building insulation, a healthy and safe interior air environment, and a graphic manual for the education of the homeowners.  This will assist the homeowner with the maintenance and efficient operations of the home.

Recognizing an aging American population, the competition further challenged designers to provide barrier free elements in the home. Thus, the spatial flexibility to accommodate physical disabilities was integrated early into our design process.  The home’s elevated floor level is made accessible by a stair with a landing midway and lower risers with longer tread depths to ease the burden of the steps.  Internally, the master bathroom and kitchen are to be ADA ‘Type B’ compliant and accommodate generous clearances in corridors, rooms, and door access areas.

Entries have been submitted and winners at the regional level will be announced July 15.  Following the regional evaluation, another round of judging will occur at the national level.  Afterward, the Salvation Army will then fund the construction of four ‘semi-finalist’ homes.  These newly constructed homes will then be evaluated on their occupancy performance.  Two teams will go on to receive finalist awards following the evaluation period.

In many ways, this competition challenged young designers from across the country to consider the collective issues that will determine the design and construction of American homes in the coming years.  Accessibility for the aged and disabled, ecological sustainability, environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, housing affordability, and design sensitivity are all paramount challenges that will require innovative and sensitive design solutions.