Home for ms.betty

A home for Ms Betty
Fighting the evil twins Katrina and Rita
A collaboration
of
SIGUS

What did we do?
We explored the context
We explored the issues
We learned building and local practice,
and met families
We designed a concept
We monitored and learned
from the process
We designed and built components
We make information available
to other Ms Bettys
And we go on – further research
for other Ms Bettys
A Home for Ms Betty 2
And Ms Betty is pleasedAnd Ms Betty is pleased
– SIGUS

We explored the context
Field Surveys
Hurricane
effects
Current
housing
Traditional
housing
Bayou
culture
–

We explored the issues
A broad-based
student team
tackled the
challenge
Core team of
Architecture students,
all levels
Advanced students as
technical ‘advisors’
- environment
- structural engineering
- lifting technology
Outside
professionals
in support
- engineering
- construction
- environment
–

We learned building and local practice, and met families
A Home for Ms Betty 5–
Volunteer
Weeks
In Louisiana

Jacob’s house and Don’s house were repaired as we learned
–

We designed a concept
Ms Betty + Volunteers + Sustainability
Wind
Flood
Environment
Culture
Flexibility
=
Louisiana
Lift House
Built on ground with
volunteers then lifted
–

We were very concerned about cultural sensitivity
A House for Ms Betty 8
“We don’t want it to be weird” “We want flexibility”
BasicUnitModule
24’--0”
Ms Betty’s Home
12’-0structuralmodule
– Bayou residents
–

We studied and included
environmental sustainability
elements
DURABILITY-STORM WORTHINESS
ENERGY AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
FRAMING strapping, clips
nailing schedule
roof shape
roof material
framing treatment
advanced framing
WALL ASSEMBLY exterior rain screen
panel siding
insulating sheathing
INTERIOR flood tolerate gypsum
interior trim
ceramic tile flooding
subfloor
alternative flooring
MINIMIZE SOLAR house orientation
SOLAR GAIN overhangs
material color
radiant barrier
low-E windows
shutters
plant shading
VENTILATION natural ventilation
fans
INSULATION unfaced
insulation
AIR FILTRATION chalking
CONSTRUCTION WASTE REUSE
HVAC SYSTEMS –

We monitored and learned from the process
–

All construction phases were studied and documented.
–

We designed and built components
A Design-Build
International
Workshop in
Louisiana
Sweat! Design! Build!
• Washing area for volunteer village
• Trellis walkway for volunteer village
• Replanning of site
• Storm Shutter design for Gulf Coast housing
Four projects:
–

Wash area
with recycled
materials
Plants for
cooling
without
wind risk
We built
and ‘in action’
–

Shade and
site planning
Affordable
storm
shutters
for the
Gulf Coast
Site rearranged
and walkway gardens
planted
Adopted by
local builders
–

We make information available to other Ms Bettys and
supporters
“BUILDING
UP ON THE
BAYOUS”
A guide for building
on the hurricane Gulf
Coast for community
groups and homeowners
Contents:
Getting Started
Choosing the House Design
Working with Volunteers
Managing the Construction
Celebration and Reflection
Reaching the DIY builders
Selected Resources
–

Format designed for dual poster and report use
–

And Ms Betty is pleased!
From an idea –
and sweet beginnings:
Building the base
Up it goes! Starting framing – Covered
A permit –
And it begins!A site –
Almost there –
And Lift Off!
Her home is finished!
–

Many Lift Houses planned - six completed!
One is underway
We will assist in
an outreach program
in a
‘see-learn-do’
approach.
The evil twins Katrina and Rita have lost?
–

And now the Lift House plans are available for all:
- tested
- proven
- affordable
- SAFE!
and even Gustav couldn’t stop them…

And we go on – further research for other Ms Bettys
Increasing Code
Compliance to
Upgrade Housing
Quality
The Program:
Preparation of ‘user friendly’ aids
to clarify process: Posters, leaflets,
multi-media guides
Review of process and brainstorm with officials
to streamline approach and accessibility:
Combine steps. Better user access: location,
times, mobile office? Lower fees?

And we go onAnd we go on
Outreach to theOutreach to the ‘Little Nicks’‘Little Nicks’
The Informal DIY’ersThe Informal DIY’ers
How can we futureHow can we future
architects help the vastarchitects help the vast
number of people whonumber of people who
build by themselves?build by themselves?
Most lower income build informally.Most lower income build informally.
Recent imposition of building codes, withRecent imposition of building codes, with
increased requirements and costs will multiplyincreased requirements and costs will multiply
informal building.informal building.
1 - What five things do we tell informal builders1 - What five things do we tell informal builders
that must be done to improve survivability ofthat must be done to improve survivability of
hurricanes?hurricanes?
2 - How do we reach2 - How do we reach ‘Little Nicks’ - how do we‘Little Nicks’ - how do we
communicate?communicate?
The research questions:The research questions:
It is theIt is the cajun waycajun way - build your own house!- build your own house!

–
And now to think about a Community of Lift Houses…
“Villages on the First Floor”
“A rethinking of what it means - and
what form it would take - when living in
a world of Lift Houses”

SIGUS
Special Interest Group in Urban Settlement
web.mit.edu/sigus rgoethert@mit.edu
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
School of Architecture and Planning
September 2008
Sustainable Housing on the Bayous
A TRAC-Oxfam American-SIGUS/MIT collaboration. This project is a part of an initiative to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricanes
Rita and Katrina on the bayous of southern Louisiana, and to protect against future hurricane challenges. A broad range of
interventions are considered: rebuilding and repair, outreach and training, and regulatory processes, for the formal and informal
construction sectors.
www.oxfamamerica.org/gulfcoast
www.trac4la.com
Oxfam America
Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition

Home for ms.betty

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