Make it Right’s New Orleans FLOAT House by Morphosis to Gain LEED Platinum Certification

The <a href="http://morphopedia.com/projects/float-house">FLOAT House</a>, designed by Morphosis for Brad Pitt's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/make-it-right">Make it Right</a> Foundation in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, is a housing solution for the floodwater-prone regions around the world. Optimized for efficient mass-production, the home is a culturally, economically, and environmentally responsible structure designed to break free from its moorings and rise to a height of twelve feet in the event of flooding. The two bedroom, 945 square feet model was first introduced in 2009, and as it continues to grow in popularity it is now on track for a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/leed-platinum/">LEED Platinum</a> rating with a net-zero annual energy consumption.

The FLOAT House has a roof that not only holds a electricity generating solar panel array, but it also collects rainwater which is stored under the house for daily use.

The modularity of the interior space makes it a prime candidate for mass-production.

The home's sustainable features include energy efficient appliances, low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy efficient lighting, and natural day-lighting.

Though the Float House was designed by Thom Mayne and students from <a href="http://www.aud.ucla.edu/">UCLA Architecture and Urban Design</a> as a house for the Lower Ninth Ward, this affordable and modular success can be replicated for a variety of situations around the world.

The FLOAT House is designed for sustainability, mass-production, and flood prone areas.

The world could use this house, even if it was replicated for areas that need two of those three design solution characteristics. Morphosis’ website, <a href="http://morphopedia.com/">Morphopedia</a>, still keeps this project in the Research section hopefully because there is more research happening for further interpretations of this wonderful design.

Morphosis respected the cultural vernacular of the common New Orleans<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun_house"> shotgun house.</a>