258 | GRAFT | inTimes of Need sic, andthe“pursuitofhappiness”.Since Architecture, Urban Planning, Design, Mu GRAFT wasconceivedasa‘Label’for for theofceinLosAngeles. In 2007AlejandraLillobecamePartner Hoheisel aspartnerfortheasianmarket. opened anofceinBeijingwithGregor an ofceinBerlin2001.In2003GRAFT Putz andThomasWillemeit andopened Angeles byLarsKrückeberg,Wolfram GRAFT wasestablishedin1998Los in EuropeaswelltheUnitedStates. ities. Thermhaswonnumerousawards tional, CommercialandResidentialfacil including FineArts,Educational,Institu passes awidearrayofbuildingtypes collective professionalexperienceencom in LosAngeles,,andBeijing.Their GRAFT isanarchitecturalrmlocated - - - - in theU.S.andMexico,tonameafew. in Germany, China,UAE, Russia,, well asinthevarietyofprojectlocations tions, academicprojectsand“events”as design andproductdesign,artinstalla expansion intotheeldsofexhibition realities. Thisisreflectedintherm’s potentials andmethodologiesofdifferent disciplines and“grafting”thecreative est incrossingtheboundariesbetween GRAFT hasalwaysmaintainedaninter of architectureandthebuiltenvironment, enterprises gravitatingaroundtheeld and locations.With thecoreofrm’s range ofprojectsinmultipledisciplines missioned todesignandmanageawide the rmwasestablished,ithasbeencom ,Berlin, GRAFT - - - PLENUM | 259 -

With any given challenge, developing a robust solution requires proper The Make It Right project sought to identify a center of attention and action, It Right project sought The Make Orleans. all the needs that could be met. The more identication of all of the factors in play, communities in the country and was, until Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, a communities in the country and was, until Hurricane Katrina in August in New comprehensive vibrant crossroad of families, music, and social interaction in New Orleans, the Lower Ninth Ward is predominantly occupied by low-income in New Orleans, the Lower Ninth Ward families, whose available monetary means for rebuilding are limited, if not this neighborhood composes one of the richest cultural However, nonexistent. redevelopment of larger areas within the city, and potentially identify techniques and potentially areas within the city, redevelopment of larger around the globe. The Lower Ninth Ward for providing shelter to those in need The most devastated neighborhood was chosen as the epicenter for this change. a pressure point within the urban fabric of New Orleans, which will trigger the a pressure point within the urban fabric stability of human life on this planet. It is up to each one of us to contribute to the stability of human life on this planet. It are present within so many people’s lives eradication of the great dangers that way when catastrophe occurs. and to come to the aid of those in harm’s education, both of which often exacerbate existing problems. The daunting task problems. The daunting existing exacerbate education, both of which often and how to provide solutions leaves of determining which issues to focus upon the neglecting any of these issues will compromise many nonplussed. Ultimately, sanitation, and shelter in many parts of the world compose the most readably sanitation, and shelter in many parts of armed conflict and the lack of noticeable issues. There are also the matters in quantity, geographic scope, and in regard to their respective complexities. Pol complexities. geographic scope, and in regard to their respective in quantity, of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, lution and global warming, the spread supplies, proper adequate nutritional and HIV/AIDS, the lack of potable water, The humanitarian challenges we currently face as a global community are vast The humanitarian challenges we currently IN TIMES OF NEED ARCHITECTURE 260 | GRAFT | Architecture inTimes of Need around themselvesisfundamentally theheartofdesign. from whichtheresidentscan meaningfullyandcreativelyinteractwiththeworld occupant, thesenseofwell-being itprovides,andtheabilitytocreateaplatform cally expressed assuch.Thepsychologicalresonance thebuildinghaswithits of theLowerNinthWard canbereinvigorated,cherished,understood, andphysi a culturerichinhistory, music,aswell communityinteraction,theuniqueness as ndingproperresolutionforthefunctional,safety, andsustainabilityneeds.As homes formedacornerstoneoftheoncevibrantNewOrleans community. generations, aswellprovidingfamilieswithgrounding andidentity. These homes werepasseddownthroughthedecades,holding memoriesofmany yet theseneedsaresopowerfulthattheybecometangible. Themajorityofthe plex needsleft inthewake ofKatrinaaredifculttodeneinapositivist manner, summed upthroughtheenumerationofphysicalrequirements. Manyofthecom so itisthatallofwhichwaslosttotheLowerNinthWard’s residentscannotbe not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.” And tive andcreativeenergies souniquetoourspecies. to beusedastoolsnotonlyforsurvivalbutalsoharnessingthevastimagina that builtarchitectureideallyservesentitiesotherthanitself,buildingsare preserving theworld’sethnosphereaswellitsbiosphere.We mustremember environmental conditionsstandsasmerelyadequate. built solutionsthataccountsolelyforpropersanitationandshelterfromadverse effective andpowerfultechnologies,buildingscannowdomoreforless.Providing knowledge accumulatedoverthehundredsofyearsdesignandincreasingly sities thatabuildingmustservicehavehistoricallybeentoothin.Duetothe an idealsolutionbecomes.Withinthedisciplineofarchitecture,baseneces they areevaluatedinsofarastohowonefactorrelatesanother, themorelikely comprehensive andspecicallythosefactorsaredenedthemoreaccurately Cultural considerationsforrebuildingthiscommunityare everybitascrucial As AlbertEinsteinsoastutelystated,“Everythingthatcanbecounteddoes We mustacknowledgetheimmensevalueofretainingculturalcapitaland - - - - PLENUM | 261 - - - - - The residents have been generous with their time, participating in lengthy and The residents have been generous with their time, participating in lengthy Ideally, architecture reinforces the capabilities, drives, and ambitions of each architecture reinforces the capabilities, drives, and ambitions Ideally, Although globalization has led to new and sweeping opportunities, it has also Although globalization has led to new When faced with the vast undertaking of rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward, Ninth Ward, vast undertaking of rebuilding the Lower When faced with the with the residents of the Lower Ninth Ward from the onset of the process. with the residents of the Lower Ninth Ward the candid discussions regarding their lifestyles, fears, the values they hold dear, tive. The Lower Ninth Ward Stakeholders Coalition is an active part of the Make Coalition is an active part of the Make Stakeholders tive. The Lower Ninth Ward it Right Project, working on site to develop the housing initiative in cooperation positive diversity as a core pursuit. In order to understand and contextualize the positive diversity as a core pursuit. In order to understand and contextualize col MIR intimately, more Orleans New in resolution needing problems the of spirit group of local associations throughout the rebuilding initia laborates with a large the more a house becomes a home, subsequently espousing uniqueness, the em the more a house becomes a home, subsequently communities. As architects and planners powerment of individuals, families, and maintaining or potentially even increasing we must foment the opportunities for individual, as well as the local, regional, and global communities within which individual, as well as the local, regional, reinforcement architecture provides, each individual belongs. The more positive housing, typically provides little variation and often neglects to incorporate local and often housing, typically provides little variation cultural conditions. within the Lower Ninth Ward, which is not hard to believe upon realizing that the which is not hard to within the Lower Ninth Ward, housing. The sub percentage of owner-occupied high area has an exceptionally more generous of an environment than public urban project, although markedly able shelter solutions, imperil diversity, suppress the human spirit, and obfuscate suppress the human spirit, able shelter solutions, imperil diversity, Projects have never existed the means to establishing dynamic communities. brought about the endangerment of diversity, “the erosion of humanity’s cultural “the erosion of humanity’s brought about the endangerment of diversity, afford Public housing projects, while rapidly providing and intellectual legacy.” as efciently and affordably as possible. However, it is at this moment when, as it is at this moment when, as possible. However, as efciently and affordably the distinction between it is most critical to comprehend architects and planners, providing shelter and providing a home. the sense of urgency becomes almost overwhelming, calling for an immediate becomes almost overwhelming, the sense of urgency without hesitation those who have lost their homes, provided solution: Shelter for 262 | GRAFT | Architecture inTimes of Need specicity, andmeans.Ascommunicationdirectlyfoldsinto communityforma kind’s abilitytocommunicate isprogressivelybecomingmoreintricateinrange, nological advancementandexperience gained fromourcollectivehistory, human groundwork ontowhichcommunity canbecreated.Primarilyaproductoftech of improvinglivingconditions atallscalesofcivilization.Architecturelaysa create asenseofwell-being.Aproductandvehicleforprogress, designiscapable quality oflifeformankind.Designisanecessarytoolto change surroundings,to solutions forallsocialstrata.Theultimategoalarchitecture istobetterthe that itisanelitistpursuit.Ideally, however, architecturecanandshouldprovide pline whichservicestheupperandupper-middle class,generatingtheperception audience. Architectureoverthelastfty yearshasincreasinglybecomeadisci depleting middleclass,theoutcomesultimatelyfailtohit amiddle-incometarget nity canemerge. platform forpersonalandfamilygrowth,fromwhichapowerfulsenseofcommu individuality, pride,anddifference.Empowermentoftheindividualprovidesa an outletforcontroltobereturnedthelandowner;itoffersexpression of vidual isthepowerofchoice.Theprocessselectingtheirhousedesignprovides country. Oneofthestrongestcountermeasuresthatcanbeprovidedtoindi other choicethantoabandontheirhomes,lives,andseekshelteracrossthe reinforced byineffectualgovernmentassistance.Communityresidentshadno of Katrina:initiatedduringthestorm,carriedintosubsequentdiaspora,and to adigniedpeoplewhoseperseveranceisexemplary. grassroots movement,MIR.Thesedialogueshaveprovidedremarkableinsights and extended familyofcommunitythatfuelswhatcouldbestbedescribed asa part oftheAmericanDream;itisbeliefinthisdream,theirfamily hope tonallycomehome.Landownershipisafundamentalcorebeliefthatforms the optimismandbeliefinrevitalizationofNewOrleans,heartfelt beautiful andprofoundmeaningofcommunityspecictotheLowerNinthW Despite recenteffortstoprovideaffordablemodularhousing toanever- Helplessness echoesvehementlyasanunderlyingsentimentofthevictims ard, ------PLENUM | 263 - - build trust and to bolster the growth of one another. build trust and to bolster the growth of tive growth of our species and consequently cannot be exclusive to certain social cannot be exclusive tive growth of our species and consequently the time to re a community that must take are a single community, classes. We Ward, through its rebuilding and the sharing of the rebuilding process, is capable through its rebuilding and the sharing of the Ward, the communities of designers, donors, New of positively affecting the condition of of the world. It is about the posi Orleans, the United States, and the remainder has grown so have interdependence and the formation of the world as an ever- interdependence and the formation of has grown so have influence. Identied as a detailed web of information and tightening, increasingly the community of the Lower Ninth pressure point within present-day civilization, are wider in geographic scope, more robust in content, and intertwined through scope, more robust in content, and are wider in geographic communication as inter-community systems. Additionally, more infrastructural tion and evolution, we have found ourselves as members of communities that we have found ourselves as members tion and evolution,