Rebuilding New Orleans
THE HOLY CROSS PROJECT: A LOOK BACK
In 2006, as part of our commitment to the sustainable rebuilding of New Orleans and to demonstrate green building as a solution to global warming nationally, Global Green and Brad Pitt joined forces to sponsor an international architectural design competition. Reporter Ann Curry of the TODAY show traveled down to New Orleans in July to do a two-part interview about the design competition with both Brad Pitt and Matt Petersen. Here's a look back at that coverage, plus other related articles.
Rebuilding New Orleans: Pitt on rebuilding New Orleans, fatherhood
TODAY. JULY 18, 2006. By Ann Curry
The ‘Today’ show's Ann Curry talks with the actor about eco-friendly housing in the region,
and the joys of being a dad
NBC News: The "Today" show's Ann Curry toured New Orleans with Brad Pitt on July 14, 2006.
The actor, along with non-profit group Global Green, is supporting green building in the region.
Nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina, Brad Pitt sat down with the “Today” show's Ann Curry to discuss the devastation in New Orleans, environmentally friendly development, and his new role as a dad.
The rebuilding process in New Orleans has been slow, so has the clean-up. The need for affordable housing is chronic. Brad Pitt recently teamed up with the non-profit group Global Green to try to spur green-friendly building in the Crescent City. As he tells us, it is a need that is way overdue.
Brad Pitt: I'm baffled because the people here on the ground have not gotten the money yet. They have not received restitution.
To this shattered city, Pitt is bringing a new idea called green design — that is, a way to rebuild using materials that are less harmful to the environment, and cheaper for people to live in.
Pitt: Right now 45 percent of our pollution comes from the creation of our buildings and the operation of our buildings, which is a staggering number.
Joining the non-profit group Global Green, Pitt announced an architectural competition to green design a 12-unit apartment complex. It drew 3,000 registrants from all over the world, now narrowed down to six finalists.
The finalists suggested ways to build that could cut energy costs by as much as 90 percent, and to use materials that would decrease the risks of asthma and other health risks.
The excitement generated over plans for a single apartment complex is an indication of just how acutely help is needed.
Watch Interview & Read Full Article
Rebuilding a better, greener New Orleans
TODAY. JULY 18, 2006. By Ann Curry.
Global Green and Brad Pitt join forces to help bring housing to the Gulf Coast region. Check out the eco-conscious designs and video
To help encourage environmentally-friendly building, Brad Pitt, along with Global Green, announced a sustainable design architectural competition for the areas of New Orleans devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It drew 3000 registrants from all over the world, six finalists were chosen. Check out the designs, and watch video of Pitt, the “Today” show's Ann Curry, and Matt Petersen, president of Global Green USA, discuss the finalists.
All six finalists responded in different ways to our goal of demonstrating how green design and good design can be brought together in an innovative way, thus ensuring that housing is truly affordable and healthy. All of the selected designs express a clear understanding of the need to address rising electricity and energy costs and mounting health problems caused by exposure to unhealthy building practices. Healthy, energy efficient homes and affordable housing often have no or little increased cost, yet provide vast benefits through lower energy and water bills, increased durability, and improved health of the residents.
Watch Interview & Read Full Article
Pitt Shocked by Post-Katrina Devastation
USA TODAY. JULY 17, 2006. By STACEY PLAISANCE, AP
NEW ORLEANS — After two days of getting his first up-close look at post-Katrina New Orleans, Brad Pitt said Friday he was shocked at the devastation that remains almost a year later.
"I was not prepared,"the actor said, describing how he drove for miles and saw street after street of devastation.
Pitt was in New Orleans to give an update on a project he's promoting - a competition to choose ecologically sound designs for rebuilding neighborhoods.
"There's a big opportunity here,"he said, to rebuild the city using energy-efficient building materials and appliances that would improve quality of life, particularly in low-income communities.
Global Green USA, a national environmental organization, is working with Pitt on the design project. Pitt heads a jury of architects, city residents and others who decided Friday on the top five environmentally friendly designs out of more than 100 entries. The designs were submitted by individuals and architect firms.
Global Green New Orleans Competition Winner Announced
TREEHUGGER. SEPT 4, 2006. By Lloyd Alter
And the winner of the Global Green competition is Andrew Kotchen and Matthew Berman of Workshop/APD. We might have rejected them just for the punny name GreeNOLA and the retro drawings, but the scheme has winning attributes-
"The winning design integrated the newest sustainable technologies while drawing upon the wisdom of the past," said Matt Petersen, President of Global Green USA. "The impressive innovations show how to rebuild a healthier New Orleans. These homes, once built, will help improve the lives of families by lowering energy costs and improving the health of the residents." ....Pam Dashiell, President of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association served as one of the design jury members and described the role of the community process throughout the competition saying, "these green building designs breathe new life into our communities; the amount of community input was incredible."
Pitt's Green Building Project Begins
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. MAY 10, 2007. By Stacey Plaisance
With a brass band accompaniment, developers in this city's devastated Lower 9th Ward celebrated the start of construction Thursday on an environmentally friendly new home, based on the winning design in a competition started by Brad Pitt.
Bundles of hay were used to outline the site of the first house, which will serve as a model home and visitor center while construction of other houses is under way. The first house is expected to be completed in August _ around the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
The home will be made with energy-saving materials such as metal roofing and recycled textiles.
"Hopefully this can be a model for the level of redevelopment that can be done here," said Matt Petersen, president and CEO of Global Green USA, the environmental group working with Pitt on the project.
Brad Pitt Breaks Ground on Green-Housing Project
PEOPLE. MAY 10, 2007. By Mary Green
Brad Pitt may be halfway around the world with his family in Prague, but on Thursday, ground was broken on his green-housing project in New Orleans.
Pitt, 43, tells PEOPLE: "The greatest victory for me will be when the first people move into one of these green homes – when they can put their key into that lock, sit down at the table, have dinner with their families and live their lives. That's what we're getting closer to with this announcement today."
Last year, Pitt co-sponsored a competition with Global Green USA to find an affordable, Earth-friendly plan for building housing and community centers in neighborhoods ravaged the previous year by Hurricane Katrina.
In August, he announced the winners of his Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans: New York City architects Andrew Kotchen and Matthew Berman of the firm Workshop/APD.
"Communities need to be rebuilt here and we hope this project points the way to how it can be done using smart sustainable design," Pitt tells PEOPLE.
Brad Pitt Helps Out as New Orleans Rebuilds
THIS OLD HOUSE. AUG 28, 2007.
On the eve of Hurricane Katrina's second anniversary, Global Green USA toured progress of their first affordable green home under construction. The Holy Cross project is one of the first new home construction projects to be built in the Lower 9th Ward. It is being built with green products and energy efficient systems that will be included in the completed project of five single family homes, an multi-unit apartment complex, and a community center/Sustainable Design and Climate Action Institute. Here, Brad Pitt (initial sponsor and chair of the sustainable design competition jury), Global Green USA, and The Home Depot Foundation (lead funding partner) unveil the final design.
"What happened two years ago was a man-made disaster, and this building offers a man-made solution. This home proves we can build more thoughtfully, affordably and provide a better quality of life for the families within," said Brad Pitt.