Rolling, rolling on the river.

Introduction
In conjunction with Harvard University, the studio dealt with a redesign of the entire New Orleans Riverfront [appox. 6 miles in length]. This was the first step in a series of events in coming up with a viable plan for the new New Orleans. Currently, as it exists, most of the Riverfront is dedicated to port facilities. But as the industry moves toward containerization, much of the space is no longer needed. Compounded with a series of flood walls, the general public has little to no access to the river as well as very little understanding of the Mississippi River’s presence. Additionally, this land is the highest in the city and above the flood levels of a 1,000 year storm.

Plan
The city’s 86 historic neighborhoods also lack urban identities as they developed culturally. Our plan looks at the historic layout of Southern Plantations that defined the current alignment of New Orleans streets and blocks. Where plantations once laid perpendicular to the river, streets now lay. Our plan develops the river at major avenues running perpendicular to the River.

Rules were established through research of the river, the grid, the grain and the continuity of the River’s edge. The attempt was not to be prescriptive in form but rather establishing a let of conditions by which the city could grow into itself and colonize the edge by using the same viral growth pattern this city, and other historic cities around the world, have followed for centuries. The initial incisions were placed at the shifts of New Orleans' grain where the old plantation lines and perpendicular growth caused a break in the pattern.

At the intersection of these avenues and major avenues running parallel to the river, new developments are created. They then develop perpendicular to the River to both provide urban identities to the neighborhoods and access to the River. The densities and arrangements of the buildings follow the grain and varying grid of the city. Developments, public transit and green pathways will then run to connect these developments and the historic downtown quarter.

Development would create a raised green-belt on top of the current flood wall which serves to secure the Port as well as prevent flooding from the Mississippi River. By creating "new ground" as well as selectively breaking through the wall, people are able to engage the River as well as allowing more people in the city to live along parks and green spaces. Incisions into the land also allow for greater pedestrian interaction with the mighty and historic River.

Publication
This work was published in New Orleans: Strategies for a City in Soft Land and a the 2006 Venice Biennale. Individual diagrams were also featured in the international lecture tour the preceded the release.

Information
New Orleans River Edge
Prof. Ila Berman, Brad Bell, Anthony Fontenot
Spring, 2005
Phase II with Curtis Laub + Ryan Cho