Open Architecture Network

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
When Hurricane Katrina swept across the Gulf Coast in August 2005 and caused New Orleans’ levees to breach, many people lost more than their homes. Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick Calhoun were among them. For years the couple had chronicled the everyday life of New Orlean’s Lower Ninth Ward from their storefront photography studio and home on the corner of Chartres and Flood streets, part of the Holy Cross neighborhood, a historic landmark district wedged between the Mississippi River levees and the Industrial Canal. Over the years the studio had become not only a gathering space and local landmark, but also a repository for images of a vanishing way of life. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed the building, it washed away more than two-thirds of the couple’s life’s work.

In the aftermath of the storm Keith and Chandra salvaged what they could of their historic home and studio. Many of the couples negatives survived the flooding, a testament to the vibrancy of a neighborhood and its culture. Now Architecture for Humanity, House by House, the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans Shelter Architecture and many others are helping Keith and Chandra to rebuild. Join us and help bring the historic Lower Nine back to life.
Mr. Calhoun, 51, and Ms. McCormick, 48 both photographers who grew up in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward, have documented its pleasure clubs and bluesman, its dockworkers and its churchgoers for more than a quarter of a century. Their work has been exhibited at the Aperture gallery in New York City, in the Smithsonian and in the Brooklyn Museum and was featured in the landmark compilation Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the Present by Deborah Willis. Exiled from their home, they are currently living in Texas with their two children.

History:The Holy Cross neighborhood is a portion of the Lower Ninth Ward, wedged between the levees of the Industrial Canal and the Mississippi River and stretching as far as the St. Bernard Parish line and as wide as St. Claude Avenue. Early 19th century maps show that there were several plantations in the area. Sugar was the dominant crop. Truck gardening and other farming activities were common, supported by easy access to and transportation of crops to the river. Restaurants and open markets in New Orleans, including the French Market, obtained fresh produce from the small truck farms in the area.

Rebuilding:The destroyed residence and studio of Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick was located in a two story building at the intersection of Flood and Chatres in the Historic Holy Cross neighborhood of New Orleans. The building, which dated from the turn of the century, included many vernacular details such as the sidewalk shed and cedar beams. Unfortuantely many of these details were lost in the aftermath of the storm, in particular the buildings beams, which were taken from the site after having been salvaged from the building debris.

Level One: Storefront, Indoor/Outdoor Gallery, Circulation
Completed repair and renovation

The ground level will be restored, in form and appearance, to the original storefront façade. Glass, as in the original, will be omitted or designed to be removable to accommodate the flow of water through the building. The ground level will be unconditioned space and all materials and finishes below an agreed height will be flood resistant. All structural elements on this level will be flood proof. Accessible circulation will be provided from the street to the second level.

Level Two: Main Gallery, Studio, Facilities, Darkroom
3,000 s.f.
Awaits Funding

The second level will be conditioned and enclosed. Gallery exhibits will be as visible as possible from the street during the day and night. The Gallery will be designed to accommodate photography exhibits by the Owner, students, or other local and regional artists. Natural and artificial lighting and interior partitions in the Gallery will be designed to be moveable and adaptable.

Level Three: Residence, Apartment, Archives
3,000 s.f.
Awaits Funding

The Residence will be designed for a family of four including 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen, dining, and living space. The Apartment will be designed with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, and a kitchen, dining and living space. The Residence and Apartment will share laundry facilities. The Archives will be secure space adequately sized for all negatives held by the Owner and future negatives. The Archives will be flood proofed and accessible only from within the Residence.