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House 2



John Monnat
Washington University in St. Louis, 2009

Problem
The houses and grassy yard that fill much of twentieth-century New Orleans do not offer ways to store, slow or absorb water. Runoff overwhelms the storm sewer system, and rainfall that could be collected to irrigate gardens is lost.

Proposal
The project combines a modular house addition with an adaptable strategy about hydrophilic gardening. The house addition includes a cistern, and if needed, storage or living space. The garden uses subtle changes in topography and water-loving plants to limit runoff from the lot, increasing habitat value and providing food crops.