Brad Pitt’s “Make It Right” project of rebuilding houses in the Lower 9th Ward has gotten a lot of press since December, when he announced it, but this is a bandwagon well worth jumping on, so I’ll add another tribute article to the list.

According to the MIR website, after spending considerable time and effort in New Orleans trying to help and talking with leaders, citizens and victims, “Pitt realized that an opportunity existed to build houses that were not only stronger and healthier, but that had less impact on the environment.” He got a group of experts together and they came up with the Make It Right project, with a goal of constructing 150 homes in the Lower 9th Ward, and emphasis on affordable systems that could be replicated.

The group chose 13 accomplished architects and tasked each of them to design a real-world home solution. All of the designs are to the building codes of the area, designed with various green and sustainable materials and practices, fit within a very tight building budget ($150,000), and have designed in flood precautions. Each house is raised off the gound, they all have some form of escape hatch to the roof, and they all have waterproof safes for valuables.

Billes Architecture, New Orleans: 2 homes to start building in March

“Make It Right” helps Katrina victims in the Lower 9th Ward get a house by providing the difference between their assets and the cost of rebuilding. Each homeowner chooses any of the 13 provided design options. Pitt and Hollywood producer, Steve Bing, together contributed an initial $10mil, and a lot more has been raised since then. According to the website, as of today, they have enough to build 80 of their goal of 150 houses, and the number increases as more people contribute.

The best part is – it’s REAL! According to Metropolis Magazine, they are breaking ground on the first five homes this month.

Graft, LA and Berlin: 1 home to start building in March

See pix of all the home designs, an incredible installation called The Pink Project, information about the Lower 9th Ward, all the details on the MIR project AND how to contribute at the Make It Right website.

There is also a great article in the March issue of Metropolis magazine.