== Biloxi News ==

{{ press:2006_09_06_eoculus_afhny-roof.jpg?300|Volunteers rebuilding a roof (Gail Ressler, IIDA)}}
By Gail Ressler, IIDA
 
When I traveled with five other volunteers from the New York City Chapter of Architecture for Humanity (AFHny) to the Gulf Coast in late August, we experienced a window into the lives of those left behind a year after Katrina. On the drive from the New Orleans airport to Biloxi, things seemed almost normal from the highway; but, when we slowed down, we saw many broken windows, areas with no signs of life, and the ubiquitous white FEMA trailers scattered across the brown dirt. Once in East Biloxi, we surveyed the many boarded up houses with washed away interiors and covered withspray painted messages. As darkness fell, the enormous illuminated casinos, with their flashing signs and working ornate fountains, contrasted with the adjacent debris piles that have not yet been fully cleared.

We spent the next two days supporting Architecture for Humanity's Biloxi House Fair and Model Home Program hosted by Hands On USA, bringing together local families with 12 invited architects to develop housing proposals (for photographs from the event, see the Model Homes website). We drew "Dream Houses" on brown paper with children, and talked with displaced families who are grateful for their trailers but long for real homes. The Vietnamese immigrant community was especially hard hit; with limited English language skills, many have missed out on aid.

{{ press:2006_09_06_eoculus_afhny-biloxi.jpg?300|Brett Zamore presenting his design, with AFHny volunteers and Biloxi residents (Antonio Salvador, Assoc. AIA)}}

We left the Gulf Coast feeling like we had contributed in a small way, and we reconnected with reasons we had become design professionals. The wayin which housing is developed will transform the Gulf Coast of the future. Thoughtful and accessible architecture is one way to positively impactfuture generations.

There is much work to be done, and we will be soliciting volunteers in the fall and spring to return. My thanks to our team: Valeria Bianco, Kevinand Brian Crowley, Michelle Min, and Antonio Salvador, Assoc. AIA. For more information on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, project updates, check out the following websites:

  * [[http://www.afhny.org|AFHny]]
  * [[http://www.architectureforhumanity.org|AFH]]
  * [[http://handsonusa.org/|Hands On USA]]

Gail Ressler, IIDA, is the owner of gail ressler Interior Design and on the Steering Committee of AFHny.

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[[http://aiany.org/eOCULUS/2006/2006-09-06.html#biloxinews|eOculus - 06 September 2006]]
© 2006 The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter.