What is this blog about?

"Hello, my name is John. I'm a recovering architect."

I like all sorts of towns, cities and buildings, but what I design are Classical buildings and Traditional towns and cities. You can see some of them at www.massengale.com.

With Robert A.M. Stern I wrote a history of architecture and urbanism in the Progressive Era, New York 1900, Metropolitan Architecture and Urbanism 1890–1915 (Rizzoli, 1983) as well as an introduction to the history of suburbia before sprawl, The Anglo–American Suburb (St. Martin's Press, 1981). With Victor Dover, I am writing Street Design, The Art & Practice of Making Complete Streets (J. Wiley & Sons, 2013).

I'm a Board Member of the Congress for New Urbanism, the former Chair of CNU New York and a former Director of the Institute of Classical Art & Architecture and Federated Conservationists of Westchester County.

A co-founder of the New Urban and Traditional Architecture Councils.I was also a co-founder of the pro-urb list, a forum on the internet for an advanced discussion of New Urbanism. And in this blog you will find some postings from that list, along with other writings and clippings on architecture, urbanism, Classicism, Tradition, metaphysics and culture.


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Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Katrina Cottages @ Lowe's

AT ONE OF TODAY'S EVENTS commemorating Hurricane Katrina's strike, Governor Barbour cut the ribbon for a small square with twenty Katrina Cottages in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The concept was born at the Mississippi Renewal charrette last October, and the cottages are now produced and sold by Lowe's. The architectural establishment criticizes New Urbanism, falsely calling it an elitist movement for the rich, but it is the New Urbanists who have produced more than paper schemes since Katrina. (And who other than a small, esoteric elite wants those neo-modern paper schemes?)

The Katrina Cottages may be part of a trend that will revolutionize affordable housing in America. Some new ones are here (vote for your favorite). I hope to design some more urban examples for New Orleans.

Katcotfinal

Download the Lowe's press release
Mississippi Renewal Katrina Cottage press release

In the news:

USA Today
Mississippi Sun-Herald
San Diego Union-Tribune
Nation's Building News
GulfLive

Katrinacottageinvite

August 29, 2006 in Architecture, Classicism, Culture, Current Affairs, New Urbanism, Urbanism | Permalink

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As Project Coordinator of Southwest MS Recovery Network, a LTRO. In MS, Wathall County was the 4th hardest hit county by Katrina. We are in dire need of housing, for our survivors and evacuees, many are elderly on fixed income and low-income. Many of the homes have had to be condemed, however, the occupants are still living in them. Your homes look as though they may be an option for them. How much are these homes and where can they be purchased?

Posted by: Nancy at Aug 31, 2006 8:59:06 PM

Thanks, but these aren't my designs. I'm headed out the door for the day, but I'll post more about this over the weekend.

To contact the designers, go to CusatoCottages.com and the New Urban Guild.

Posted by: john massengale at Sep 1, 2006 8:27:48 AM

I would like info on having one or more of these Katrina cottages constructed in Colorado. How might I go about doing this?

Posted by: Janet LeGore at Sep 24, 2006 12:51:12 AM

The Katrina Cottage has been the only idea for more permanent housing past my FEMA trailer. I have received a MDA homeowners grant but it is a very small amount. Not enough to contruct a home using traditional methods. Modular is the answer as long as it is affordable and easy to put in place.

Jeff

Posted by: Jeff Schmuki at Oct 14, 2006 2:17:23 PM