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| Katrina Cottages |
| Rising from the ruins of Katrina, new cottage prototypes revolutionize the concept of affordable housing and embody a movement to rebuild the character of Gulf Coast towns. |
| By Rex Perry |
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| photography: Robbie Caponetto |
Marianne Cusato's version of the Katrina Cottage is a dignified alternative to the FEMA trailer. For emergency housing, the 308-square-foot cottage is remarkably inviting with a traditional front porch, exposed rafter tails, and clever storage to maximize space.
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photography: Robbie Caponetto
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Jasmine Henson and her neighbor Ron Craven are creating an island of sanity in a sea of destruction. A white picket fence and a border of potted flowers enclose Ron's 240-square-foot FEMA trailer. But outside the fence, scattered debris sits on concrete slabs where cozy 1950s cottages once stood overlooking the Gulf in Long Beach, Mississippi. Like many new residents of FEMA housing, Ron and Jasmine are happy to have a roof over their heads, but some of their neighbors question how long anyone can remain positive living in a travel trailer. A group of architects and designers, empowered by recent creative gatherings called charrettes, think they have the answer. Their idea for housing on the Gulf Coast is the Katrina Cottage—a sturdy and well-designed permanent structure that can be built for the equivalent cost of a FEMA trailer.
photography: Rex Perry
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"I wanted to create a more dignified version of the FEMA trailer," says designer Marianne Cusato. "The Katrina Cottage shows how we can create beautiful and affordable homes that give people a place of pride." She stands on the ramp leading to her smallest version of the cottage, on display in downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi, while residents stop by to look inside. Marianne put her career of creating traditional homes on hold to bring beautiful design to the Katrina Cottage. "I've designed closets that are the size of this cottage, but my heart wasn't in it," says Marianne. "What I've always wanted to do is create a new version of the Sears, Roebuck kit home, and the time was right. How can storm victims start over if they don't have a place to get clean and feel safe?" |
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