A product of the Riggio Foundation, this philanthropic development of 20 single-family homes in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans was created in order to provide affordable housing for families displaced after their homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The project utilizes a multitude of sustainable design measures for the home and the landscaping that provide an average 40% reduction in yearly energy costs for their occupants. Chief among these strategies is the integration of passive ventilation techniques, enhanced daylighting, and efficient heating and cooling. The team worked with a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model in order to develop synergies among site features.

The landscape design requires no irrigation, utilizes all native plant species, and ensures that all stormwater runoff is absorbed on-site. It also calls for a shared stormwater collection cistern and open-air biocell for on-site storage of rainwater.