Progress along the Gulf Coast in Katrina’s Wake

Robert Orr, FAIA: A Case Study in Waveland, Mississippi

The cavalcade of events worldwide over the last two years crescendoing most recently with the national election and the seismic societal shifts it heralds—as, in any case, now set inexorably in stone by a severe global recession-- have helped to eclipse the ongoing aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in terms of concrete, inhabitable progress.

The news of the 2005 tragedy and the (with occasional exception…) incompetence of the governmental response commanded far greater attention form reporters, regardless of  respective bias or medium,  than any steady progress as it in fact unfolds on the ground in bricks and mortar.

Such progress may seem cursedly slow but it transpires nonetheless.

This is especially the case in Mississippi, where the destruction was worst –and nowhere worse than the city of Waveland (about half way between the far greater reported Slidell, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi.)

If you go to Google Earth or Maps, even the most cursory inspection reveals the utter elimination of all of Waveland’s commonwealth and the buildings and civic connections such bonds require.

New Orleans has its world-renowned attractions not to mention such good-will-headline-grabbers as Brad Pitt’s architectural experiments and Harry Connick Jr.’s Habitat for Humanity cheerleading, but Waveland does not. Instead, it is a place of local pride and necessity to those who lived and worked there and who seek to do so again. Our nascent blog endeavors modestly the help fill the attention void in determined spirit, by telling a story of design and public policy at their best along this benighted coast.

The work of accomplished architect Robert Orr so long at the generous, eager, and steadfast side of Classical America and,  since 1992 , the overall ICA&CA  strikes me as a fine, sanguine case in point. Visit Robert Orr & Associates—Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism on New Haven’s fabled Chapel Street to learn more or make inquiry.

Meanwhile I present these perspective renderings and Robert’s own words about the designs his firm has prepared for Waveland’s future municipal complex, including as you will see a City Hall and ancillary annex, as well as fire station. Now under formal FEMA review, with final blueprints taking shape accordingly, the plan is moving steadily if slowly towards realization.

Robert’s vision tells a tale of promise, when it seems to me during this holiday interlude it is needed most.  I post it as a measure of hope generated by an exemplary and determined contemporary classicist.

“Waveland, Mississippi was the city most destroyed by Katrina. While other communities, most notably New Orleans, suffered extensive and horrific flooding, Waveland was hit directly by a 30' tidal wave that scarped every building, sign post and semblance of habitation. Vanished.

Clearly in the wake of such destruction, the re-building effort over the ensuing years and months has been painful and all-encompassing—interrupted at every corner by yet another bureaucratic review. Almost nothing has yet been built.

As a result the progress of the municipal complex that I was commissioned to do has emerged as both symbolic and functional beacon for the return of civic life—public services as measure of faith fulfilled and community restored. The anticipated return of a City Hall is a symbol of confidence and continuation.

With so much resting on its eventual advent, we have worked hard to evoke the Gulf Coast vernacular to the fullest extent modern use allows as something essential for residents to understand, appreciate and enliven as life returns.  I hope sincerely that our work will thus succeed.”

Robert Orr, FAIA   December, 2008

Front View, City Hall to left.

Back of Annex building.

Back of Fire Station, Annex

Birds Eye View looking Southwest. Fire Station bottom right, City Hall upper left.

City Hall to left (with preserved ceramic mosaic wall in front of stair), Annex at back of court, Fire Station to right.

I urge you to take stock of Mr. Orr’s condign labors. I will report ahead on their completion.

- Paul Gunther, Dec 2008

Comments

[Kathy Pinn]

I can attest to Robert Orr's hard and extensive design work. He came to Waveland as a breath of fresh air for some and has stayed the course even in the face of all the governmental reviews, re-reviews and re-re-reviews.

Each day that the old downtown of Waveland continues to stand desolate our hearts grow wearier and wearier. In the aftermath of the storm, expectations were high and now as three years has passed since the devastation of Katrina, we become less and less expectant that our town will return.

I lived and worked two doors south of City Hall and loved our small downtown. I pray that building will begin sonn.

[Ted Longo]

Robert came to Waveland as part of Governor Haley Barbour’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal as did many others. Unlike many others, Robert’s interest in our community has never waned. He continues to stay involved and in the process has brought us now ideas and hope. He has been a gift to our city.

[Greg Shue]

Looks like more good work coming out of Orr's office. I wonder what program was used to generate the renderings.

[sarah]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.thetreadmillguide.com