URBANbuild 21 | 5620 n miro st.

a collaboration with the tulane school of architecture and louvis services.

urbanbuild 21 marks the program's third collaboration with louvis services and its fourth project in the lower ninth ward. built behind urbanbuild 20, the project completes a four-unit development across two duplexes on a single lot. the project takes advantage of recent zoning changes that expand opportunities for affordable housing density in new orleans.

the duplex consists of two 500-square-foot, one-bedroom units arranged side by side, rather than front to back. this configuration prioritizes privacy, natural ventilation, and the potential for wheelchair accessibility. each unit features a tall, open living space illuminated by clerestory windows, along with private screened porches at the front and rear that encourage cross-ventilation while protecting against insects.

a shared uncovered front porch provides a communal outdoor space, while durable sheet metal cladding supports affordability and long-term maintenance. together with its predecessor, the project demonstrates a replicable approach to compact, dignified transitional housing that balances increased residential density with the individual needs of residents.

project team

abbas ghaffari, abbie coit, bernardo urquieta, dahlia crane, delaram khoshhal ziabari, eddie torres, garrett haley, jonathan hall, juliana mejia-guevara, luke dyer, meredith mendler, nathan rich, taluhla levin, walter workman, zackariah kirsch