02/06/07
Einat Manoff
Tel Aviv, ISRAEL
The Superdome is one of New Orleans icons. Designed by Curtis & Davis and Associated Architects it serves as a major venue
for events in sports, entertainment, and politics. In addition it functions as emergency evacuation shelter in times of need,
including the disastrous storm and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Mid City’s landscape is dominated by large structures
such as the Superdome, the elevated highways and the down town sky scrapers. This project introduces a parasitic structure
that latches on to these infrastructural elements, starting with the Superdome, revolves around them and generates a new
form of habitat:
Habitat Re- Evolve is an accumulation of loft-like slabs which revolve and mutate in shape around the curved surface of the
dome. The habitat offers various programmatic uses for its slabs – all aiming for a stronger, more diverse community. Each
series of slabs can act as a capsule hotel, a temporary living for artists during Jazz Fest and for tourists during sports
events. Other uses such as small commercial and manufacturing spaces are available. Habitat will allow for dynamic, seasonal
communities parallel to more permanent occupancy. There are approximately 8,000 units which were calculated by comparing
the Superdome’s volume to that of the basic Shot gun house commonly found in the area.
The Superdome is thus encrusted with terraces that allow for ventilation, vegetation, vertical agriculture and an horizontal
shaded urban park. Aiming to seam together the large infrastructure that has taken precedence to the community in the past,
this is a proposal to: Re-Surface, Re-Build, Re-Cycle, Re-Claim, Re-Think, Re-Evolve.
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