Brad Pitt’s housing charity, which built homes by architects including David Adjaye and Frank Gehry for hurricane-hit New Orleans, is facing legal action from residents over claims the buildings are faulty
The regeneration project was set up by the Hollywood actor in 2007, two years after 4,000 homes were lost in Hurricane Katrina.
But now some residents of the 111 homes built by the foundation are preparing to sue, reporting a number of issues with the properties, including rotting wood, power failures, damage and damp.
’I do believe Mr Pitt had very good intentions and as a New Orleanian I’m grateful. These people are grateful. But no one wants a home that’s deteriorating, losing value, that’s dangerous to live in,’ Ron Austin, a lawyer handling the case, told The Times.
Make it Right was launched by Brad Pitt, US designer William McDonough, and Berlin-based Graft Architects, with the aim of constructing 150 sustainable and affordable houses in city’s Lower 9th Ward.
A mixture of local architects, US firms and international companies contributed designs to the project including Gehry, Ghanaian practice Construct, Dutch stars MVRDV and Shigeru Ban Architects.
David Adjaye, the only British architect involved, designed a flood-proof house raised up on stilts for the project.
Adjaye Associates and Make It Right have been approached for comment.
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