Domino Magazine: Domino Creates a Healthy Home for Katrina Survivors

7/23/2019 Domino Magazine: Domino Creates a Healthy Home for Katrina Survivors

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DOMINO

Domino Creates a

Healthy Home forKatrina Survivors

In a New Orleans complex of new, affordable housing, theDomino team creates a home that's sustainable in every

wayhealthy materials, easy maintenance, and cozy to live in.

PHOTOS: MAX KIM-BEE |PRODUCED BY LUCILLA ESCHMANN

Sometimes tragedy presents an opportunity for positivechange. Such is the case with The Holy Cross Project, aneco affordable-housing complex in New Orleans' Lower


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Ninth Ward, a vibrant and historic neighborhood thathad been virtually wiped out by the hurricane.

In 2006, environmental organization Global Green USAheld a contest to design this small, sustainable

community. The winning scheme (selected by a jurychaired by actor Brad Pitt) was conceived by New YorkCity firm Workshop/apd and built with support fromlead funding partner The Home Depot Foundation.

Wowed by the project, we came on board to decorate thefirst home in the developmentall with organic, local,

recycled or other green elements. Style director DaraCaponigro and contributing editor Ruthie Sommers,

joined by a team of domino staffers, solicited donationsof furniture and materials and whipped together the

warm, sophisticated interiors in less than two months.Here, a tour of the many highlights.

(pictured) Old and new combine for a colorful, happyplace that evokes a warm Big Easy sensibility.

SOFA Organic cotton "Apartment" in Paico Natural$3,063 leeindustries.com for stores CHAIRS MitchellGold + Bob Williams sea-grass "Holden" (no longer

available), mgbwhome.com for stores STOOLSRecycled-cement-bag papier-mch "Flower" and "Net"

$375 each, straydogdesigns.com NESTING TABLESReclaimed-wood "Driftwood" $498/pair, Palecek (800)

274-7730 TABLE LAMP Bamboo base "Helios" $1,420jGoodDesign (212) 475-0479 ext. 2 FRAMED

WALLPAPER Studio Printworks water-based-ink


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CFL bulbs around the clock!). evergreensolar.com forinformation

ENERGY CONTROL A "building dashboard" allowsresidents to see

and thus modify

their resource

consumption in real time.

STRESSLESS COOLING The architects incorporatedpassive systems that cut down on the need for AC by

blocking sun. A large roof overhang on the south sideshades upper windows from the strongest rays, while

lattice wrapping partially shields the porch from theintense afternoon light.

The no-excess footprint of the three-bedroom house (thisis the lower of two stories) still feels spacious.


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Sommers andDomino's Chase Booth at work (all boxeswere recycled!).

Dining Room


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Responsible Furniture Made from plantation-grownpine, the pendant lamp is untreated (no VOCs) and ships

flat for less waste. The Saarinen table, shown with a

rosewood top, is Greenguard-certified for indoor airquality.

Natural Textiles The curtain fabric isn't just organicbut made in a factory that yields only biodegradable by-

products. The rug of undyed natural abaca has nobacking.

CHAIRS FSC-certified sustainable wood base withcotton "Adras Blue" fabric about $988 each,leeindustries.com for stores TABLE $2,908 and

PENDANT LIGHT David Trubridge sustainableplantation-grown hoop-pine "Coral" $500 dwr.com

SCULPTURE Rashida Ferdinand terra-cotta "Beautiful"$980 currentsofclay.com for information ARTWORKFramed archival-pigment photograph "Indian Red"$500 Zack Smith (504) 251-7745 CURTAIN FABRIC

Wool-blend "Windowpane" in Mushroom about$125/yard, twilltextiles.com for information RUG

Renewable abaca fiber "Culasi" in Pearl about $2,660meridameridian.com for stores


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Kitchen

Energy Star Appliance The GE refrigerator anddishwasher are Energy Starqualified, meaning they use

less energy and cost less to run than other kinds.

Nontoxic Cabinets The maple-veneer cupboards,constructed of a urea-formaldehydefree plywood, have

a clear water-based finish that won't offgas.

REFRIGERATOR Energy Star with bottom freezer"GDSSOKCXSS" about $1,399 geappliances.com for

stores DISHWASHER Energy Star built-in CleanSteel"GHDA485NCS" $449 homedepot.com for stores

CABINETS Custom FSC-certified PureBond plywood,prices vary, columbiaforestproducts.com for

information


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Dara found great vintage accessories at shops onMagazine Street.

FormerDomino assistant Lucilla Eschmann unpacks andunpacks and&


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Living Room

Reclaimed Floors The cypress and pine boards weresourced locally, some from buildings damaged by the

flooding.

Smart Windows The house's largest windows facenorth (for minimum sun exposure), with the smallestand fewest on the southern side. All glass is double-

paned (insulated with a pocket of argon gas) and Low-E(to keep out the heat).

DESK Rattan "Laguna" about $2,183 Palecek (800)274-7730 STOOL Mango-wood "Helix" $159

vivaterra.com SLIPPER CHAIR FSC-certified woodbase with cotton-blend "Lisbon Green" fabric $1,363

leeindustries.com for stores FLOOR LAMP Sustainablemaple $1,600 paulloebach.com for information

FLOORING Reclaimed wood, prices vary, Lower 9th


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Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement andDevelopment (504) 324-9955 for information

WINDOWS Prices vary, jeld-wen.com for information

Bedroom

Organic Bedding No chemicals in this sleep haven:organic cotton sheets, pure wool blanket (yes, it does getchilly in NOLA sometimes!) and natural latex mattress.

Zzzzzzz.

Breathe-easy Wallpaper Even the wall covering isbiodegradable, printed with water-based inks on a PVC-

free backing.

BED LINENS Lauren Spa organic cotton from $60 andCOVERLET $180/queen, ralphlauren.com for stores

BLANKET (at bottom of bed) Naturally dyed "237Q"$595 Swans Island (888) 526-9526 HEADBOARD


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Organic cotton upholstered $2,906/queen,leeindustries.com for stores MATTRESS Vivetique

natural latex $2,117.95/queen, greenfeet.com BEDSIDE

TABLES Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams "Camp Hickory"(no longer available), mgbwhome.com for storesWALLPAPER Studio Printworks "Syrie" about $135/roll,

Hinson and Company (212) 688-5538

The Greenest Way to Go: Salvage

One of the best things you can do is to repurpose stuffthat would otherwise end up in a landfill. Our team

scoured the city's numerous antiques shops, as well asflea markets and yard sales, to turn up objects that would

give the house local flavor. We found everything fromfurniture to artthereby putting money directly into thehands of area businesses. In the grand scheme of things,

reusing a plastic chair is better than buying a new onemade of sustainable wood!


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This story originially appeared asRebuilding Green inNew Orleans in Domino magazine.

Domino Magazine: Domino Creates a Healthy Home for Katrina Survivors

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