Situated strategically at the mouth of the Louisiana River, New Orleans originated as a pivotal port city. Despite a decline in port activity in favor of tourism-led economic growth, the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) offers untapped potential for urban development through the creative reuse of its industrial real estate. This context sets the stage for an innovative project aimed at retrofitting underutilized areas, infrastructure, and systems to meet contemporary ecological and social needs.

The project critiques the prevailing reliance on private entities for critical infrastructure in the United States, such as energy production and distribution, highlighting the monopolistic control that often leads to inefficiencies, including recurrent power outages in New Orleans. These outages underscore the inadequacies of current infrastructure management and regulation, emphasizing the need for systems that can adapt more effectively at the local level.

Addressing these challenges, the project proposes a new approach for urban port cities, focusing on three main objectives: hybridizing civil infrastructures to enhance resilience, redefining street hierarchies through superblocks to encourage pedestrian movement and accessibility, and integrating civil infrastructure within building programs to foster social connectivity.

At the heart of this initiative are productive superblocks, equipped with resilient microgrid systems that operate independently of the city's existing private partnership frameworks. These microgrids exemplify a shift towards localized, democratic control over resource production, regulation, and distribution, heralding a move towards ecological and social sustainability through re-municipalization and self-governance of energy systems.



Public engagement is a cornerstone of the superblock concept, with informational displays and direct feedback mechanisms designed to foster a culture of responsible energy and waste management. This participatory approach aims to encourage a deeper community involvement in sustainable practices.

Extending beyond the immediate urban context, the project also considers the broader potential of retrofitting offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico for renewable energy production. This strategy envisions a transition towards wind and solar energy, aligning with the overarching goal of creating a more engaged, resilient, and ecologically conscious urban future for port cities like New Orleans.

process drawings