Dutch-designed homes to dot New Orleans

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Residents of New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, will be living in houses designed by architects in the Netherlands.

Rotterdam architect firm MDRVD is taking on the commission project for U.S. actor Brad Pitt, whose project, "Make It Right," calls for building 150 affordable, environmentally sound houses during the next two years.

"The buildings are all based on the houses that were there, wooden homes, in lots of colors, with verandas at the front and back," architect Winy Maas told Netherlands Radio. But while the new homes will look like the originals, there will some major differences.

"Some of the buildings can float, others are on a slope or designed for the disabled. And some have a kink, allowing part of the house to be flooded while the important rooms remain dry," Maas said.