5/17/2008 Community Gumbo

Democracy Now

Listen | World Renowned Philosopher Slavoj Zizek on the Iraq War, the Bush Presidency, the War on Terror & More

Listen | Legendary Author Gore Vidal on the Bush Presidency, History and the “United States of Amnesia”

Listen | Back to the Basics: Energy-Efficient Home Designs to Rebuild New Orleans Look Familiar

Architect William Monaghan and his daughter Tess debut "The Octavia", one of ten homes designed using traditional New Orleans architectural principles such as building housing raised on piers, and maximizing ceiling height and airflow to provide comfort without the need for air conditioning. Monaghan founded Build Now to provide affordable but attractive historic designs which are less expensive to build than the cost of renovating a flooded home. Ranging in price from $100,000 to $160,000, the efficient Energy Star designs consume 30 percent less electricity than other modern construction. Monaghan and his daughter Tess are displaying the first completed house at an open house today. In customary fashion, crawfish and a brass band will be on hand for visitors. The open house will be held from Noon to 6 p.m. at 5713 Elysian Fields Avenue, above Prentiss Street.

For more information, the Build Now office is located at 7731 Maple Street. Call Build Now at 324-3964, or visit BUILDNOWNOLA.COM.

Related:

Kate Moran, "Duo aims to make starting fresh affordable," The Times-Picayune, 5/04/08.

Ariella Cohen, "Builders lowering price tag on eco-friendly housing," City Business.

Music Played:

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, "The Flintstones Meets the President (Meets the Dirty Dozen)," Louisiana Scrapbook, Rykodisc, 1987.

The Treme Brass Band, "Wolverine Blues," Straight from the Sixth Ward, Tipitinas, 2003.

Sylvester Weaver & Walter Beasley, "Bottleneck Blues," The Slide Guitar: Bottles, Knives, and Steel, Columbia, 1990.