Porchdog House Prototype Biloxi, Mississippi Marlon Blackwell CREDITS & INFO Author(s): Marlon Blackwell Architects Architect-in-charge: Marlon Blackwell, with project team David Tanner, Chris Baribeau AIA, Matt Griffith, Jonathan Boelkins, Meryati Blackwell Structural Engineers: Black Rock Engineering and Tatum-Smith Engineers Inc. Completion Year: 2009 Program: Residential (Affordable and Storm Resistant) Sq. Area: 1,412 ft2 (131 m2)
Description The main purpose behind the design of the Porchdog prototype is in a proposal for affordable housing with an emphasis on hurricane preparation, developed for the Architecture for Humanity Model Home Program. As a result, a number of the house’s design features are aimed at mitigating flood water issues, including a stilted main living space and open stairs that allow for water flow while preventing structural damage. The construction material is steel with metal cladding, ensuring strength in high wind, with metal storm shutters that also operate in terms of natural lighting control on sunnier days. In terms of cultural preservation, Blackwell maintains the porch-living aesthetic often attributed to the usonian south, despite the main living area being above street level.
[Course Assistant: Emily Sulanowski
View of the west facade of the Porchdog House, including the porch and awning, from the street. Photograph by Timothy Hursley.
Location:
Shi(Simon) Zhang
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