The recently completed Bastion community is a guaranteed housing project featuring 58 independent units designed to serve veterans affected by 9/11 and their families, many of whom require lifelong care. United by shared experiences, the Bastion community fosters a therapeutic environment tailored for long-term support. This innovative housing model bridges the gap between professional nursing facilities and conventional homes.
Located in the Gentilly Community of New Orleans, Louisiana, this project occupies a historically prosperous urban area initially developed by post-war veterans during the suburban boom. However, it suffered decline after flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. The site is a rare 5.5-acre contiguous plot that once accommodated a large mixed-use residential neighborhood. Situated just several hundred feet from the London Canal breach — the flood’s origin — early site work involved clearing remaining debris.
Following over a decade of vacancy, Bastion selected this site to develop an expandable housing community designed with orderly spatial organization. The architecture and site planning prioritize economy, sustainability, and flexibility. While the project’s form might seem complex, its construction logic is based on fundamental single- and double-family residential modules. Elevated on piles, the residences are suspended above ground to allow groundwater infiltration and to preserve the roots of ancient oak trees.
Each housing unit is paired, with two connected residences facing another pair, creating an open courtyard shared by four neighbors. This layout fosters a positive social network among residents. Groups of units are carefully placed between existing oak trees and linked to the wider community through a larger central courtyard, maintaining openness and integration with the surrounding neighborhood.
Design Drawings:
▲ General layout plan
▲ Site analysis diagram
▲ Unit distribution diagram
▲ Unit analysis
▲ Density (BIM Training) analysis diagram
▲ Morphological analysis diagram
▲ Unit plan
▲ Elevation view
▲ Elevation view
▲ Sectional view
▲ Rendering image
Project Information:
Architectural Firm: OJT
Address: 1901 Mirabeau Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122, United States
Category: Collective Housing
Project Team: Robert Baddour, Travis Bost, Patrick Daurio, Rebe (BIM Tutorial) cca Fitzgerald, Sabeen Hasan, Lauren Hickman, Kristian Mizes, Jessica O’Dell, Jonathan Tate
Building Area: 56,600 ft²
Project Year: 2018
Photographers: William Crocker, Jackson Hill
Manufacturers: Sherwin-Williams, James Hardie Company
Engineering Consultant: Robert B. Anderson, LLC
Structural Engineer: Schrenk
Municipal Engineer: Endom & Flanagan
Developer: Renaissance Property Group
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