Friday, July 14, 2006

Affordable housing: a new cottage industry?

"I wanted to create a more dignified version of the FEMA trailer," said Marianne Cusato, designer of the Katrina Cottage.

"The Katrina Cottage shows how we can create beautiful and affordable homes that give people a place of pride." She stands on the ramp leading to her smallest version of the cottage, on display in downtown Ocean Springs, Mississippi, while residents stop by to look inside. Marianne put her career of creating traditional homes on hold to bring beautiful design to the Katrina Cottage. "I've designed closets that are the size of this cottage, but my heart wasn't in it," says Marianne. "What I've always wanted to do is create a new version of the Sears, Roebuck kit home, and the time was right."

No comments: