Elizabeth English founded the Buoyant Foundation Project (BFP) in 2006 in an effort not only to provide a safe and reliable form of flood protection, but also to encourage the authentic restoration of traditional New Orleans neighbourhoods, especially in the Lower Ninth Ward. The project is specifically designed to preserve traditional, wooden “shotgun� style housing that is prevalent throughout New Orleans, including the Lower Ninth Ward. The BFP serves as a catalyst for the restoration of shotgun housing through retrofitting remaining structures with the buoyant foundation system.6 The BFP addresses the need for an alternative form of flood protection in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is recommending to homeowners, including those in lowlying areas of South Louisiana, to permanently elevate their homes to comply with the new Base Flood Elevation (BFE) requirements.7 The BFP is a flood protection system that provides an alternative to permanent static elevation. It allows a house to remain close to street level while minimizing both property damage and the destruction of neighbourhood character in the event of a flood. The BFP is a flood mitigation strategy that adapts to flood conditions when necessary, and does not inconvenience residents since the home remains close to street level under normal conditions. 8 It has been more than five years since the storm, and many residents have not returned to their former homes for fear that they will have to face another catastrophic flood or live with the inconvenience of a home permanently raised to a high elevation. The BFP aims to provide a viable alternative in the hope that residents who have remained away for these reasons will return to their former homes, helping to restore the vitality and vibrancy of this unique city.9
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