To Live or Die in New Orleans

In light of today‘s hyper-rationalist perspective about the praxis of architecture, educators, practitioners, and students alike remain confused and troubled about ways to address urban dilemmas, not withstanding a major environmental disaster. The destruction of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast emphasizes once again the difficulty of deciphering the efficacy of architecture and urbanism. The significant power imbalances among the many ‘‘actors,’’ together with local politicians, the state, federal government, and corporations bidding to profit from the reconstruction campaign, may lead to architectural firms sponsoring solutions that are counterproductive to the interest of the people.