The Life-Sized City - S03 - New Orleans - Full Episode
As hurricanes hammer this part of the world in 2024 it might be relelvant to see how New Orleans still struggles with the aftermath of #hurricane Katrina.
In this S03 episode of The Life-Sized City, Danish urbanist Mikael Colville-Andersen takes us deep into the heart of New Orleans, a city that embodies both resilience and complexity. Known worldwide for its iconic jazz scene, Creole culture, and Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans is also a city that has endured immense urban challenges. From the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to ongoing struggles with social inequity, environmental vulnerability, and cultural preservation, this episode explores the innovative solutions being implemented to address these critical issues.
Mikael meets with a variety of local voices, including actor and long-time New Orleans resident Harry Shearer, who gives a raw and personal account of how the city's engineering systems failed during Hurricane Katrina. Shearer delves into the catastrophic breakdown of the levees that were meant to protect the city, exposing the institutional failures that led to one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. His insights frame the larger narrative of how New Orleans has had to rebuild not only its infrastructure but its faith in the systems meant to protect its people.
The episode also highlights the work of Colloqate, an organization using art and architecture to address the city’s deep-rooted social and racial inequities. Mikael explores how Colloqate is reshaping public spaces in New Orleans through artistic installations that reflect the city’s complex history of colonization, segregation, and community resilience. By bringing history into the urban environment, Colloqate is ensuring that New Orleans' story is told not only through buildings and monuments but through public art that speaks directly to its citizens. These artistic interventions play a key role in reclaiming spaces for marginalized communities and preserving the rich cultural fabric of the city.
Environmental challenges are another significant theme, with Mikael investigating how New Orleans is adapting to a changing climate. He visits areas of the city where innovative flood management strategies are being put in place, from levee improvements to community-driven projects like urban wetlands restoration and rain gardens. Local environmental planners and activists discuss the importance of creating natural buffers against rising sea levels and increasing storm intensity, showing how the city is learning to live with water rather than fight against it.
Mikael engages with residents who are fighting to keep their communities intact amid the pressures of gentrification. From rising property prices to cultural displacement, the city’s urban revival has brought about a struggle between revitalization and preservation.
The episode also looks at social justice through the lens of public housing and post-Katrina recovery. Mikael talks to activists and community organizers who have been at the forefront of rebuilding efforts, fighting for affordable housing and against the displacement of the city's most vulnerable residents. Despite many promises of recovery, some neighborhoods remain in the shadow of systemic inequities, and this episode sheds light on both the successes and failures of these efforts.
Mikael also highlights New Orleans’ growing movement toward sustainable transportation, with an emphasis on the expansion of cycling infrastructure and walkability. He meets with local advocates who are working to make the streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians, aiming to shift away from the car-centric planning that has long dominated the city’s infrastructure.
From the cultural revival powered by organizations like Colloqate to the grassroots urban interventions that are redefining public space, The Life-Sized City showcases how New Orleans is navigating its future while grappling with its past. This episode offers an unflinching look at a city in transformation, with a focus on community, culture, and resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges.
0:00 Intro
2:44 Music as Identity
7:18 Roots of Music
11:33 Claiborne Urban Renewal
17:05 Bike Easy
20:22 Katrine & Failed Engineering
24:48 DIY Flood Prevention
30:04 Short Term Rental Hell
35:29 Youth Rebuilding New Orleans
40:34 Urban Renewal
44:57 Art and Design and Memories
49:55 Tattoo & Outro