Solo Project - 2012 Competition Entry Morgan City, Louisiana

The Louisiana Petroleum Musem is located in Morgan City, a small city in southern Louisiana

at 2:00 pm, the dark shadow of the giant flood wall on the main commercial street spills over the shops and blocks out the sun. The infrastructure protecting this historical downtown from 10’ flood waters is also hurting the city’s relationship with the river.

The building is designed to occupy an existing industrial building on the corner edge of the town’s main commercial street. It’s upper level reaches over the street, creating views and a connection with the river beyond the flood walls.

More than half of the population of the town works rotating shifts on oil rigs out in the gulf of Mexico. As a result, the town appears closed down for many months during the year, making the quaint main street the only socially active area. The well-lit indoor + outdoor public spaces of the building are meant to be used year-round for commerce, craft clubs, and congregation - the things that the locals said they needed the most.

Project Credits

Project: Miles Kozatch Studio Advisor: Andrew Liles AIA