Studio Bayou
Team information
Category:
Justice Kosi Atsu
Bachelor
University of Ghana
Willow Cook
Master
Louisiana State University
Fransis Lopez
Master
Louisiana State University
Kevin Enriquez
Master
Louisiana State University
Rachel Judson
Master
Louisiana State University
Emma Field
Master
Louisiana State University
Jarret Luter
PHD
University of New Orleans
Amanda Richter
fresh graduate
Louisiana State University
Jennifer White
fresh graduate
Louisiana State University
Brooke Harvey
Bachelor
Iowa State University
Leah LeBlanc
Master
Louisiana State University
Carlie Dutile
Master
Louisiana State University
Taylor Horton
Bachelor
Louisiana State University
Gifford Greer
Bachelor
Louisiana State University
Camille Milligan
Bachelor
Louisiana State University
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About the team
Studio Bayou is an interdisciplinary team of architects, landscape architects, environmental scientists, engineers, historians, and journalists. Although our team is diverse, most of us grew up in South Louisiana, giving us a personal stake in the future of the Mississippi River Delta. Our nature-based solutions are not only aimed at building land, but also preserving residents' livelihoods and celebrating our state's both natural and cultural resources. We are excited to share our ideas and love for Louisiana on an international platform.
Our vision
Nature-based solutions provide multiple lines of defense for Louisiana’s people, infrastructure, habitats, and cultural resources against land loss, storm surge, and flooding. The coast is protected by expanded wetlands and living shorelines, consisting of vegetation, oyster, and artificial reefs. Expanded blue and green infrastructure networks increase stormwater holding capacity, recreation, public health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. These expansions include bioswales, pollinator gardens, urban farming, agroforestry, parks, and creek renaturalization. Increased protection and an expanded job market reduce population decline. New economic opportunities exist in coastal and agricultural research and application, energy diversification, and seafood diversification. Dense, diverse, and multimodal development prevents floodplain construction, increases access to amenities, and promotes affordability and sustainability. Increased coastal protection, economic opportunity, food security, heritage preservation, public health, and climate resiliency improves equity. Shifting away from heavy reliance on the petrochemical industry improves economic resilience and addresses historic environmental racism.
Our inventory & analysis
Coastal Louisiana faces rapid rates of land loss, which both causes and perpetuates community displacement and habitat loss. The main cause is hydrological disruption, from when levees were constructed to control the river and prevent freshwater and sediment from entering the natural flood plain. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of oil and gas canals have cut through the wetlands, increasing saltwater intrusion. Without new sediment deposits, land is sinking faster than it can be replaced, and without freshwater, rapid salinity rise threatens biodiversity. In 2016, one indigenous community began the first whole-community relocation in the country due to flooding. As water reaches further inland, more communities will face the same displacement. Further inland, aging infrastructure, impervious surface, heavy rainfall, and backwater flooding lead to more infrastructural, economic, and cultural losses across the southern portion of the state. However, strong cultural ties to the land, community awareness, and both public and private research has led the state to become a global leader in coastal resilience. Relying on community support and research, there is still hope to preserve some of the state’s most precious resources.