University of Kentucky
Rebuilding New Orleans: Dunbar's Restaurant
Institution
University of Kentucky
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Mike McKay; Liz Swanson
Abstract
Dunbar's Restaurant was a small, yet widely known soul food restaurant located in the center of New Orleans. The eclectic spirit of the restaurant developed as a direct response to the dynamic attitudes of the surrounding community and the close-knit values of family. Tina Dunbar and her famous restaurant have been featured in many national and international magazines and brochures. Everyone from politicians to movie stars to your local person went there not only for the delicious cuisine, but also because the warm, spirited atmosphere created by Mrs. Dunbar and her family. When Hurricane Katrina hit and the levees broke, Dunbar's was submerged in six feet of water. The family's only source of revenue was destroyed, and to make matters worse, the roof was heavily damaged and never received the proper preventative measures to keep out the ongoing elements; so, for over two years it has been closed up and weathering beyond its years. As a result, the condemned building must be demolished. Our goal was to design a new restaurant to replace the current building. It needed to be a place that will be relaxed and fun, but also gives a new direction for the surrounding neighborhood. Since it is the only restaurant in its vicinity, we wanted it to be a place that created the idea of community where neighbors and friends could come together. Therefore, we proposed an architectural form that will aide Mrs. Dunbar in reestablishing the characteristics and values that made the restaurant an iconic destination.
Rebuilding New Orleans: Dunbar's Restaurant
Dunbar's Restaurant was a small, yet widely known soul food restaurant located in the center of New Orleans. The eclectic spirit of the restaurant developed as a direct response to the dynamic attitudes of the surrounding community and the close-knit values of family. Tina Dunbar and her famous restaurant have been featured in many national and international magazines and brochures. Everyone from politicians to movie stars to your local person went there not only for the delicious cuisine, but also because the warm, spirited atmosphere created by Mrs. Dunbar and her family. When Hurricane Katrina hit and the levees broke, Dunbar's was submerged in six feet of water. The family's only source of revenue was destroyed, and to make matters worse, the roof was heavily damaged and never received the proper preventative measures to keep out the ongoing elements; so, for over two years it has been closed up and weathering beyond its years. As a result, the condemned building must be demolished. Our goal was to design a new restaurant to replace the current building. It needed to be a place that will be relaxed and fun, but also gives a new direction for the surrounding neighborhood. Since it is the only restaurant in its vicinity, we wanted it to be a place that created the idea of community where neighbors and friends could come together. Therefore, we proposed an architectural form that will aide Mrs. Dunbar in reestablishing the characteristics and values that made the restaurant an iconic destination.