the infamous FEMA trailer

When is the wrong architecture worse than no architecture at all? I hope that I'm never in a situation where I have to try to answer that question, or find myself as the designer who has imposed a bad decision on someone.

The saga of the FEMA trailers seems to be a combination of pure ignorance, hubris, and good intentions gone awry. The major problem with them centers around the use of toxic materials, which when combined with the hot/humid climate of New Orleans, made for a miserable experience for thousands of people.

It also serves as a useful demonstration that when it comes to climate specific design, there is no ideal, universal solution.