designboom · Creativity & design

California Architects Adapt Homes for Wildfire Resilience

California architects are increasingly designing homes for wildfire resilience, incorporating practical survival features from the initial concept phase.

Homes often ignite via embers entering through vents or collecting against vulnerable areas. Architects are simplifying roof edges, using metal, and opting for concrete or plaster siding.

New codes like California's Wildland-Urban Interface Code mandate fire-resistant construction, leading to designs that strengthen a home's weakest points.

Some designs use a concrete structure with a 'sacrificial' timber siding. This allows the exterior to be vulnerable while the core structure remains protected.

Other homes feature zinc roofs and terraces as buffers. Designs also consider the surrounding neighborhood for firefighter access.

Residences limit forest-facing glazing, concentrating openings around courtyards. This creates a fire-resistant perimeter with concrete and steel.

Homes are being rebuilt on existing foundations, incorporating surviving concrete. Integrated sprinkler systems and water infrastructure add resilience.

New regulations aim to create ember-resistant zones around homes, treating the first five feet as part of the building's defense against ignition.

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