The architect of a home that miraculously survived the LA wildfires has shared key design choices that he believes ensured its stability.
California is currently grappling with a series of severe wildfires that have resulted in at least 11 fatalities and necessitated the evacuation of over 180,000 residents.
The fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood was the first to ignite on January 7, followed by the Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Kenneth fires.
The dry, hurricane-force winds have hindered firefighting operations and helped to spread the fires, which have burned thousands of acres – destroying homes, buildings, businesses, and countless personal possessions.
Amid the devastation of the raging blaze, one home has gained traction on social media as a survivor in a neighborhood where nearly every other property was reduced to ash and rubble.
The house – designed by an architect who goes by the name G Chasen – has captivated social media users after a photo of the unscathed structure surrounded by ruins went viral.
Check out the house below:Chasen took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain how specific architectural choices likely contributed to the home’s survival.
“No words really – just a horror show. Some of the design choices we made here helped. But we were also very lucky,” he penned in one post that shows a somewhat eerie image of the intact house.
The property, which the architect designed for a friend, sustained some damage but remains “totally livable”.
One person replied: “You have a sterile perimeter: no vegetation, except for the planters. You probably have a fire resistant roof and siding. You have a brick and mortar retaining wall. Those are all good safeguards against fire. There is no luck involved.”
He credited several fire-resistant design elements for the structure’s resilience, sharing: “Also no vents or eaves and tempered glass windows. Lucky that there was bit more space from the neighbors – but unlucky that the neighbor pulled his car into driveway. Solid concrete perimeter wall probably saved us there.”
“The trail of 1200° molten aluminum stands out. The neighbor moved his car into the driveway before leaving – this may have burned his house down,” he added in another post.
As for the damage caused, the architect said: “A couple glass panels will require replacement. Otherwise fine. A tiny bit of ash residue collected on the interior sill there.”
Another homeowner, David Steiner of Texas, saw his $9 million Malibu mansion survive despite the raging inferno.
In an interview with The New York Post, the retired waste-management executive attributed his home’s endurance to its “ultra-sturdy construction,” adding: “It’s stucco and stone with a fireproof roof.”
He also shared that the structure had pilings “like 50 feet into the bedrock” so it could ensure its stability when subjected to the impact of powerful waves.
Chasen and Steiner are a testament to how innovation, combined with luck, can make all the difference when facing nature’s wrath.
Our thoughts continue to go out to every person impacted by this developing tragedy.
