This house was designed to survive what will eventually test it.
Wildfire in Malibu is not hypothetical. It is cyclical, seasonal, and accelerating. The challenge was not to harden a home after it was conceived, but to remove combustibility from the architecture itself.

What does residential design become when fire is treated as a primary force rather than a secondary concern?

At Point Dume, openness defines living: expansive glazing, deep overhangs, seamless terraces, uninterrupted horizons. Yet these qualities often introduce risk. The project resolved this tension by eliminating fuel at every level of design. Light-gauge steel replaces traditional wood framing, removing ignition from the structural core. Fire-rated exterior sheathing reinforces the envelope, extending endurance under extreme heat.

Exterior decks and terraces, typically vulnerable in wildfire conditions, were conceived from the outset in non-combustible stone, concrete, and fire-retardant composite materials. Nothing exposed invites flame.

The living roof operates as both a landscape and defense system, integrated with full-coverage sprinklers designed to suppress embers and reduce heat accumulation. In the event of a hazard, the sprinkler network can draw directly from the pool through a dedicated high-capacity pump, ensuring water delivery even if municipal supply is compromised. A private on-site hydrant further reinforces this autonomy.

The challenge was not to withdraw from the landscape. It was to remain open to it: intelligently, responsibly, and with the strength to endure.