The Pacific Palisades neighborhood was one of the hardest hit in the Los Angeles fires.
One home on a neighborhood street survived, and the architect who designed it, Greg Chasen, is going viral for explaining why he thinks it survived.
No words really – just a horror show. Some of the design choices we made here helped. But we were also very lucky. pic.twitter.com/kpqfiRj49M
— g chasen (@ChasenGreg) January 9, 2025
Someone pointed out the features of the house that could have contributed to its survival: There was “no vegetation, except for the planters,” as well as a “fire-resistant roof and siding” and a “brick and mortar retaining wall.” Chasen pointed out that there were also no vents or eaves, and the house had tempered glass windows. He mentioned that the “solid concrete perimeter” probably saved it.
Chasen said that he was “lucky” that there was no vegetation against the building and that it also helped that the adjacent lot had just been “demoed and scraped clean 3 weeks ago.”
Chasen pointed out that the neighbor moved their car into the driveway before evacuating, which may be the reason their house burned down.
And lastly, he said that “a couple glass panels will require replacement. Otherwise fine.”…