
After dropping their off-grid house within the 2019 Kincade Fireplace, the house owners of Pine Flat Residence selected to rebuild with a transparent objective. Create a home that would endure future wildfire circumstances whereas supporting day by day life over time.
Set within the hills north-east of Healdsburg, California, the mission by Faulkner Architects focuses on resilience, accessibility, and a deep connection to the location.

Constructing on What Stays
The brand new home sits on the stays of the unique construction, reusing 90 % of the present concrete basis and partitions. This choice preserved embodied vitality and decreased the necessity for brand spanking new excavation.
A easy rectangular type now occupies the beforehand angular footprint. Parts of the outdated basis lengthen outward, changing into a sculptural entry step and a glazed mild properly.
Half buried into the hillside, the preserved base contrasts with the elevated construction above, whereas the shape follows the ridgeline.




Designed to Resist Fireplace
Sturdiness drives the fabric palette. A fireplace-resistive corten metal shell wraps the house, paired with sliding ember screens and exterior sprinklers positioned above the decks.
These components work collectively to cut back fireplace danger whereas requiring minimal upkeep over time. The construction is designed to face up to publicity, with supplies chosen for longevity in a distant setting.




Out of doors Area With Constructed-In Safety
The deck extends outward, protected by overhead sprinklers that activate throughout fireplace occasions. This method provides a defensive layer whereas sustaining usable outside house.
Water administration is built-in into the design. A cantilevered gutter directs runoff right into a metal basin, the place it’s filtered by means of a vegetated bioretention space earlier than reaching a retention pond.



An Open Dwelling Area Designed for On a regular basis Ease
On the heart of the house, a brand new concrete chimney anchors the principle flooring. It frames the presence of fireside throughout the panorama, a reminder of each necessity and danger.
The residing space sits on the first degree alongside the kitchen and eating areas, supporting ease of motion and long-term accessibility. Clearances are designed for wheelchair maneuvering, and the general plan anticipates future adaptability, together with a pre-framed location for a possible elevator.



Non-public Areas Designed for Consolation and Longevity
The first bed room is situated on the principle degree, making certain it stays simply accessible because the house owners age, whereas the opposite bedrooms are situated on the decrease degree of the house.



Sensible Design That Lasts
Bogs are designed with accessibility in thoughts, with spatial allowances that assist ease of use.

A Plan Formed by Website and Historical past
The design displays a cautious response to each website and historical past. The reused basis defines the footprint, whereas the brand new rectangular quantity simplifies development and reduces waste.
An entry ramp extends outward towards the west hillside, changing into each a practical and expressive ingredient. The combination of techniques, construction, and panorama is clear all through the planning.




Pine Flat Residence exhibits how rebuilding can transcend alternative. It turns into a possibility to rethink how a house performs beneath strain, from wildfire danger to long-term use. Right here, structure is formed by necessity.












