Lots of homeowners and developers are scrambling to rebuild as fast as possible after the catastrophic California wildfires. But the Los Angeles Times reports on an uptick in interest in a fundamentally different kind of dwelling—relatively simple fire-resistant structures built in a style known as SuperAdobe.
- "Instead of resembling a box, the structure consists of a sequence of vaulted domes nestled together, like a lost cottage straight out of a storybook. The walls are curved and the ceilings are tall and arched. And the entire building is constructed with just a few materials: soil, water, sandbags, barbed wire, plaster and a bit of cement."
The nonprofit CalEarth in Hesperia, California, has championed the style, which has been endorsed by NASA and international organizations because of its ability to withstand natural disasters such as fires and earthquakes. They've been put up in more than 60 nations around the world, though they are rare in the US. The gist of the story, however, is that sentiment appears to be shifting, as exhausted homeowners fear entering a cycle of rebuild-fire-rebuild-fire. In fact, one Palisades resident has launched a Change.org petition demanding that Los Angeles adopt "fire resistant, natural building technologies."
A takeaway quote from Altadena resident Elliott Hotsetter, who lost his home in the Eaton fire:
- "A lot of people are really rushing to rebuild and that's concerning. We need to have enough time to build back right. I'm looking at everything and considering all options, but my next home must be fireproof. That is the main consideration."
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