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Pacific Palisades Home Saved from Destruction by Unique Design

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In the wake of the devastating Palisades Fire, which reduced entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles to ash, one home on Iliff Street in Pacific Palisades stands as a lone survivor. Surrounded by charred rubble and the remnants of neighboring houses, this 3,624-square-foot residence remained fully intact, sparking curiosity about how it withstood the inferno. Experts suggest that its resilience may be attributed to design principles consistent with passive house standards, a construction approach focused on energy efficiency and environmental resilience.

The home, designed by architect Greg Chasen, features a simple facade with no eaves or overhangs, reinforced windows, and a concrete perimeter wall. These elements align with passive house principles, which emphasize a tightly sealed building envelope and efficient ventilation systems to minimize energy use and exposure to external elements. According to Ken Levenson, executive director of the New York-based Passive House Network, the airtight construction and insulation inherent in passive design not only reduce energy consumption but also provide protection against extreme conditions, including wildfires.

Above: passive house designed by Andreas Benzing of AM51 Inc.

“The insulation, coupled with airtightness, really protects the structure from boiling,” Levenson explained. “The sealed environment ends up providing protection from other outdoor elements, including noise, pollution, smoke, and, in extreme cases, fire.”

The Iliff Street home’s survival highlights the potential benefits of passive house construction in fire-prone regions. Johnny Rezvani, communications director for passive house supply company 475 High Performance Building Supply, noted that while it’s unclear whether the home is officially certified, its design aligns with key passive house principles that enhance fire resistance. These include a simplified, compact structure that reduces areas where embers can lodge, as well as airtight construction that minimizes points of entry for embers—the primary way wildfires spread.

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“If you have a leaky envelope for the home, with leaky windows and doors, they can literally be pulling embers in,” Rezvani said. “Passive house construction eliminates those vulnerabilities.”

Another critical factor is the use of fire-resistant insulation materials, such as mineral wool or wood fiber board treated with borates, which are less flammable than traditional foam insulation. “That basically wraps your house in a fire-resistant blanket,” Levenson said. While it may seem counterintuitive to use wood fiber for fire resistance, its density allows it to char rather than ignite, providing a protective barrier.

Beyond structural resilience, passive house design also offers protection from toxic smoke, a significant hazard during wildfires. The combination of airtight construction, triple-pane windows, and heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems creates a “smoke-tight” environment, safeguarding indoor air quality. Chasen confirmed that the Iliff Street home suffered no smoke damage, a testament to its robust design.

However, the home’s survival cannot be attributed solely to passive design principles. Landscaping and material choices also played a role. The property features a gravel yard with minimal vegetation, reducing the risk of fire spreading to the structure. Additionally, the adjacent lot had been cleared weeks earlier, providing an added layer of protection.

“If you look at the yard, it’s a gravel yard with small plants that are not brown and grassy and not right up against the house,” Rezvani observed. “That’s a critical factor in fire resistance.”

The National Fire Protection Association emphasizes two key strategies for wildfire protection: clearing combustible materials from around the home and incorporating structural features that minimize fire risk. The Iliff Street home exemplifies both approaches, combining thoughtful design with proactive landscaping.

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While passive house methods significantly enhance a building’s ability to withstand wildfires, experts caution that no design can offer absolute protection. Wildfires are unpredictable, and their behavior varies depending on conditions such as wind speed, temperature, and fuel availability. “Passive house methods certainly enhance the ability to withstand a wildfire, but there’s no perfect protection,” Levenson said.

The Iliff Street home’s survival serves as a powerful case study for the potential benefits of passive house construction in fire-prone areas. As wildfires become increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change, adopting resilient design principles may prove essential for safeguarding homes and communities. For now, this lone survivor stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of thoughtful, forward-thinking design.

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