Even the most fire-resistive home is vulnerable if it’s surrounded by fuel. That’s why fire-safe design must extend beyond the walls - into the landscape, hardscape, and every deck, stair, or trellis that touches the structure. In Part 04 of our Built to Endure series, we focus on the transitional zone between your home and the land - where smart material choices, defensible space, and proper detailing can make all the difference.

In the fight against wildfire, your walls and roof form the armor—but your windows and doors are the weak spots. These openings are where heat can shatter glass, embers can sneak in, and vulnerable framing can ignite from radiant exposure.In Part 03 of Built to Endure, we explore how to protect these fragile components—without compromising beauty, light, or connection to the outdoors.

In this second installment of our Built to Endure series, we’ll explore how smart material choices and thoughtful detailing can transform your walls into a resilient barrier—one that doesn’t just stand strong, but shields your home from the heat, sparks, and chaos of wildfire.

In a wildfire, embers don’t just fall from the sky—they fly with the wind, landing on rooftops and sneaking into the most vulnerable parts of a home. That’s why the roof, along with its edges and openings, is one of the most important elements in building a fire-resilient home. The good news? With the right materials and smart detailing, your home’s greatest vulnerability can become one of its strongest defenses.

There are projects that mark a turning point in your career—where design becomes more than a solution and transforms into a kind of alchemy. For me, that was the Kamen Residence. Set high above Sonoma’s vineyards, this home was our studio’s first foray into working with rammed earth, and what a way to begin.

As architects experienced in wildfire recovery and resilient home design, we understand what it takes to rebuild in California’s High Fire Hazard Zones — including the most fire-prone regions of Southern California.

As we reflect on the past year, we are grateful as always for the health and happiness of our clients, friends and family members.

It is Friday Morning December the 8th, 2017. The fires in Northern California are now 2 months old.

Situated in a community just outside of San Diego proper, my 1939 built home has simple interior detailing with Spanish Eclectic elements that were typical in this region for that era of home.

Often referred to as the heart of the home, the kitchen is a space that holds a great deal of value to many people.

As you can see from our recent journal post, the year has slipped away as we have picked up the pieces from the October 2017 fire storm and have settled into our rhythm for a new normal.

In light of all of this we have given a lot of thought to what our typical design process means to us, and how this process serves to enhance the quality of life for our clients.

As we approach the end of the year we reflect on what the past year meant to us, what we accomplished, and what we have learned to carry with us into the new year.

It is nearly September 2020, and we once again find the North Bay Area in the Midst of a wildfire disaster.

A Profound Anniversary

Tursday marked a big moment for us at Asquared Studios. Our Partner Jessie Whitesides, first read "The Rammed Earth House", by David Easton, in 1997.

The Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD) has opened the Resiliency Permit Center, or RPC, which is a unique permitting facility dedicated to specifically serving the victims of the 2017 wildfires.

We are 5 weeks from the start of the devastating Northbay wildfire and the deadline for opting in to have the Army Corps of Engineers conduct lean up services on private properties is here.

We are now half way through day 14 of the wildfires that have ravaged the Northbay.

We are now on day 11 of the largest wildfire in California history. As of today, many of the fires are contained to a high percentage allowing many to return to their evacuated neighborhoods.

As most of the world now knows, we are on day 8 of the most devastating fire event in California history.

Asquared Studios has an exciting new project under construction on a uniques site with a unique mix of materials.

Asquared Studios Partners Tony Garcia and Jessie Whitesides are proud to be members of the new Roseland Village project in Santa Rosa.

One of the things we find so interesting about our profession is that the expertise we have gained over the years to have a critical eye and an exceptional aptitude for attention to detail, can be applied to the “design” of many things outside of the architectural realm.

In recent years the number of challenges we face has increased exponentially with the requirements of “green” or “sustainable” design movements.

A couple of months ago Jessie Whitesides, my partner and Architect, shared a discovery with me about a camera and technology that was new to us. She called with excitement to tell me about a product by the name of LYTRO, exclaiming, “can you image being able to change the focal point after the picture is taken?”.

The day has finally come, Asquared Studios has reached a milestone and we wanted to extend a hearty thank you! It is with great pleasure that we announce our 10th anniversary!