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.

Since the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County and the devastating 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires, we at A•SQUARED have witnessed firsthand the profound loss and resilience that wildfires leave behind.We have walked sites with families returning to ashes. We have listened to their stories, their fears, and their hopes for starting over. Through this journey, we have committed ourselves to one purpose: helping homeowners rebuild smarter, stronger, and more fire-resilient homes for the future.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.This article introduces key principles of fire-resistant design— blending passive and active protection strategies — to help homeowners make informed decisions after wildfire loss. It marks the beginning of a continuing series exploring critical strategies for designing homes in wildfire-prone landscapes.