Rebuilding a dream home in LA, and living at the wildland urban interface

Horizon House sits on a hill crest in Malibu. USC architecture professor Geoffrey von Oeyen designed it for his brother Andrew. Shortly after Andrew moved in, the 2018 Woolsey Fire destroyed the 4300 square feet residence. The house got rebuilt with more sprinklers — a means of fire protection as homeowners no longer expect the fire department to come to their rescue in a blaze. But Geoffrey von Oeyen now wonders if this is the best approach to living at the wildland urban interface.