Highland Residence, Altadena, California
Following the devastating Eaton Fire, we were commissioned to design a new home for a couple who had lost everything. Rather than simply rebuilding what was lost, they saw an opportunity to create something more considered — a home that would reflect both their personal needs and the hard lessons learned from the disaster. They came to us with a clear request: design a modern house connected to the historic craftsman character of the neighborhood but built to withstand fire. It was a project shaped as much by resilience as by design.
Physical Model: Ardak Tashchian
The couple asked that the three-bedroom, two-bath home be designed for aging-in-place, with full wheelchair accessibility throughout. This shaped our decisions at the detail level: wider doorways, cabinets with drawers instead of doors, step-free thresholds, curbless showers, and broader corridors for easy navigation. The transition from the garage into the house is seamless and includes a large bifold window wall, with no curb or stair to interrupt the flow. These features enhance comfort and livability for all occupants, including a beloved diminutive dog.
Plan
Front Elevation
Side Elevation
Back Elevation
The craftsman tradition is rich with architectural detail, and we were careful to honor it without imitation. What we chose to carry forward were the elements that most define the style: the complexity of the roof geometries, their characteristically low slopes, and the generous depth of their overhangs. We translated these qualities into a contemporary design of low-slung roofs that fold and invert across the form of the house, giving it a dynamic, sculpted quality. Where the roof folds upward, we inserted dormer windows to draw in natural light.
Section of the house looking towards kitchen
Interior View Looking Towards Living Room
Interior View Looking Towards Kitchen
Fire resistance was addressed through a carefully considered palette of durable, low-maintenance materials. A standing seam metal roof, fire-resistant siding manufactured with fly ash, aluminum windows, and stucco cladding together create a highly resilient building envelope. To echo the texture of craftsman homes, we specified combed stucco alongside cladding with one-inch reveals, the two materials separated by a datum line at door and window height. Integral color materials throughout — including the distinctive green metal roof — eliminate the need for repainting, ensuring the home remains beautiful and practical for years to come.
Materials & Wall Section
Status: Under Construction
Size: Main House 2008 SF, Garage 545 SF
Project Team: Sarah Lorenzen, Peter Tolkin, Patrick Fromm, Ahmad Chehab
Contractor: SEED Furniture Inc., Reeve Schley
Engineers: Craig Phillips Engineering & Design, Inc. (Structural), Forma Engineering (Civil)
Landscape: Wade Graham Studio
Consultants: Monterey Energy Group (Energy, MEP)
Survey: Hennon Surveying & Mapping, Inc.