resilient homes – Architect Olson Kundig points to houses designed for severe fires and extreme weather, built to require little maintenance while holding up for generations—without turning into bunker-style structures.
On the kind of sites where extreme weather doesn’t just threaten a neighborhood but rewrites the rules of construction, Olson Kundig has been designing houses that aim to stand their ground.
Kundig—one of many architects pushing for homes that can withstand extreme weather events. as well as fires. which have become especially severe during this period of climate change—argues that resilience doesn’t have to come with a doomsday look. He cofounded Olson Kundig Architects in 1986. and he’s spent years making the case that the best kind of protection is the kind people live with.
“People come to us for houses that require little maintenance, but that they hope will last for generations,” Kundig says. In his view, those goals aren’t separate. “The same houses tend to be resistant to the larger forces of nature.”
That philosophy shows up across the kinds of projects Kundig takes on. He notes that just about all of his houses can be considered resilient. and they’re built on dramatic and challenging sites in Europe. Asia. Africa. and North and South America. There’s even a teasing horizon to the work: Kundig says he has not yet planted his flag on Antarctica. “Talk about resiliency,” he muses. “That would be a fascinating place to build.”.
He doesn’t let the conversation float into sci-fi either. When asked about the moon or Mars, he doesn’t sound especially drawn to the idea. “I think we have enough challenges here on Earth,” Kundig says.
The sequence is hard to ignore: houses designed for low-maintenance, long-term living are also the ones meant to resist bigger, harsher forces—from extreme weather to fires. The design goal isn’t to scare people into hiding. It’s to keep homes standing while the climate keeps changing.
The story is part of The Future of Home. a collaboration between the editors of WIRED and Architectural Digest to help readers understand what “home” will look like tomorrow and beyond. For Kundig, the answer is plain: resilience can be built into everyday living—quietly, aesthetically, and for the long haul.
climate change resilient housing fires extreme weather architecture Olson Kundig Architects WIRED Architectural Digest The Future of Home
So basically houses that can’t burn? Sounds like a scam ad.
I don’t get it, like aren’t all houses “resilient” already? Feels like they’re just marketing bunker vibes but telling people it’s not bunker vibes.
They said fires are worse during climate change, but I’m pretty sure the bigger issue is people not clearing brush. Like you can build whatever fancy house, but if the neighborhood is a tinderbox it’s still gonna go.
“Don’t look built”?? That headline is weird. Are these the homes that look like they’re just chilling there and then suddenly survive hurricanes? Also Antarctica line made me laugh… like we should be worried about mold first, not the moon.