Modern rebuild designs.
Fire resistant does not mean bunker. Modern rebuilds can be lighter and more open than what you lost.
Fire resistant does not mean bunker. Modern rebuilds can be lighter and more open than what you lost.
Modern rebuild design in Altadena is not the same conversation it was ten years ago. Fire resistant materials have caught up. Clean lines, large openings, indoor outdoor living, and stucco or standing seam metal cladding all satisfy Chapter 7A requirements when detailed correctly.
The modern rebuilds we are designing after the Eaton Fire share several patterns: deep overhangs with non combustible soffits, large aluminum frame windows with dual pane tempered glazing, smooth stucco or cementitious panel exteriors, low profile metal roofs, and strategic masonry or steel as fire breaks.
The aesthetic is cleaner than what most homes here originally had, and materially more durable. Many clients tell us the rebuild is an excuse to finally build the home they always wanted.
Common elements in our Altadena modern rebuilds: flat or low slope roofs with parapet or minimal fascia, deep overhangs and terraces for shade, large glass areas on protected elevations, simple rectangular volumes, neutral palette with single accent material, and clean integration of sustainable systems.
Material palette tends toward smooth stucco in bone or warm white, cementitious panel or standing seam metal as accent cladding, aluminum frame windows (black or bronze), concrete or large format stone flooring, and integrated millwork rather than applied trim.
WUI compliance in a modern rebuild: smooth stucco exteriors, flat roofs with mineral surfaces, metal fascia, ember resistant vents detailed into the stucco as nearly invisible. The modern aesthetic and WUI compliance are naturally aligned.
Our role on Altadena rebuild projects covers design, permit documentation, and construction administration. David Foote, Associate AIA, draws every project personally. No junior designer intermediaries. Forty years of California residential design, 1,532 completed homes.
We accept new Eaton Fire rebuild clients on a limited basis to preserve project quality. If your rebuild lot is in Altadena and you want to explore working with us, the next step is a free 90 minute consultation. Call (805) 444 1230 or email dcfoote@dcfoote.com. We respond within one business day.
Published hourly rate $350. Most rebuild projects quoted as fixed fee or percent of construction cost after initial scope is clear. Insurance often reimburses the design fee as a covered claim expense.
Depends on the specific neighborhood and the specific design. Many Altadena areas have active modern architecture already. A well proportioned modern rebuild in a mixed neighborhood reads as contemporary and appropriate. A modern rebuild in a strict traditional HOA reads as discordant. We assess up front.
Neither is intrinsically more expensive. Traditional can be cheaper if details are simplified or more expensive if authentic detailing is pursued. Modern can be cheaper if volumes are simple or more expensive if curtain walls and exotic materials are specified.
Very well. Smooth exterior surfaces, non combustible cladding, deep overhangs, and integrated detailing are all natural to the modern aesthetic and satisfy Chapter 7A requirements.
Warm modern: soft white or bone stucco, integrated wood accents (ignition resistant treated), generous glass with deep overhangs, connection to landscape, regional material choices.
Ninety minute consultation, no fee. We meet at our Camarillo office, your temporary housing, or your Altadena lot. From there, we decide together whether we are the right match for your rebuild.
David C. Foote, Principal Designer, Associate AIA. 40 years practicing residential design. 1,532 completed homes since 1986.