{"id":475818,"date":"2025-12-27T22:37:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T22:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/475818\/"},"modified":"2025-12-27T22:37:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T22:37:25","slug":"from-craftsman-style-to-modern-and-minimalist-a-year-into-post-fire-rebuild-a-vision-emerges-daily-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/475818\/","title":{"rendered":"From Craftsman style to modern and minimalist, a year into post-fire rebuild a vision emerges \u2013 Daily News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CaseCase Study 2.0 design studio Gio Mondo, based in Los Angeles, has created a modern home where \u201carchitecture is secondary.\u201d The straightforward interior layout features a living room and traditional built-in dining area next to the kitchen, encouraging inhabitants to retreat outdoors. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls seamlessly connect the living room to the backyard living spaces. The proposal includes an optional pool and offers flexibility in finishes to fit various budgets. (Rendering by Gio Mondo, courtesy of Case Study 2.0)<\/p>\n

For the past 12 months, fire survivors have been imagining their rebuilt futures.<\/p>\n

They can\u2019t get back their homes lost in the Eaton<\/a> and Palisades<\/a> fires, but a growing number of grassroots real estate ventures have emerged in the aftermath of those January firestorms to help them envision what could lie ahead.<\/p>\n

A year into the recovery, such ventures provide a glimpse at what neighborhood homes and structures might look like in towns where the architecture and scale of dwellings themselves were very much part of the local vibe and character.<\/p>\n

You can see that vision emerging in an array of architectual renderings, floorplans and early building in the fire zones.<\/p>\n

These options include relocating historic homes saved from demolition, craning in factory-built homes and shopping for pre-approved plans from catalogs.<\/p>\n

And the look of things varies, from designs that harken back to the age of Craftsman and Spanish-Colonial styles, to more minimalist, modern takes on a home\u2019s design.<\/p>\n

Technology is also playing a role.<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t decide on a home to fit your lot? AI can narrow down the choices by address.<\/p>\n

The common thread here is to cut the red tape, making the process of rebuilding fast and affordable so people can get back home. Because the need for organized efforts in rebuilding homes after a significant disaster is so large, local builders alone won\u2019t be able to meet the demand.<\/p>\n

\"DavidDavid Orozco, an investigation officer for the city of Los Angeles, inspects a section of a 1910 Craftsman home in Los Feliz until crews can transport it to an empty lot in Altadena, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2025. The home is part of the Historic House Relocation Project, which takes homes slated for demolition to burned out lots from the Eaton Fire in Altadena. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
\nHistoric House Relocation Project<\/p>\n

Morgan Sykes Jaybush, the creative director of the Los Angeles architecture firm Omgivning, launched a project to relocate homes slated for demolition in greater Los Angeles to Altadena.<\/p>\n

As the project manager for these house relocations, Jaybush highlighted the historical precedent for moving homes in Los Angeles. He cited past relocations from Bunker Hill to Highland Park and from Hollywood to Los Feliz. He argued that many homes, although not classified as historic, could serve those in need rather than face demolition.<\/p>\n

\u201cRelocating houses used to be much more common in Los Angeles, but it\u2019s rarely done nowadays,\u201d he said in a statement. \u201cIt\u2019s the most sustainable way to rebuild, by not throwing an entire house into the landfill. It\u2019s also a great way to bring some historic character back to these neighborhoods which have suffered so much loss. And in addition to being a quicker solution, it\u2019s a more affordable option; we estimate that these moves are half to two thirds of the cost of a new build.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe fourth part of a Los Feliz home is being prepared on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 to move to Altadena as part of a home relocation that started on Monday night. The home was saved from demolition to be relocated at a burned out vacant lot from Eaton fire. The home belongs to Gwen Sukeena and mechanical engineer Jacques Laramee. The fourth section of the home will be moved to Poppyfields Drive Thursday morning. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

In early August, Gwen Sukeena and Jacques Laramee watched as 18-wheelers delivered a 1910 Craftsman-style house, moving it from Los Feliz to their cleared Altadena lot<\/a> in four sections.<\/p>\n

The 3,600-square-foot house, with five bedrooms and wainscoting, has the distinction of having been relocated in 1948 to make way for the construction of the 101 Freeway. According to Life magazine, the owner at that time hosted a party for 150 people inside the house while it was being moved across the city.<\/p>\n

As Laramee told the Southern California News Group in August, \u201cThe history of the home captivated us. We had to save this house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AA Samara prefab home being lowered by a crane. (Courtesy of Samara)
\nSteadfast LA Foundation Modular Housing Initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n

This non-profit organization created by businessman Rick Caruso partnered with prefab company Samara, co-founded by Airbnb\u2019s Joe Gebbia, to provide modular housing for low-income residents displaced by the Eaton and Palisades fires. Gebbia committed $15 million to supply about 50 free, factory-built homes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Samara has taken charge of building, installing and permitting homes, which vary in size from 420-square-foot studios to 950-square-foot, two-bedroom units. The largest home, as previously reported by Southern California News Group, runs about $261,000, which can double once installation, permitting and other setup costs get factored.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis initiative is about keeping communities intact,\u201d Caruso said in a statement, emphasizing many affected people have lived in these neighborhoods for decades, only to face the loss of their homes due to underinsurance or a complete lack of insurance.<\/p>\n

The on-site installation takes a few weeks.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Palisades Breeze Bungalow by Case Study 2.0 architectural firm Architecture JHK, a husband-and-wife team based in Los Angeles, showcases a blend of traditional California bungalow elements and contemporary features. Best of all, this versatile home can embrace a variety of design styles, including Craftsman, Spanish Revival, Mid-Century Modern, Streamline Moderne among others. (Rendering by Architecture JHK, courtesy of Case Study 2.0)
\nCase Study 2.0<\/p>\n

The Case Study House Program featured in Arts and Architecture magazine from 1945 to 1966, inspired real estate consultants Steven and Jason Somers to create Case Study 2.0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Their catalog of over 50 architect-designed plans<\/a> range stylistically from revivals to modern glass boxes. Standard plans are $25 per square foot, excluding engineer fees. Modifications require a separate agreement with the architect, possibly requiring extra time and money to complete the project. But all plans meet or exceed current Wildlife Urban Interface standards and local building codes for fire resistance.<\/p>\n

\"CaseCase Study 2.0 architectural firm Appleton Partners LLP, with offices in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, draws inspiration from early 20th-century Spanish Revival architecture of Pacific Palisades. This two-story, 3,345-square-foot home evokes nostalgia but is built for today. The kitchen flows into the family room and dining area, which open onto a generous loggia. Upstairs, three bedrooms each occupy a corner of the house while the primary bedroom suite takes up the rear half of the house for privacy. (Rendering by Appleton Partners LLP, courtesy of Case Study 2.0)<\/p>\n

Case Study 2.0 anticipates contractors will build more quickly and efficiently by using the same design details across multiple projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can get away from completely one-off construction projects, and we can start building these things at scale, then you can build an esthetically elevated house by a world-class architect for substantially reduced construction costs,\u201d Steven Somers, chief executive of Crest Real Estate and co-founder of Case Study 2.0 told the Southern California News Group in June.<\/p>\n

As of mid-December, Somers said a dozen Case Study 2.0 projects were actively in the works, mostly in the Palisades area.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think people are still working their way through insurance and trying to determine what to do next,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I think we\u2019ve had a positive impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ThisThis rendering of \u201cThe Lewis\u201d was recently selected from the Foothill Catalog Foundation by longtime Altadena residents Kenneth and Carol Wood for Habitat for Humanity to build. The house spans 1,160 square feet and features three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Its design reflects the Craftsman era, showcasing a wide front porch, porch columns on piers and multi-pane over single-pane windows. Inside, the front bedroom can also serve as an office. The kitchen opens to the dining and living areas, and the design includes a detached garage. (Courtesy of The Foothill Catalog Foundation and the SGV Habitat For Humanity)
\nFoothill Catalog Foundation<\/p>\n

This non-profit organization, established by husband-and-wife architects Alex Athenson and Cynthia Sigler, draws inspiration from the Sears Roebuck \u201cModern Homes\u201d catalog of the early 20th century.<\/p>\n

Committed to preserving the unique character of Altadena, the Foothill Catalog Foundation simplifies the rebuilding process by providing pre-approved home designs rooted in historical style<\/a>s, including Craftsman, Ranch, Spanish Revival, Tudor and Mid-Century Modern. The result is an eclectic mix of architectural options that honor the past while facilitating community development.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe design and floor plan for \u201cLa Mariposa,\u201d a Pueblo Revival home, is one of 30 plans created by The Foothill Catalog Foundation, a new nonprofit that hopes to offer a streamlined, more affordable way for Altadenans to rebuild their homes and still retain the town\u2019s diverse architectural spirit. (Photo courtesy of The Foothill Catalog Foundation)<\/p>\n

Recently, Foothill Catalog Foundation collaborated with San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity<\/a> to create plans for several rebuilds. One of those plans is \u201cThe Lewis,\u201d which inspired the 1,160-square-foot home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms recently built for Kenneth and Carol Wood, a couple who has lived in Altadena for more than 40 years. It was the first of 25 rebuilds planned for the next 12 months.<\/p>\n

The Altadena Builds Back Foundation, created by the Pasadena Community Foundation, is funding for 22 of the 25 rebuilds, thanks to a $4.55 million grant.<\/p>\n

\"BrookfieldBrookfield Residential, a top North American homebuilder participating in Builders Alliance, is contributing flexible home plans for Los Angeles County areas affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. Pictured is the Lantana Cottage. It also comes in different exterior styles, including Spanish, Traditional and Bungalow. (Rendering by Brookfield Residential, courtesy of Builders Alliance)
\nBuilders Allliance<\/p>\n

This standalone nonprofit organization provides displaced residents a comprehensive end-to-end digital solution to rebuilding in a single platform to save time and money.<\/p>\n

Simply enter your address, and the tech-enabled portal calls up a list of pre-approved plans from its library with pricing up front, filtered by specific lot, zoning, pricing and owner\u2019s preferences. It\u2019s similar to searching for homes on third-party MLS sites like Zillow.<\/p>\n

The AI-driven tools even lets you see how the homes fit on the lots.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou literally pick your home, hire your builder and never come back to your site until the day it\u2019s ready if that\u2019s what you wanted,\u201d said Bea Hsu, president and CEO of Builders Alliance.<\/p>\n

There are 10 participating homebuilders in the alliance, ranging from small boutique firms to volume builders.<\/p>\n

Adrian Foley, president and CEO of Brookfield Residential, emphasizes the unique approach of the Builders Alliance in offering a variety of building solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve clumped together as a group with the goal of providing you with a series of options,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a one-stop shop, it is a clear path to a decision and removes a lot of the complexity.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of mid-December, Builders Alliance saw 4,043 unique visits. These visitors registered and reviewed plans and content on a specific address, and 2,178 returned to review those addresses multiple times. They actively selected floor plans and moved them around. Another 759 of these visitors turned into leads, and 110 engaged in one-on-one conversations, taking the process to the next level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Case Study 2.0 design studio Gio Mondo, based in Los Angeles, has created a modern home where \u201carchitecture…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":475819,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5123],"tags":[21053,64,1582,276,5810,7065,2961,224,6080,5337,50,5338,4329,10100,84769,52,5609],"class_list":{"0":"post-475818","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles","8":"tag-altadena","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-ca","11":"tag-california","12":"tag-eaton-fire","13":"tag-housing","14":"tag-la","15":"tag-los-angeles","16":"tag-los-angeles-county","17":"tag-losangeles","18":"tag-news","19":"tag-pasadena","20":"tag-real-estate","21":"tag-san-gabriel-valley","22":"tag-sierra-madre","23":"tag-top-stories","24":"tag-wildfires"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115793929992438586","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/475819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=475818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}