Bokey Grant's EA House: A Fire-Resistant Sanctuary in Australia's Flame Zone

Bokey Grant has completed EA House, a monolithic family home on a cliffside in New South Wales, Australia, within a designated Flame Zone—the country's highest bushfire risk area. The 170-square-metre residence sits on Gundungurra land in the Southern Highlands, on a 16,000-square-metre parcel deemed unbuildable since 1890 due to a cliff and gorge. Designed by principal architect Jeffrey Bokey-Grant, the house uses passive fire protection: brick, concrete, cavity wall insulation, thick walls, no gutters, Flame Zone-rated timber windows and doors, self-extinguishing bulletwood, and fire-resistant glass. An 18-metre bridge references national park lookout platforms. The interior is minimalist, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, and an open-plan living area with a wood-burning stove. No trees were removed. Photography by Clinton Weaver.