Faulkner Architects wraps California mountain house in Corten steel for wildfire resilience

Faulkner Architects has completed the Pine Flat Residence, a three-bedroom house in Healdsburg, California, clad in corrugated Corten steel to withstand wildfires. The home replaces an off-grid house destroyed in the 2019 Kincade Fire. Embedded in a steep slope in the Mayacamas Mountains, the two-storey structure reuses the existing concrete foundation and walls to retain embodied energy. A long volume with a shed roof mimics the ridgeline, while a garage angles out to cap a hillside workshop. The design prioritizes fire resistance with a Corten steel shell, sliding ember screens, exterior sprinklers, and off-grid utilities including an upgraded solar array. An artesian water basin on the west side honors the site's spring water, and a cantilevered gutter captures 100% of stormwater for a retention pond that can serve as backup firefighting water. The upper level centers a concrete chimney in a wall of windows opening to a wrapping porch, juxtaposed with the water basin. Designed for accessibility, an entry ramp leads to the main level with primary bedroom, living, and dining spaces, while a pre-framed elevator core allows future wheelchair access to lower-level bedrooms and creative spaces. The project team includes contractor Annadel Builders, civil engineer Summit Engineering, structural engineer Strandberg Engineering, and landscape architect Terremoto. Photography is by Joe Fletcher.