SPF Architects wraps LA house in fire-resistant asphalt shingles
SPF Architects founders Zoltan Pali and Judit Fekete-Pali renovated their own octagonal home in the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County, adding wildfire protection. The 1980s house on a 17-acre site was stripped to its frame and rebuilt. The exterior features Class A fire-resistant asphalt shingles on walls and roof, plus fire sprinklers, water storage, backup generators, and defensible landscaping. Interior was opened up by removing walls and fireplaces, with Douglas fir finishes and space for their art collection. The upper level now holds a primary suite and an architectural studio for 20 people. The renovation improved seismic performance with shear walls and moment frames.
Key facts
- SPF Architects founders Zoltan Pali and Judit Fekete-Pali renovated their own octagonal home in the Santa Monica Mountains.
- The house is located on a 17-acre (6.9-hectare) site in Los Angeles County.
- The exterior is clad in Class A, fire-resistant asphalt shingles covering both walls and roof.
- Fire protection includes exterior sprinklers, supplemental water storage tanks, backup generators, and defensible landscape strategies.
- The interior was reconfigured by removing walls and three fireplaces to create an open floor plan.
- Douglas fir is used extensively as an interior finish.
- The upper level contains the primary suite and an architectural studio for 20 people.
- Structural upgrades include shear walls and moment frames for lateral stability and seismic performance.
Entities
Artists
- Zoltan Pali
- Judit Fekete-Pali
Institutions
- SPF Architects
Locations
- Santa Monica Mountains
- Los Angeles County
- Culver City
- Beverly Hills
- Bel Air
Sources
- Dezeen —