Tom Kundig on Climate-Proofing Luxury Homes

Architect Tom Kundig, principal of Olson Kundig, advises on protecting homes from climate change. For snow, he recommends flat butterfly roofs that funnel drainage to a waterproofed center line, citing Swiss farm buildings. For fire, his Malibu Carbon Beach house survived January's L.A. fires due to deep overhangs protecting windows and baffled vents preventing ember intrusion. He advocates for Temporary Refuge Areas (TRAs), noting the Napa Glass Fire's traffic jams. Kundig suggests Portuguese limestone and Japanese hinoki wood for aging finishes, warns against ceilings above 14 feet for large artworks, and prioritizes windows and doors as budget splurges. He recommends Brombal (Italy) and Vitrocsa (Switzerland) windows, and laminated glass for security. For family compounds, he advises keeping property lines for future subdivision.