GoKawiilThe house itself would be covered in sheets of Corten steel, pre-weathered by their Kansas City fabricator. The roof and other exposed surfaces would also be metal. And the windows would be strong enough to withstand sustained 140-mile-per-hour winds, with gusts up to 200 miles per hour, a requirement in “high velocity hurricane zones” unless the glass can be shielded by exterior shutters. But despite Kundig’s reliance on industrial materials, the house would have a soft, domestic mien. Its most distinctive features are a switchback stairway with a landing that serves as a viewing platform and a screened porch large enough for the Kavanaughs to spend much of their time in. Wooden ceilings, which are visible from the ground, complement the reddish Corten sheathing.
Photograph: Eric Petschek
Kundig is one of many architects designing houses to withstand extreme weather events—as well as fires—which have become especially severe during this period of climate change. And he is one of many architects proving that resilient houses need not look like bunkers. Kundig, who cofounded Olson Kundig Architects in 1986, says, “People come to us for houses that require little maintenance, but that they hope will last for generations.” As it turns out, he adds, “The same houses tend to be resistant to the larger forces of nature.”
This story is part of The Future of Home, a collaboration between the editors of WIRED and Architectural Digest to help you understand what “home” will look like tomorrow and beyond.
For that reason, Kundig says, “just about all” of his houses can be considered resilient. They occupy dramatic (and challenging) sites in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. He has not yet planted his flag on Antarctica. “Talk about resiliency,” he muses. “That would be a fascinating place to build.” And what about the moon or Mars? Those don’t grab him the same way: “I think we have enough challenges here on Earth,” says Kundig.