For three weeks in January 2025, Los Angeles was ravaged by wildfires. It is estimated that the fires may have killed up to 440 people. As flames tore through over 50,000 total acres, they also destroyed almost 16,000 homes and businesses. Many of them, especially in the Altadena area were historic including many from the mid century era.
In the wake of the devastation, architects in Los Angeles and around the globe have joined together to create new, fire-resilient home designs through an initiative that Crest Real Estate has organized that that they are dubbing Case Study 2.0.
What is Case Study 2.0?
Case Study 2.0 is a catalog of over 50 single-family home models. The project was inspired by the original Case Study Houses from the mid century in which Arts & Architecture magazine asked leading modernist architects like Richard Neutra, Charles Eames, and Eero Saarinen to design houses meant illustrate how modern families should be living. It was a poignant time in America; soldiers were returning from WWII, and housing was booming.
Case Study 2.0 features homes built to address the needs of a changing world today. While it draws inspiration from the original Case Study’s innovative designs, it is tailored for more widespread adoption. Crest Real Estate CEO Steven Somers explains:
“The original Case Study architects envisioned a new kind of single-family design—one that celebrated the best of the Southern California lifestyle and could also be embraced by a broader market. Their designs were beautiful and legendary, but they were also costly and exclusive, which limited broader adoption. Our goal is to preserve that same emphasis on aesthetics and seamless indoor–outdoor living, but with practical design parameters that make these homes affordable to build at scale—bringing them within reach of more homeowners.”
Somers pointed out the unique requirements of working with clients who were not planning on building a home nine months ago. The Case Study 2.0 homes aim to offer a middle ground between custom and ready-made designs. “This is about giving people an inspiring option for their rebuild. If we can create that excitement for even a few homeowners, it will be worth it,” Somers says.
An Aim for Accessibility
The models in the catalog all share a few critical characteristics. They are engineered to be fire-resistant, utilizing modern materials that comply with California’s expanding Chapter 7A wildfire building codes. Crest also worked to coordinate prototype approval with municipal planning and permitting offices so that the models used in the rebuilds are not beginning as a fresh submission, but as a continuation of an already-authorized process.
And lastly, dozens of architects have participated in the program, delivering scalable designs homeowners can select easily and affordably at approximately $25 per square foot, a fraction of typical architectural fees.
LA-based AAHA Studio, founded by husband and wife Aaron Leshtz and Harper Halprin, is one of the studios participating in Case Study 2.0. Halprin and Leshtz explain, “The original Case Study program was envisioned to promote innovative, affordable, and efficient residential design. The Case Study 2.0 initiative aims to achieve many of the same objectives. It provides a new type of home for your family, with a foundation strongly rooted in the history of what came before, and a pitch pointed decidedly toward the future.”
The Courtyard House: Safety, Comfort and Sustainability
As an example of a Case Study 2.0 house, we can take a look at AAHA Studio’s Courtyard House. With its pitched roof and two-story design, the Courtyard House’s silhouette from the street shares some of the features of classic home design. But its sleek lines, mixed materials, and union of indoor and outdoor spaces elevate the design. In fact, the horizontal brick cladding was inspired by the original modernist Case Study houses. But the home’s innovative layout looks toward the future.
Many homes typical in Los Angeles feature large rear backyards, and narrow space between homes. As a result, it is easy for fires to jump from house to house.
AAHA made a simple but genius change. The Courtyard House features a smaller backyard. One side of the home features a large courtyard that can include greenery or a swimming pool. So, the ground floor is comparable in terms of indoor square footage. But there is now more defensible space between homes. Fire is less likely to spread.
Other fire safety features enhancing the home’s resilience include slab-on-grade foundations, gutter guards, eave-less design, and fire- and ember-safe venting.
In addition to serving as a fire break, the courtyard is an ideal feature for those who want to maximize indoor-outdoor living. Sliding walls allow the interior of the ground floor to seamlessly connect to the courtyard. The wraparound design offers views and fresh air from more rooms. This is also an effective layout for passive cooling. Leshtz and Halprin explain:
“Additionally the courtyard uses concepts of sustainable passive energy such as light exposure and air flow while also allowing seamless indoor-outdoor spaces taking full advantage of the southern California weather.”
Where Can You Learn More About Case Study 2.0?
To learn more, you can visit Case Study 2.0 and AAHA Studio. Halprin and Leshtz say, “We hope this project shows homeowners in California and beyond that it’s possible to build better and creatively with fire resiliency, climate awareness and cost in mind.”
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Case Study House #7: A Flexible Floor Plan with Extensive Outdoor Living Spaces and Case Study House #11: Compact, Efficient and Flexible.
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