Of pigs and palaces
A children’s tale holds valuable insight for building a home
By Joanna Beresford 09/17/2009
If I were going to write a universal letter to architects, I would say this: “Dear Architect, when you were in college, did they teach you about the three little pigs?”
I really think that the pig story — written in the 1840s; oral history incalculable — references some basic architectural considerations. An architect or builder will ask questions like, should I build out of straw, wood or brick? Should I be stylish, safe or cheap? And while this building may look terrific on a sunny day during photo shoots, what will my house look like if bad things happen, like an earthquake, flood or fire?
This week I spoke with Brad McDonald (No, he’s not related to Ronald, and he doesn’t wear a clown suit), president and principal architect of Reveal Studio, Inc., an architectural firm based in La Crescenta. Brad established Reveal in 2003 after studying and practicing architecture in New Mexico, designing for Disney, and creating residential and commercial projects in and around Los Angeles. Regarding the timeless beauty of adobe, the tiny tyrannies of the mouse, and the demands of homeowners and county code-keepers, he’s a veteran.
Still, he responded to my high-concept three-pig approach to architecture with the eagerness of someone who’s just recently fallen in love with his craft. “That’s a perfect way to look at it,” Brad says. “All things being equal — with the big, bad wolf nowhere to be seen — all three of these houses are fine. Almost any day of the year, all things are equal. But on day number 365, maybe there’s fire, rain, floods.”
Regarding the recent LA fires, Brad concedes the situation was a disaster. “Of course, it’s a tragedy — but it can also be a great opportunity: It can compel homeowners to think. ‘What should I do now to save myself later, so next time we won’t be dropped to our knees?’”
Three things create a house fire: heat, material to burn and oxygen. If you suck out the oxygen, pour water into the blaze to reduce heat, or evacuate the area of any flammable materials, the fire will get bored and extinguish itself, or slink away to a more fire-friendly environment.
Brad McDonald recommends numerous strategies to design and build for fire prevention, most of them environmentally progressive, sustainable and economical to use. But the most important thing he wants homeowners to know is that a LEED-certified, fire-resistant home doesn’t have to be ugly. It doesn’t have to look like an institution, or a bomb shelter or the residential version of an orthopedic shoe.
Reveal Studio specializes in discovering and implementing materials that meet the aesthetic dreams of the homeowner, but also adhere to safety and environmental guidelines. Like the ICF — Insulated Concrete Foam — for example. That sounds like a cement wall to a simple farm girl like me, but the pieces are manufactured with foam reminiscent of a coffee cup. ICF is built in panels and held together with rebar or steel. My sense is that they snap together somewhat like Legos, which gives the old-fashioned idea of a community barn-raising an irresistible theme-park sort of spin.
The point: ICF and similar devices are strong; they provide significant insulation and they look great too. Contemporary materials can be used to build a house that looks like an original craftsman cottage, for example. Not that anyone is suggesting that the Gamble House should be recast in concrete panels.
“We all covet historic properties,” says Brad. “But if you’re not living in a museum, you can build an appropriate home that’s also beautiful. We all love the beauty of natural materials, of earth and of structure. But it’s quite possible now to find a balance, to build houses that support the environment, minimize impact on the earth and still pay homage to both new and historic design ideals.”
Other safety issues include sprinkler systems, double-paned windows (usually mandated by local and state building codes) and surroundings. Don’t shroud your house with deciduous trees, for instance. Stack your firewood in a far corner of your property. Consider a sprinkler system that covers the roof.
Firefighters and builders measure the fire resistance of a structure in terms of time. A brick or concrete wall can resist fire for as long as four hours, and that’s considered safe. A house made of straw – not so safe. It will ignite in a matter of seconds. Wood can last for an hour. Stucco and other treatments can extend the fire resistance of a house, but basically the message of the pigs is reinforced: Build your home with a firm foundation and it may last forever.
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