EARTHEN is a prototype wall-assembly of a 1200-square-foot, single-story accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Altadena, Los Angeles, CA, a residential area severely burnt by the recent Easton fires. In response to the destruction and its consequences, the project investigates and develops a resilient facade system, integrating rainwater as an exterior vapor barrier, while reimagining both its aesthetic presence and spatial performance through a new system of skins, outer, inner.
initial concept zoning sketches (left) & technical assembly illustration (right)
The facade started with an idea of water flow, layered channels that direct, integrate, and modulate rainwater between interior courtyards and exterior envelopes. The outer skin envelopes are articulated through organic extrusions produced by a process of robotic 3D printing ceramics supported by rammed-earth and rebar substructures. Here, this composite assembly forms an uninterrupted enclosure for water flow, mediating light and stillness.
The composite envelope is subdivided into discrete masonry units, whose complex geometries and substructures are parametrically generated in Grasshopper for Rhino. Geometric data is translated into coordinated toolpaths, converting design intent into commands that directly drive the robotic fabrication process.
Finally, each masonry unit is finished with a calibrated vertical gradient of ceramic glazes that reinforces the project’s undulating yet restrained formal expression. The chromatic transition—from muted, warm tones at the base to more saturated hues at the edges—articulates the project’s conceptual framework while generating nuanced visual depth within its environmental context
Together, the facade assembly and its integrated systems propose a resilient, fire-resistant strategy for wildfire-prone contexts. Rather than relying on conventional fireproofing, the project positions the building envelope as an active mediator that mitigates fire risk while redefining architectural coexistence with natural disasters.
