Designing for Disaster

A comprehensive look at 16 cutting-edge homes designed to resist the forces of earth, wind, fire, and water

The climate is changing, and so must domestic architecture. Premium materials—brick, stone, wood—and timeless design used to be the key to building homes that would last for generations. But a warming planet, coupled with severe weather events, has changed the equation and raised the stakes, sometimes literally.

Aimed at homeowners, architects, and builders, this book presents sixteen innovative homes that represent the best of resilient-home practices in four categories—earth, wind, fire, and water—plus a list of resources from organizations such as FEMA and the National Fire Protection Agency. Few local building codes provide adequate protection from the forces of global warming, which will proliferate in this century.

These examples illustrate the importance of next-level home design to help resist climate change—the most urgent issue of our time.