A Malibu retreat that is modern, fresh and fire resistant

By Barbara Thornburg

Architects Nick Roberts and Cory Buckner crafted a 700-square-foot weekend home in the hills above Malibu with the dual goals of not only creating a sustainable design but also making it fire resistant. Exterior colors blend with the landscape, and recycled and renewable materials minimize the home's carbon footprint. Perhaps more important to the couple -- victims of not one but two wildfires in 1993 -- is the structure's noncombustible shell, deep-set fire-resistant windows and other features evident at every turn.