When a pair of writers lost their home in the Palisades Fire, they partnered with EYRC Architects to rebuild a house that would preserve the spirit of what they loved most—their front porch. More than an architectural feature, it had been a social heart: a place for conversation, community, and connection. The new design centers on this idea, reinterpreting the porch as a sheltered pavilion that bridges public and private life.

Large glass sliders dissolve boundaries between indoors and out, linking a community-facing front terrace to a private rear courtyard. A generous overhang provides shade and protection, while the home’s modest, symmetrical plan orients around a central sky garden. Durable materials—stone, stucco, and closed plaster soffits—create a fire-resilient enclosure, and strategic planting establishes defensible space with native, low-flame species.

Balancing resilience and warmth, the Laurence House reclaims the California porch as both sanctuary and social threshold—a home rebuilt not just for safety, but for continuity, optimism, and belonging.