This is a special topics course intended to fulfill the individual interests of students, and provide a vehicle for professors to instruct students based on new and innovative developments in the field of environmental design.

The Palisades and Eaton Fires in 2025 had tremendous impacts. Together, they killed at least 28 people,
destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and devastated ecosystems. The fires displaced thousands of
households, highlighting one of the ongoing effects of climate change on the housing market. They raised
questions about fire insurance policies that have failed to protect both humans, their built and natural
environments, while allowing others to profit. The fires and their aftermath underscore institutional,
ecological, social, and political issues that occur in Wildlife-Urban Interface zones (WUI).
This class aims to deepen our understanding of the history, political economy, and design— structural,
landscape, and infrastructure— for urbanization in geographically risky areas. Ultimately, the goal is to
explore how to better coexist with fire and support bottom-up recovery planning. The course covers
Traditional Ecological Knowledge, impact mitigation and recovery design, disaster capitalism, and
racialized and class based disparities exacerbated by the fires. Through discussion, we hope to balance
criticism with optimism, and similarly grieve while offering hope and alternative imaginings for city
planning and land use; homes lost were not just assets, but memory-landscapes with important cultural
value. At the same time, losing a home implies economic instability. Will the post-fire landscape continue
to reflect a city of economic injustice and impede the progress of POC generational wealth? Weekly guest
lectures and meaningful discussions will help answer these questions to mitigate further housing loss,
discrimination, and environmental degradation. The final project will be a collaborative journal featuring
personal reflections, research, design models, and data mapping.
Come help us emerge from a moment of devastation and learn about the multiple dimensions of fire
design, politics, and impacts! Develop a diverse skill set in design from resilient material to urban housing
solutions. Earn a credit and get the chance to learn from inspiring scholars and community members.

Credit Restrictions

Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.

Repeat Rules