RIBA interview

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) spoke to Dr. Melissa Sterry about how we need to rethink architecture in an era of increasingly severe wildfire. The conversation explored why designing for wildfire resilience requires far more than simply adding fire-resistant materials to buildings. Wildfire is a complex Earth-system phenomenon, shaped by topography, fuel, weather, ecology and human activity, and its consequences intersect with other hazards, from heatwaves and flooding to landslides.

Dr. Sterry also discussed the lessons architects can learn from fire-adapted ecosystems, particularly pyrophytic plants, and why resilience demands collaboration across disciplines.

RIBA members can read the interview, Architecture’s Wildfire Wake-Up Call, here.