An Open Letter to Collaborators in Wildfire, Design, and Innovation Research

Date: January 10, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As we face the aftermath of the devastating wildfire complex currently consuming parts of Los Angeles, the need to reimagine how we live in fire-prone regions has never been more urgent. Wildfires are not merely disasters—they are integral forces of nature, shaping ecosystems, catalysing renewal, and sustaining species uniquely adapted to their cycles. These natural systems offer invaluable insights into how we design a resilient future that works with wildfire and its cycles on this, an inherently flammable planet.

The Design for Wildfire school, launching in 2026, is a pioneering initiative to transform how we think, build, and innovate in fire-prone environments. Guided by the principles of Pyrophytic Architecture™ and inspired by the ecological systems of pyrophytes - plants that have evolved with wildfire — we are building a new paradigm of resilience.

We invite universities, laboratories, startups, corporations, NGOs, and other organisations engaged in wildfire, design, and innovation research to collaborate with us. Together, we can build a future where humans and wildfires exist in harmony, leveraging the lessons nature has perfected over many millions of millennia.

A Vision Rooted in Nature and Innovation

Our curriculum delves deeply into how ecosystems adapt to wildfire. From pyriscence and pyrogermination to retardant rhytidome and resprouting, students will study the traits that enable plants and animals to survive, regenerate, and even depend on fire. These insights, together with a broader introduction to wildfire science, sustainability, innovation, and ethics at the interface of human and non-human systems will inform innovative design strategies for resilient buildings, landscapes, and communities.

Our approach is hybrid, blending virtual learning with immersive field experiences in wildfire-prone areas. Students will engage with expert-led masterclasses, interactive workshops, and curated digital resources, alongside hands-on exploration of fire-adapted ecosystems.

A Call for Research Collaboration

Collaboration is the heartbeat of this endeavour. By partnering with leading institutions, industries, and innovators worldwide, we aim to bridge the gaps in knowledge, share breakthroughs, and co-create solutions that transcend disciplines. Together, we will cultivate a global network dedicated to resilience, sustainability, and transformative design.

We seek partnerships in:

- Research: Expanding understanding of fire regimes, pyrophyte systems, and their application in design.

- Technology: Developing tools, materials, and methods that mimic or enhance nature’s resilience strategies.

- Education: Shaping a new generation of thought leaders equipped to tackle the complexities of living with wildfire.

- Implementation: Pilot projects that demonstrate the practical viability of our nature-inspired designs.

Reimagining Los Angeles Through the Lens of Nature-Inspired Design

We invite filmmakers, illustrators, and visual artists to collaborate with us in crafting a transformative vision for the future of Los Angeles — one rooted in the resilience and adaptability of the native species that have evolved to live with wildfire. These organisms, from fire-stimulated seeds to resprouting flora, embody strategies that can inspire how we design, build, and thrive in fire-prone landscapes.

This vision integrates state-of-the-science insights from diverse fields such as fire ecology, climate science, materials innovation, information communications technologies, and urban planning to create systems and structures that align with natural processes, forming a blueprint for a city in harmony with wildfire dynamics.

To communicate this vision powerfully, we need filmmakers, illustrators, and visual storytellers to bring these ideas to life in ways that captivate and inspire. Through compelling narratives and vivid imagery, we aim to foster a shared sense of purpose and possibility, engaging communities, policymakers, and industries alike.

Together, we can reimagine Los Angeles as a global model of resilience — a city that draws strength from its natural heritage, paving the way for an innovative and harmonious future. Join us to transform wildfire challenges into opportunities for renewal.

Why Now?

Climate change is intensifying wildfire risks worldwide, threatening not only human lives but also the ecosystems that sustain them. But, climate is just one of several factors that are combining to create a perfect (fire) storm. Wildfire sits at the apex of Earth’s systems and since the advent of control of fire humans have been influencing its behaviour. Today, multiple human actions are adversely influencing the frequency, intensity, and severity of wildfires, from increased instances of ignition to spreading of invasive species that change fire behaviour to the expansion of the wildland urban interface to issues of management of fire-prone landscapes, and much more besides.

By designing with nature, not against it, we can reduce the vulnerabilities of wildland-urban interfaces and turn wildfire from a catastrophic threat into an agent of renewal.

This is a monumental task, but history shows us that innovation thrives under pressure. The Great Fire of London catalysed innovation leaps in multiple aspects of architecture, construction, urban planning, policy, and finance - it birthed the insurance industry. It’s a case study in how, both environmentally and culturally, fire is a catalyst that transforms its surroundings, while simultaneously being shaped by them. Fire is both our friend or our foe, depending on the circumstances in which it’s situated.

This isn’t Earth’s first ‘Fire Age’, but it is ours. As we enter the Pyrocene apace, let it be on the front foot forward, and see humanity harness its innate capacity for creativity and innovation as we did in the last Ice Age, when despite the hostility of many environments, human culture flourished.

Join Us

We invite you to partner with the Design for Wildfire school to co-create a resilient future. Together, we can pioneer a new era of design that aligns human habitation with the dynamic cycles of nature. Let us turn the devastation of today into the foundation for tomorrow’s renewal. Please reach out to explore how we can collaborate to make this vision a reality.

Yours in resilience and renewal,

Melissa Sterry

Founder, Design for Wildfire school

Reimagining Resilience through Nature-Inspired Design