2024
Year of construction
2024
In June 2024, we broke ground on the massive new retaining wall that we are required to build in order to gain permission to rebuild our house. We completed that by the end of September and began work on the foundation for the main house at that time. Read more about our guiding principles, biggest challenges, and why we choose to rebuild despite the obstacles (like the permitting timeline).

Building progress in pictures

December – Framing began, and we at last got to start see our house. Our contractor, who has worked in the trades for 40 years, often says it’s always a surprise to see what the house actually looks like. That was certainly true for us.
The thrill was soon overshadowed by the heartbreaking news that a major fire had started in central Malibu, putting friends and neighbors in harm’s way. We went into prep mode, making sure our portable generator was in place and working, all combustibles were far from our temporary home, checking our insurance policies were all up to date, checking on whether elderly and other friends needed help evacuating, and practicing the hyper-vigilance among ourselves and neighbors that living with wildfire in our area demands. We were up most of the night, watching the winds, accounting for our closest friends, and remembering that terrible feeling of watching and waiting. Seeing our bedroom wall go up on December 10 for the first time under blue skies, knowing on the other side of the range was the Franklin Fire’s hell-scape of smoke and damage was a surreal cocktail of countless emotions.



Framing continues as the Franklin Fire burns to the east.
Wood Framing Timelapse: A Journey Through Construction – Part 1
August-October – To prepare for the new foundation, the last pieces of debris were removed, and more holes were drilled 21 feet down for seven caissons consisting of steel cages filled with concrete. All inspectors gave the green light for our new foundation.



















July-August – Building the wall, culminating in layer of shotcrete.











Our Quality Control Expert in the family gave the green light for some materials.
June-July – After drilling 18 holes 17 feet below bedrock, it was time to put the steel beams in the ground.



June 2024 – Starting to build the massive retaining wall


April 2024 – Ready to start with an empty building site.

