SUBTERRANEAN URBANISM FOR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE: POST-DISASTER PLANNING AND GIS-BASED DESIGN IN TOPANGA–PALISADES, LOS ANGELES (2025)

19th WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATED RESEARCH CENTRES FOR THE URBAN UNDERGROUND SPACE, Belgrade, Serbia, November 4-7, 2025. (Paper No: 3.14.138,  pp. 589-601)

 

АУТОР(И) / AUTHOR(S): Mohammad Mahdi Safaee, Hoda Hashemi

 

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DOI:  10.46793/ACUUS2025.3.14.138

САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, particularly in urban-wildland interface zones, pose serious threats to cities such as Los Angeles. The January (2025) wildfire in the Topanga – Palisades Highlands region revealed systemic vulnerabilities in both urban planning and structural resilience. This research explores the use of underground architecture as a passive defense mechanism against wildfire intrusion. Through geospatial analysis, thermal mapping, and case comparison with international precedents—including projects in Wroclaw (Poland), Athens (Greece), and the UBC thermal void pilot in Canada—the study identifies key design strategies for enhancing thermal resistance, minimizing damage, and ensuring emergency survivability. A pilot reconstruction model is proposed, emphasizing clustered earth-sheltered housing, adaptive ventilation, and multi-layered zoning. The findings demonstrate that underground systems, when integrated with local topography and supported by robust regulatory frameworks, can significantly enhance wildfire resilience and long-term sustainability in vulnerable urban zones.

КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:

Underground architecture, wildland-urban interface, wildfire resilience, passive defense, earth-sheltered buildings

ПРОЈЕКАТ / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

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