06/16/2026
ARCHITECT magazine "For Fire Country, a Case for Redwood" highlights architect Max Obata, co-founder of Obata Noblin Office (ONO), and his specification of redwood for a home on California's North Coast.
The article explores how the project addressed WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) requirements, why redwood was the right fit for the coastal environment, and how its value extends beyond aesthetics. As Obata notes, "the value of wood is not only visual; it’s the warmth, scent, and acoustic softness the material brings."
Read more below:
https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/for-fire-country-a-case-for-redwood
Before Max Obata specified redwood for a house on the Northern California coast, he went to see where it came from. Obata and his partner, Tyler Noblin, co-founders of the San Francisco firm Obata Noblin Office (ONO), walked into the forest where they watched how selective harvesting works as a seri...