Gavin Maxwell, Int’l Assoc. AIA, got to fulfill every architect’s dream: building his own home. The catch? A fire forced him into the project. Nevertheless, he took on the challenge (and challenge is the right word). He stretched the limited funds afforded by an insurance payout by prioritizing a few flaws he’d become familiar with after 10 years of living in the home and by getting creative about reusing some of the elements left intact after the fire. Here’s how he pulled off his redesign.

Glass lines three walls on this new level, and two light wells help it filter down and brighten the level below where the main living spaces are concentrated. “We’re in the trees, but the large windows and light wells bounce light all the way through the house,” Maxwell said. He selected E-Series windows for their narrow sight lines and integrated mulled units where possible to extend the window size while keeping the framing to a minimum. He also added an all-glass E-Series Hinged Patio Door to this space to provide access to a newly built patio, which is built into the roof of the floor below. This patio showcases the dramatic views to which the home is privy. Adding openings and a living space here was one of the ways Maxwell’s redesign fixed a design flaw, since formerly the entrance ended in a blank wall. Now, the entrance offers a curated view of the valley, the adjacent redwood grove, and the forest beyond.