Seeds of Fire

A conceptual competition project by Andrew Goodwin, Ryan Tran, Troy Nguyen, Gaby Herrero

The proposed sanctuary for Altadena, as part of a design competition, rises from the landscape as an emblem of renewal after the Eaton Fire of 2025, transforming a story of loss into one of resilience and communal rebirth. Set within the sloped foothills, the project is anchored by a circular concrete plane that stabilizes the terrain and creates a new civic ground for gathering, learning, and reflection—an idea illustrated in the site plan and program diagrams on the boards. 

At the heart of the design is a dual-shell dome system inspired by the fire-adaptive behavior of pine cones. The outer protective shell—composed of overlapping GFRC “scales”—forms a biomimetic façade that shades the interior, allows for natural ventilation, and offers ember resistance. Strategically carved openings in the shell invite daylight into the sanctuary, scattering dappled patterns of illumination across the interior. 

This transformation of protective scales into a porous, breathing skin reinforces the narrative that regeneration emerges through interacting with nature’s cycles rather than resisting them.

Beneath this outer layer, the inner dome acts as a symbolic “seed,” a sanctuary for worship, contemplation, and collective gatherings. The section diagram on the boards shows the spatial relationship between the inner and outer shells, revealing a luminous core framed by the pine-cone pattern. 

The sanctuary’s circular seating around a central platform creates an intimate, communal worship experience, strengthening unity and visibility among congregants.

A continuous double ramp—positioned in the buffer zone between the shells—serves as the project’s main circulation spine, ensuring accessibility and creating a ceremonial ascent toward the sanctuary. The ramp also functions as a thermal and spatial mediator, offering framed views outward and immersive moments of light and shadow. 

Below the sanctuary level, community and educational programs are housed discreetly within the perimeter of the circular platform, as shown in the floor plans and legend. 

These include classrooms, offices, the fellowship hall, nursery, and flexible gathering spaces—ensuring the building remains active throughout the week and serves as a social anchor for Altadena’s recovery. The thickened concrete plinth provides both structural stability and a fire-resistant base while shaping outdoor terraces that extend the sanctuary into the landscape.

The project’s landscape strategy foregrounds Altadena’s fire-regenerative ecology. Terraced plantings and contemplative paths echo the region’s natural patterns of post-fire growth, forming a restorative environment around the sanctuary. Renderings on the boards show how the building sits lightly in the recovering foothills, embracing views while grounding itself in place.

Together, the dual-shell dome, circular ramp, and regenerative landscape create a sacred space where community, ecology, and spirituality converge. More than a structure, this sanctuary becomes a beacon of hope—demonstrating how architecture can help a community rise stronger, wiser, and more connected to the land that shapes its identity.