ÁùÉ«Íø

Los Angeles County faces increasing climate-related hazards, which are becoming more frequent, intense, and complex—often occurring as compound events, where multiple hazards unfold simultaneously or in sequence. While the county’s Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Management Plans identify risks and propose long-term strategies, they often lack meaningful community engagement. This project responds to the urgent need for community-driven, multiscalar, and cross-agency approaches to climate adaptation and hazard mitigation.

The overarching goal was to develop a vision plan that enhances the adaptability of local communities to compound climate hazards by strengthening relational infrastructure and leveraging collective intelligence. The project unfolded in three interrelated phases:

Phase I: Regional Research & Analysis

This phase focused on understanding the mechanisms and impacts of compound hazards across Los Angeles County. Through research and conversations with local authorities and support organizations, the team developed a framework for evaluating hazard risks and analyzing the current structure of mitigation planning from the federal to neighborhood level. The research revealed that quantitative risk assessment oversimplifies complex social-environmental dynamics, and that top-down planning often excludes community voices. A shift toward iterative, community-centered approaches is necessary to improve resilience and preparedness.

Phase II: Analyzing Climate Hazards in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

This phase examined the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County, with a focus on Altadena and the causes and impacts of the Eaton Fire. The team assessed the risks and opportunities for communities living in the WUI, where urban development meets natural landscapes. Key findings highlighted a lack of public understanding around fire behavior and a disconnect between emergency response systems and community needs. The analysis stressed that WUI communities must learn to live with fire and participate in shaping hazard mitigation and emergency management strategies.

Phase III: Community Concept Planning & Design

The final phase involved co-designing adaptive spaces with communities, rooted in the everyday experiences of movement, gathering, and care. The team worked with local organizations and agencies to translate climate planning into tangible, lived experiences. This resulted in a set of design interventions organized around five typologies: Where We Live, How We Get Around, Where We Connect, Where We Convene, and How We Protect. These categories serve as a framework for integrating hazard planning into daily life and building long-term resilience.