Featured in LUXE Interiors + Design Magazine, Los Angeles, July/August, 2025

REBUILDING RESILIENT L.A. – BAR ARCHITECTS & INTERIORS

Innovative and inspirational, L.A. attracts and enchants the most creative minds. Enter Michael Ben-Meir, Associate Principal of BAR Architects & Interiors. A Detroit native who earned his architectural chops in Chicago, Ben-Meir has been calling L.A. home since 2005. “More than anywhere else, Los Angeles is a place where creativity and novel ideas are met with enthusiasm,” he says. “As an architect who challenges traditional thinking and embraces nature, wellness, technology and sustainability, there is no better city.” That unique character is energizing Ben-Meir and his award-winning team as they help design L.A.’s resilient future. He adds,

“Although we build in the present, we must design in anticipation of future needs and concerns by embracing new values and priorities, coming up with bold design strategies and incorporating new technologies. I can’t think of a city more suited to the challenge than Los Angeles.”

A Good Neighbor
How are Ben-Meir and his team lending a hand? “By providing free consulting to many homeowners and builders so that they can develop a plan and move forward with their rebuild projects,” he shares. “This includes helping them understand current regulations, assisting them with budgets and deciphering insurance policies, navigating demolition processes and requirements in each neighborhood. We 're also providing a streamlined design process with reduced fees to allow homeowners who may not typically work with an architect but want to take advantage of our expertise for the next generation of homes in L.A.”

Resilient Design, Defined
“When talking about successful, resilient design, we are considering the materiality and active fire prevention strategies of a home, and how that home engages with the landscape,” Ben-Meir explains. “There are a range of attractive, noncombustible materials – including stone, plaster, metal and composite wood siding, insulated tempered glazing, sustainable mineral wool insulation and more – we regularly incorporate into our designs. We also integrate ember-resistant vents and gutter protection, as well as exterior-mounted wildfire defense sprinkler systems where extra consideration is required.”