kurtkruegerarc, Author at Krueger Architects

Review

March 27, 2026

What is Like for Like?

Understanding the 110% Fire Rebuild Requirement

In the past year since the Palisades and Eaton Fires, the California Governor and Mayor of Los Angeles have both signed a series of Executive Orders (EO) with the express purpose of expediting the rebuilding and streamlining the building permit process managed by the City of Los Angeles Building Department. An important provision in the executive order(s) for receiving expedited approval is the provision of “like for like” by not exceeding 110% of the original building footprint. The original EOs signed in the days after the fires were later updated in the spring and summer, along with in January to try to bring clarity to what “like for like” meant. Having navigated the city’s process now on several projects, we are sharing what we’ve learned here.

Article

January 28, 2026

A Historic Home’s New Chapter

In a recent article in Toluca Lake Magazine, homeowners Sarah and Stephen Whitney share the details of their whole house renovation project working with architect Kurt Krueger of Krueger Architects and contractor Steve Srour of AJS Construction. They couple had originally purchased the single level, Storybook style cottage in Toluca Lake in 2018, and in 2021 they decided to undertake a total renovation and restoration of the 1941 home. Their love of the community and the personal connection to the history of the home motivated their desire to put down roots and make this their forever home.

Formal front entry garden with black cobblestone and white brick walls

New stairwell wrapped around black painted fireplace to new second story addition

“To make their vision a reality, the couple selected Kurt Krueger, founder and principal of Krueger Architects, an expert in historically relevant restoration and renovations. With his vision of wrapping the stairwell around the existing living-room fireplace and vaulting the ceiling, he was able to fit the second-story addition within the existing roofline to maintain the home’s classic cottage proportions. “The roofs are already sloped enough and high enough that we didn’t change the elevation — the second story just came out of it in a way, as opposed to adding a new level of height, which actually made the permitting process easier,” Stephen explains.”

“The existing living-room fireplace was kept in place and given a fresh look with original brick taken from the exterior of the house, painted black for dramatic contrast.

Second story landing with white oak floors in light filled stairwell with skylight and hemlock wood ceiling

Read the full article about how residents blend vintage with contemporary to expand and update a storybook-style cottage once owned by Roy O. Disney on the Toluca Lake website.

See more about this project in our Portfolio, Clybourn Manor.

Article

August 4, 2025

Debris Removal from the Fires Enters Phase 2

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has hundreds of personnel and thousands of contractors actively working on Phase 2 of debris removal from the Palisades and Eaton fires. Original estimates thought Phase 1 debris removal would take upwards of 18 months, but was completed in 6 months. Phase 1, supervised by the EPA, covered the initial phase of removing hazardous materials. Phase 2 is removing fire-related debris from private properties, such as ash, structural remains, chimneys, and hazardous trees. On a property-by-property basis, Phase 1 was completed before Phase 2 removal could begin. Phase 1 and Phase 2 work was happening concurrently throughout the area for both the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire areas.

Article

June 21, 2025

Update on Fast Tracking Fire Rebuild Permits

Mayor Opens One-Stop Permitting Office

We are in the early, beginning phase of the rebuild. Construction is not happening yet in mass, but things are beginning to move forward. The Mayor’s Executive Order to clear the way for quick approval of fire rebuild permits is having an impact. Our firm received one of the first four permits approved, and we are seeing that momentum continue. The city is prioritizing the review and approval. The Building Department is providing feedback on proposed plans well within the required 30 day review period. Our recent experience is that this review window has been closer to two and a half to three weeks.

Article

May 22, 2025

Houses That Survived the Fire

As we now look around at the homes that survived the Palisades Fire, the exterior materials of clay roof tiles and hard stucco prevalent in Spanish Mission style architecture may have played a significant role in saving the few structures that are still standing.

Article, On the Boards

April 8, 2025

Krueger Architects Among First to Receive Fire Rebuilding Permits

From Realtor.com, an article update about fire cleanup and recovery, as well as information about the approval of the first permits for rebuilding after the Palisades Wildfires.

“the [owner of the] Palisades property destroyed by the wildfire less than a year after [the] family had moved into their newly constructed home, told the Times that he plans to have it rebuilt exactly as it was, in a bid to avoid delays.”

Read the full article on Realtor.com: L.A. Has Approved 4 Permits To Rebuild in Pacific Palisades After Wildfires—as New Video Shows Process of Preparing Properties for Rebuilding

Article

March 29, 2025

Rebuilding After the Palisades Fire

We are advising our clients who lost homes in the Palisades Fire to start the permitting process as quickly as they can to get ahead of what will be a rush of applications. While there are uncertainties ahead of us, being first in line, will have it’s advantages. Our clients for The Galloway project were loving being in their freshly completed home in late 2024. There project had replaced an existing home they tore down and they painstakingly worked over a multi-year construction to build the home of their dreams in it’s place. Tailored specifically for their professional and personal needs, the home represented a vision for how they would live their lives.

Article

March 1, 2025

How to Build a Fire-Resistant Home

Protecting Homes in Wildfire-Prone Areas

The 2025 Palisades Fire and Eaton Fires devastated parts of Southern California. The magnitude of acres scorched and the quick spread of the fires, underscores the urgent need for reexamining how we build fire-resistant homes. Delays in access to emergency services, water being offline, and decades-old infrastructure problems, combined with the high winds and a low-rain, winter created the environment for these deadly wildfires. In wildfire-prone areas in California, homeowners must take proactive steps to protect their properties from future events. Whether building a new home or retrofitting an existing one, adopting fire-resistant construction techniques is key to safeguarding your family and property. From selecting the right materials to smart landscaping choices, these recommendations can help to create a more resilient and safer home.

Article

May 13, 2024

Urban Planning and Our Visit to Singapore

Earlier this year, Violet and I visited Singapore. For me, it was a first-time visit, for Violet it was a return home to the place she grew up. I had heard many things about Singapore from Violet and her family and had a professional curiosity about the densely populated urban city that is city and state all wrapped up in one. Would there be takaways from our trip about urban development to inform our work in Southern California?

Press

March 26, 2024

“Let’s Get Real”

Inaugural article in the newly revived Tolucan Times newspaper representing the storied community of Toluca Lake, CA featuring regular articles by Kurt Krueger and Marcella Tyler Ketelhut. Below is an excerpt about the Lankershim-Toluca Adobe built in 1847. While the structure no longer stands, it’s a reminder of the communities history and the significant events of the mid-19th century in California history.

What is Like for Like?

Understanding the 110% Fire Rebuild Requirement

A Historic Home’s New Chapter

Debris Removal from the Fires Enters Phase 2

Update on Fast Tracking Fire Rebuild Permits

Mayor Opens One-Stop Permitting Office

Houses That Survived the Fire

Krueger Architects Among First to Receive Fire Rebuilding Permits

Rebuilding After the Palisades Fire

How to Build a Fire-Resistant Home

Protecting Homes in Wildfire-Prone Areas

Urban Planning and Our Visit to Singapore

“Let’s Get Real”

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