AUX Founding Partner Brian Wickersham recently spoke with writer Lila Allen for Dwell about how architects are rethinking speculative housing to create distinctive homes that balance thoughtful design with financial viability.
The article, “Designers Are Proving Spec Houses Don’t Have to Be Boring,” features AUX’s first architect-led residential development, a collection of three homes in Northeast Los Angeles. Rather than leveling the challenging hillside site and constructing extensive retaining walls, the design responds to the natural topography, using the site’s constraints to inform the architecture. The project illustrates how a creative approach to challenging sites can open up new possibilities for residential development while making financial sense.
Read the full article, “Designers Are Proving Spec Houses Don’t Have to Be Boring,” published October 29, 2026, in Dwell.
