Bushfire Survivor and Architect Adriano Pupilli Creates Fire-Resistant Tiny Home on NSW South Coast

An architect on the New South Wales south coast who narrowly escaped the devastating 2019 Black Summer bushfires has created a flat-packed, fire-resistant tiny home designed to help communities recover after natural disasters. Adriano Pupilli developed Casa Manyana following the terrifying experience of watching the Currowan State Forest bushfire threaten his family's holiday home in Manyana.

The project, which has been nominated for two 2026 Houses Awards in the small project and sustainability categories, offers an affordable housing solution for bushfire-prone regions. Priced between $75,000 and $120,000, Casa Manyana includes a bathroom, a loft bedroom, and a kitchenette, combining modern tiny home amenities with high-level fire protection.

The inspiration for the design stems directly from December 2019, when Mr Pupilli and his partner, Fiona Logge, who was four months pregnant at the time, were forced to evacuate their property as it was cut off by flames. While Ms Logge evacuated via a passing boat packed with residents heading toward a recovery centre in Ulladulla, Mr Pupilli swam back to shore determined to protect their property. Although the fire ultimately stopped metres from their property line and left their home unscathed, the mental toll of the event stayed with the family.

Reflecting on the emotional and physical impact of the disaster, Mr Pupilli sought an architectural solution that could help families return to their land more quickly after a catastrophe. The resulting flat-packed design is built to meet Australia's second-highest bushfire attack level standard, known as BAL 40. This rating means the structure can endure high levels of ember attack and near-direct exposure to bushfire flames.

Practicality and speed were central to the design process. The frame of Casa Manyana can be assembled in a single day, and the entire build is estimated to take about two weeks. Because of its flat-pack nature, the components can even fit inside the tray of a ute, making transportation straightforward.

Under New South Wales planning laws, this structure can qualify as temporary emergency accommodation. This classification allows residents impacted by disasters to bypass the need for a development application on residential land for up to two years, enabling them to immediately begin the rebuilding process on their properties. Mr Pupilli noted that the dwelling can serve as an immediate post-disaster shelter and eventually integrate into a permanent home over time.

As the local bushfire season gets underway in the Shoalhaven local government area—where the Rural Fire Service estimates that 90 per cent of residents live on bushfire-prone land—the prototype near Manyana has already offered peace of mind to Ms Logge and her family. With heightened weather conditions increasing risks across the country, Ms Logge stated that her family plans to evacuate early if threatened by future fires, while drawing strength from the resilience of their local community.

Meanwhile, local emergency services have issued important safety warnings regarding fire-resistant architecture. Acting Rural Fire Service district commander Superintendent David Bartlett acknowledged that the development of innovative building materials is promising, but emphasized that residents cannot rely solely on a home's design to keep them safe.

Superintendent Bartlett warned that no property can be considered truly survivable under catastrophic fire conditions, and urged residents to avoid becoming complacent simply because they have invested in fire-prepared construction. To help the public prepare, Rural Fire Service brigades across New South Wales are hosting public events as part of Get Ready Weekend, providing guidance and resources ahead of the peak danger period.