HiberTec Homes

Wildfire-proof homes. Patented technology designed to move a home out of harm’s way.

Founded and led by Holden Forrest, HiberTec Homes combines residential design with a hydraulic underground vault. When wildfire or tornado danger approaches, the home lowers into its enclosure and a protective cover seals above it. Utility connections stay attached as it moves.

Three illustrations of a home lowering on hydraulic pistons into its underground vault as wildfire approaches — HiberTec Homes · the home lowers on hydraulic pistons · concept illustration

A home above ground. Protection below.

The home sits above its vault during everyday use. A smartphone app can trigger the lowering system remotely. The transition takes about 15 minutes. Families evacuate; nobody rides the home underground.

Follow the lowering sequence

HiberTec Homes illustration: a modern home above its vault as wildfire approaches, then five steps. At ground level; automatic lowering on hydraulic pistons in about 15 minutes; protected underground under sealed ceiling panels; danger passes; back to ground level after the threat — HiberTec Homes · how the home protects itself, in five steps · illustration · Open the full-size graphic

Three home designs

Catulum, Ursia and Arctosa pair modern residential design with HiberTec’s underground protection system.

Catulum

Single-story. 1,600 square feet. Three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms.

Ursia

Two-story. 2,500 square feet. Four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms.

Arctosa

Two-story. 4,000 square feet. Five bedrooms, a study and five and a half bathrooms.

Explore the home designs at HiberTec

Concept homes for Pacific Palisades

HiberTec plans to build homes in Pacific Palisades, a community rebuilding after the 2025 wildfire. These concept renderings show the design direction: single-story modern homes with walls of glass, designed to sit above HiberTec’s protective vault.

They are renderings, not photographs of finished homes.

See HiberTec Homes

Concept rendering of a single-story modern HiberTec home with floor-to-ceiling glass, set in coastal planting above the ocean — Concept rendering · HiberTec beachfront home planned for Pacific Palisades

Concept rendering of a white modern HiberTec home with a garage and glass walls at sunset, palms and the ocean behind — Concept rendering · HiberTec home at golden hour, Pacific Palisades

Concept rendering of a sunlit open-plan living room with glass walls looking out over coastal grasses to the ocean — Concept rendering · HiberTec home interior, Pacific Palisades

Three issued U.S. utility patents

Holden Forrest is the named inventor on patents covering building movement, the protective cover and utility-connection management. The patents were granted in 2022 and 2023.

Read the patent record

The founder and the idea

HiberTec began while Holden was running a construction company in North Hollywood. A cartoon on his daughter’s homework became mechanical drawings, a conversation with architect Aaron Brumer and a team of engineers. In April 2026, Holden Forrest and Mikke Pierson pitched HiberTec on Shark Tank and reached a deal with Barbara Corcoran on the show.

Read Holden Forrest’s story Explore the Shark Tank appearance

For company information, visit hibertec.com. For media and business inquiries, contact Holden Forrest.