This article examines three catastrophic fires in Modernist buildings – the World Trade Center in New York City (2001), Grenfell Tower in London (2017), and 80 Albert Street in Johannesburg (2023) – to explore the evolving responsibilities of architects within the Metamodern episteme. It highlights how these events underscore architecture’s dual roles: ensuring human safety and navigating buildings’ contingent, dynamic lives in a crisis-ridden era. By situating these tragedies within a theoretical framework of Metamodernism, characterised by oscillation between modernist ideals and postmodern scepticism, the paper advocates for a realignment of architectural theory with the practical and ethical demands of contemporary global challenges. In doing so, it argues for a departure from aesthetic paradigms. It calls for developing resilient, humane, and contextually responsive design practices to address crises such as climate change, housing insecurity, and social inequality.