diff --git a/src/pipeline/asset_manager.cpp b/src/pipeline/asset_manager.cpp
index 8429bb5b..2bff1972 100644
--- a/src/pipeline/asset_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/pipeline/asset_manager.cpp
@@ -311,6 +311,27 @@ std::shared_ptr<DBCFile> AssetManager::loadDBC(const std::string& name) {
         }
     }
 
+    // Check for JSON DBC from custom zones (wowee open format)
+    // JSON DBCs exported by the editor contain the same record data
+    // but the DBCFile::load() only handles binary — so JSON overrides
+    // are logged for now and will need a JSON→DBC converter in future.
+    if (dbcData.empty()) {
+        std::string baseName = name;
+        auto dot = baseName.rfind('.');
+        if (dot != std::string::npos) baseName = baseName.substr(0, dot);
+        for (const std::string& dir : {"custom_zones", "output"}) {
+            if (!std::filesystem::exists(dir)) continue;
+            for (auto& entry : std::filesystem::directory_iterator(dir)) {
+                if (!entry.is_directory()) continue;
+                std::string jsonPath = entry.path().string() + "/data/" + baseName + ".json";
+                if (std::filesystem::exists(jsonPath)) {
+                    LOG_DEBUG("JSON DBC available (not yet loaded): ", jsonPath);
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     // Fall back to expansion-specific CSV (e.g. Data/expansions/wotlk/db/Spell.csv)
     if (dbcData.empty() && !expansionDataPath_.empty()) {
         std::string baseName = name;
diff --git a/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp b/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp
index 460f67af..af2db97f 100644
--- a/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/terrain_manager.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "core/coordinates.hpp"
 #include "pipeline/wowee_terrain_loader.hpp"
 #include "pipeline/wowee_model.hpp"
+#include "pipeline/wowee_building.hpp"
 #include "core/memory_monitor.hpp"
 #include "core/profiler.hpp"
 #include "pipeline/asset_manager.hpp"
@@ -594,6 +595,22 @@ std::shared_ptr<PendingTile> TerrainManager::prepareTile(int x, int y) {
             if (placement.nameId >= pending->terrain.wmoNames.size()) continue;
 
             const std::string& wmoPath = pending->terrain.wmoNames[placement.nameId];
+
+            // Check for WOB open format first (custom zone buildings)
+            {
+                std::string wobBase = wmoPath;
+                auto wobDot = wobBase.rfind('.');
+                if (wobDot != std::string::npos) wobBase = wobBase.substr(0, wobDot);
+                std::replace(wobBase.begin(), wobBase.end(), '\\', '/');
+                std::vector<std::string> wobPrefixes = {"custom_zones/buildings/", "output/" + mapName + "/buildings/"};
+                for (const auto& prefix : wobPrefixes) {
+                    if (pipeline::WoweeBuildingLoader::exists(prefix + wobBase)) {
+                        LOG_INFO("WOB building found: ", prefix + wobBase, " (loading not yet implemented)");
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             std::vector<uint8_t> wmoData = assetManager->readFile(wmoPath);
             if (wmoData.empty()) continue;