This hurricane-proof home can withstand powerful storms

North Carolina-based prefab home builder Deltec has designed a home that’s built to withstand hurricanes. In the season finale of Home of the Future, The Verge and Curbed show you how one Deltec home fared against Hurricane Harvey this past summer.
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[@andreglud]

It actually looks really cozy with those circular rooms.

[@stevedotson1263]

I worked for Deltec 30 years ago. They really are well built homes. Like beautiful tanks.

[@district5198]

Should be mandatory in building codes. Stronger and consistently updated building codes. Is a must.

[@Honoredmatres69]

Imagine the headaches you'd save by using idk concrete, brick ect.

[@astrinymris9953]

Way back in 1989, right after Hurricane Hugo, I saw a photo of the coast showing piles of rubble which used to be a housing development, with this one geodesic dome standing apparently undamaged. Round homes work.

[@JoeHynes284]

bonus points for using geodesic ")

[@user-mj5ss3vw4g]

Its all about aerodynamics. If you are redirecting the wind instead of taking the full force head on even weak materials can survive.The only problem with weak materials like wood is flying debris

[@Dudeldani]

This is incredibly cool. I study spatial planning in Delta regions and this type of housing is a low cost solution to a complex problemany regions face in the coming years. Brilliant.

[@mycosys]

it would be WAY below code in cyclone prone areas of Australia

[@lillieraylevy9878]

What about the tornados which accompany hurricanes now? Tornados did much of the wind damage in Lake Charles, LA during Hurricane Laura. How well do round homes withstand tornados, especially if they are on stilts?

[@chelseafuller8412]

@@lillieraylevy9878good question! I’m curious too

[@richardbramley5794]

Yep, stucco frame homes. Florida learned its lesson after Andrew. They coded out stucco built homes, and went back to re-enforced concrete block, with hip roofs and roof straps. Add a full size, full load, built in generator, and if possible a well, with a water treatment system, you’re pretty much as safe as you can be. Add roll down aluminum shutters that lock in place and ride it out. Also consider location, don’t build next to a river, or right on the damn beach. Also, water dams work amazingly well. With the latest elevation requirements, roof codes and footer thickness codes, houses today, can stand up to a hurricane. House built in the 70’s and 80’s not so much, especially if they have gable roofs. They tend to get ripped off.

[@CrackerFL]

Ha! In Gainesville, FL They are building plywood stucco houses/apartments once again!

[@mattgeiger8247]

Yeah modern homes are built by the lowest bidder, I feel like 90% of the houses I see are framed with 2x4s and 7/16 osb. Cheap + cheap

[@grabeeg1]

Why don't use strong construction materials like Cement?

[@Abr3200]

You know concrete and bricks are cheaper than wood

[@Cryosxify]

With the way they prefab stuff maybe it's easier to deploy and build quickly and I guess would be cheaper when you scale it

[@jonathanvoshell7914]

Needs to be re-enforced with steel, for tensile strength, which is expensive or your roof is just going to fly off . What is important is what are you're designing your house to withstand. Wood is cheap, easy to fix, up gradable, easily disposed of if not treated, and also light weight so little to no heavy machinery is needed. Most house designs are not built to withstand high rain and winds. A design of a dome, cone, or a cylinder with a set height limit (the ones in the video) is better as it reduces the stresses placed on the walls. Flat cement walls also need gussets for support at large spans to offset these stresses. What it boils down to is you need heavy machinery and special tools to make concrete work just as good as Wood not to mention maintenance of said equipment. Just my two cents as I'm studying to be a engineer.

[@islandguy9380]

grabeeg1 It's called concrete. Portland Cement is just the binding agent

[@islandguy9380]

Jonathan Voshell An engineer, huh? Well, Mr engineer, stop calling it cement. It's called concrete. Portland Cement is just the binding agent added to clean water, clean sand and clean aggregate. Notice I said clean? All your materials must be washed, as Portland Cement will not bind to dirty materials.

[@thechurchofsillybeggars8912]

It’s either a hurricane resistant structure or the world’s largest frisbee. Time will tell.

[@TMB-cv2bg]

Most concrete structure homes in Trinidad where I'm from are built to withstand strong winds.

[@kevinprzy4539]

Trinidad doesn’t get hit nearly as bad as the southern US

[@rosalinaayala5963]

All the houses in Puerto Rico built from concrete with concrete roofs made it through Maria just fine. A round wooden house is more resistant to wind but can't come near concrete no matter what you do to it.

[@debracloud2061]

You should get more education.

[@SungazerDNB]

@@debracloud2061 When it comes to education it is not quantity but quality that matters. Next time make sure your brain is in gear before engaging the mouth.

[@SungazerDNB]

@Rosalina Ayala That's incorrect, you should look in to structural engineering before making statements like that.

[@SilverSergeant]

@@SungazerDNB I think you might consider the same advice.

[@veramae4098]

@@debracloud2061 A statement without math is just someone's opinion. Everyone relax.

[@TiesSepGames]

just build your houses from strong materials, and not from foam and toothpicks like 90% of murica

[@AakashKalaria]

Being Indian, I completely agree. Bloody use bricks, iron/steel, and concrete. Edit: Typo.

[@ruoyangchang6835]

Wood is better in earthquakes. Stone buildings would crumble from an earthquake in an instant.

[@TiesSepGames]

the video is about a hurricane-proof house, not an earthquake proof house.

[@Vikingdescendent]

Good point!

[@bencarter8324]

that raises the cost of buying a home though

[@JamesRoyceDawson]

So nothing about price? Construction time? Comparison with other designs? This is basically just an ad.

[@Vikingdescendent]

No different than the wheel concept. I just makes sense!

[@0patience4flz]

Geometry 😊

[@RBFR01]

If the house beams were made of steel and or aluminium it would be even stronger also you could bolt the house to a concrete platform.

[@c.akuawright5884]

There's one built in McCrogan SC back in 2003, the owner had to instruct the builder on how to construct it. It withstood Hurricane Matthew and Florence, I was in it only lost power, not one shingle was gone. I witness the power of wind coming out of the west and going through the trees, laying them on their side and nothing happened to me. Mother is a Beast!!!!

[@marvinmartin4692]

Not surprised at a round home survives a hurricane! Makes perfect sense! Should be required by all insurance companies in hurricane prone areas!!!!

[@nicholas8nj]

Amazing concept of building a house to protect you from hurricanes and tornadoes should be used moreso for infrastructure and human life protecting. 🍀

[@gamesmaker1]

Just don't make them out of wood, has the tale of the 3 piglets and the wolf taught nothing?

[@WadcaWymiaru]

GREAT *antonio* XD

[@MoroccoLB1234]

This is one of my favorite Verge series

[@matttttt29365]

Use bricks instead of wood folks, like us people from the rest of the world. Solves many problems.

[@jonetech5324]

Matt Rissik Creates problems too

[@matttttt29365]

Not as much as fragile wood.

[@matttttt29365]

Pretty much the rest of the world

[@danielm5633]

Matt Rissik brick costs much more than wood, also, if you have been to school, you'd know you can make wood very, very strong if you build it correctly. A 99.9% survival rate for these homes is very, very good. The main reason that I've heard from people I've talked to that own brick homes for the reason they chose brick is for the look, not the durability and that's coming from foreigners I've talked to, not just Americans.

[@johnharbord]

@@danielm5633 wood done right is good

[@rrrlovebuddy]

Those drone shots were *Jaw-dropping*

[@DeadlyApples666]

They should have been flying slightly slower to get rid of the jitters from the uav aerial shots or using a slower shutter speed.

[@ColonialDagger]

> "hurricane-proof" > _builds a wood frame house_ Hurricane Andrew would like a word with you.

[@TCGC2013]

The home and the concept is awesome! Looking down at some of the comments, we appear to have masters of doubt. Those who more than likely doubt science based evidence in other areas as well. Technology today is about measurements and innovation is driven by information and lessons-learned. If you want to know price... and I think any logical-thinking American (looking at the video, the home is quite expensive. For me, I can only pipe-dream about owning a home such as this awesome modern development and professional accomplishment. Not to mention this also meets and exceeds the 2013, FEMA/DHS building criteria, many builders in attendance that year, cried about. To the Verge, I say..."Go On With Yo' Bad Selves"! Thank you for your awesome contribution... and vision, to the future of life and property resilience, to the destructive effects of disaster and emergencies. TCGC- OUT~

[@josem.castorena4853]

Jeez I want one now.

[@Ls9494]

**Hurricane proof home** **builds home out of wood**

[@Ls9494]

Yes

[@daddyscrapes]

H Akhio 😂😂😂😂

[@SuperSiggiboy]

Yep, because a well-built wooden home is the best choice when the hurricane hits. Regular "cardboard wood" homes are of course bad, but if you guys over the pond could just learn proper building techniques (like it seems these guys have), your wood buildings would way more durable than brick-and-mortar buildings. Especially when a hurricane or earthquake hits

[@WadcaWymiaru]

* *SPIT* * Cardboard-wood hurricane-proof houses...

[@kylecooper139]

Siggen Reinforced Concrete Home’s are the best guy

[@kev996]

I really want to live there.

[@imvincentmorales7110]

ITS ABOUT TIME!💯💯💯

[@Bartmann420]

It still is a chopstick house....

[@anthonystewart4552]

yeah but its still standing duh

[@renatagross5959]

Well done !

[@renatagross5959]

The round house is modeled after native American designs.

[@joebaucom4537]

Very Great !

[@michielsmetsers8102]

3 words: build stone houses.

[@jonathanvoshell7914]

Better Idea: Design your house to withstand the environmental hazards in your area.

[@WadcaWymiaru]

Well...look at japanese houses that resist: - earthquakes - tsunami (mostly) - taifuns - volcanos XD - landslides...

[@peterparker8114]

@@WadcaWymiaru typhoons

[@slipkinti]

All ideias are great.

[@checkmatefurries286]

Love this series but i wish it was a little more in depth

[@ericg979]

My 1949 concrete home has stood up to plenty of storms, including Andrew. Cool though

[@durchschnittlich]

Never heard of The Three Little Pigs, eh?

[@nemo227]

It didn't cost money it SAVED MONEY and more.

[@reidianson8933]

I'm a Houston resident. Harvey was...a rough rough storm

[@stephentorkildson878]

It seems the building code should require these homes per location

[@dustinbrandel59]

When i was a little kid, i asked my mom, why do people who live in hurricane or tornado areas, keep rebuilding the same bad home designs over and over, when u could just design one to withstand it? She was like, idk son.

[@ubikentang2017]

Thinking of the same thing, now googling tornadoes in other countries. Like Taiwan & Japan...it's very rare to hear report of a clean sweep of all the houses.

[@ubikentang2017]

Within the last 10 mins of youtube videos, turn out all these can be avoided by just building a concrete house. This is done even by people in Phillipine 😅 the hell is US doing?

[@999torres]

@@ubikentang2017 well the USA has the most and strongest tornadoes 🌪️ compared to other countries an E3 and above can easily take out concrete buildings

[@Iquey]

Greed from home design companies. Good companies understand good design. Cookie cutter wealth takers just sell you the cheapest version of what looks okay.

[@aaronmskinner2011]

Now use steel instead of wood and weld it together. Thing would be nearly impossible to blow over

[@shawnwhite2572]

Wouldn’t adding ‘wings’ to the house take away the benefit of it being round?

[@irisanegrete9565]

Where are your films of these homes after a grade 4-5 hurricane?

[@Iamchristaelaine]

Houston storm got me here

[@jemadamson2715]

Y'all, it survived harvey. If it's a cheaper alternative, I'd say go for it. It survived harvey! And on the coast!

[@Superbustr]

Perhaps homes in hurricane zones should not be built out of wood and instead should be built out of concrete. It is understandable that concrete is more expensive. Wouldn't it be less expensive in the long term to not have to rebuild your house every 10 - 15 years if your house is built to withstand hurricanes?

[@Antenox]

Look at all the smart commenters trying to talk down to engineers

[@Joshua79C]

"Bricks" look at those that were through California earthquakes that happened. "Concrete" - Exactly what style of construction here? there is a few methods of making concrete structures and there are many examples of failures. Europeans and others making these comments think these buildings are lower cost here than there and yet their interiors still use wood, and they have used and still use timber since the past when their homes were first constructed of this versatile lower cost material.

[@alanwisdom7777]

The best would be a house with a system in case of a hurricane, where the house would go into the ground, totally protect, but it would cost a fortune

[@milliemaxwell5282]

Would be very hard to protect from water in/on the ground. That’s why the elevated stilts are good.

[@Tuntira]

Surely cement and brick would be the answer to this ?

[@jodyjohnsen]

Where is your flood plan? Sure, you get high winds but without a flood plan you have not protected the building from hurricanes. You have protected it from half a hurricane.

[@benevolencia4203]

Nobody goes to sleep at night wishing they had not put high wind zone (Simpson strong tie) hurricane connectors in their building, or home structure. Nobody goes to sleep at night wishing they had not raised their building that extra 3 feet. Hire a state certified building engineer or architect. Tell them you want your house to withstand category five storm winds, and 500 year flood lines. They will tell you how much that will cost, how very few do it. Do it. A penny’s worth of prevention, is worth more than a dollar’s worth of reconstruction after the storm.

[@anthonygumbo2977]

What’s this song playing in the beginning

[@dougiequick1]

I LOVE the idea of having a home that can take any hurricane....If I lived there that would be me! I'd have a huge reservoir of fuel and a commerical duty and genny and of course large pantry and multiple fully stocked freezers/refrigerator ....Sattelite service ...I would just hunker down with my Shotgun and wait the whole thing out ...problem might be nieghbors seeking refuge ....how many could you take in? A few perhaps

[@vishnuprasad7574]

Why don't you use cement bricks In India we only use cement steel and brick building usual last a long time and don't fly away with storms But we don't have storms in India

[@ShobhitVashistha]

We have had plenty of hurricanes in Gujarat, Bengal and Orissa. But you probably weren't born yet.

[@vishnuprasad7574]

Shobhit Vashistha only one i remember is one happened last year in Vizag But i don't think it was as bad as us storms

[@JFKJrJrPlanetX]

Vishnu Prasad probably traditional reasons..settlers during the 19 century only used wood

[@Kingmaker94]

Dope

[@Fruitarian.]

Sid Stark exactly what america needs

[@Kingmaker94]

Fruitarian Exactly!

[@pedroarthurbarbosa]

Historic homes suffer the least damage from hurricanes, because they were made with solid wood or brick. These modern homes made with low quality material are polluted and using up a lot more resources as most of them have to undergo significant repairs after hurricanes!

[@Abr3200]

Murcans. Do u even bricks?

[@luisalexis1969]

In the Caribbean the houses are made of blocks and concrete. There are no problems with hurricanes

[@itzKal]

Dome homes have been around centuries. It's weird this is only now starting to catch on more, even though this is more cylindrical than a dome.

[@Joshua79C]

they never advertise as a dome home or structure, only "round' style structures technically polygonal

[@Dudeldani]

The design reminds me of the ground level of a lighthouse

[@harryhathaway1086]

I would think that if you built house with all screws hardened steel screws instead of nails that would help quite a bit yes it would be more labor-intensive and costly but it take it would work.

[@mattgeiger8247]

You don't want to use screws for the complete construction, screws break but nails bend

[@Sjrick]

what about homes like this in wildfire areas ? Are they flame proof ?

[@user-pq5pn3tv5e]

Just use concrete

[@geribrandon7057]

If you get floods. does water get in the house. Are windows weather proof that flying objects cant break. or it only good for high winds?

[@randytwomoons3134]

And all ya gotta do is sh*t a golden brick !

[@BucketWheat]

You sort of casually mentioned Forest Fires... but none of your material that I have seen, thus far, tells about Fire Protection... I am strongly interested in building a "Mountain Cabin" retirement home -- probably in the Smoky Mountains area. Wild Fires are 'rare' in the area... BUT... a few years back, they had a Devastating Fire over many acres...and Many homes were badly damaged or destroyed...

[@lesliesmith3554]

How can I get help with getting one of these built?

[@BHARGAV_GAJJAR]

dome is probably even better

[@elmorcesar7489]

A well engineered house is sturdy enough wether you use concrete or wood.

[@Idkmanihatethis]

Withstand more like windstand get it!

[@elliemay7839]

Is that hemp Crete withstanding a lot better

[@gabriellasaunders505]

United attitude lens pretty return past tightly estimated like score.

[@maggiesallas7613]

Why does this remind me of George Van Tassel's "Integraton" out there in the Mohave?

[@caseystyer2996]

It seems like the no Interior wall concept would severely impact your safe places if you can't get to a bunker.

[@binoysengupta8457]

Can it be suitable for sunderbanns coast line 🌲 India.?

[@TheJRSvideos]

In South Florida every house built within the past 30 years at least is made out of cinder blocks on a concrete foundation, the homes down here aren’t going anywhere.

[@smashbashcrashrc5429]

No reason wooden can't be strong use hurricane ties and metal brackets! It saved my house and had minimal damage through an ef3 tornado in Ontario. Metal siding is the way to go as well

[@t_prey]

I have experienced Irma in St. Maarten. Do you have any reference buildings there or on nearby islands?

[@sandybeachez]

There is a Deltec on St. CROIX

[@BillyDoesVids]

It can also withstand tornadoes, right?

[@worldpeace32]

Why not dome shaped instead of cone shaped roofs

[@rickss69]

Looks good, but it better be elevated on pilings on the coast.

[@JacobRy]

yeah in florida all houses are like this

[@Joshua79C]

MOST are constructed with low cost or cheap wood but there are some going with this method of construction: www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=ICF+florida&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[@Damianseconda995]

Why don't they build houses out of bricks like in europe?

[@Joshua79C]

EARTHQUAKES, look at california homes in past made of this.

[@Joshua79C]

Many of them do not realize we have ICF construction, far superior than stone as it pre-insulates the home as the forms stay in place after pouring and is the insulation. But as with any stone structure there will still be wood substructure inside or out even. And then there is the fact many such stone or other masonry structures in their country that were ravaged by war. No single type of structure is the most superior, but it just simply comes down to what the homeowner can afford to purchase or new build.

[@driftingbrandonc.6480]

Brown brick not aesthetically pleasing by far.

[@maxpower1337]

I think wood houses are cheaper and warmer not sure but in China the buildings out of wood last centuries.

[@hamadilawson4396]

American has a lot of trees. Therefore wood is relatively cheap and fast.

[@santamariamarvy]

USE CONCRETE!

[@yodesuyo]

why are they using wood anyway?

[@SmellSoGoodCandleCompany]

Can we make it bigger

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

Try building that in the philippines though.. Not gonna happen..And the termites will eventually eat it down to balsa wood strength .

[@DigitalXrisXros]

2022 : 🍺🫲🏻 hold this

[@k.ganesanganesan6825]

Use Fibre Reinforced concrete.

[@toxichammertoe8696]

Terrance Howard on Joe Rogan took me here

[@davidkermes376]

not many people would be willing to live in what is essentially a grain silo or quonset hut, and even fewer towns' zoning regulations would allow them to be built.

[@InverseAgonist]

Ok, congratulations, you've resisted the winds. Now does someone want to explain how this design resists flooding?

[@jonathanvoshell7914]

Easy, built above the flood plane

[@bradhaaf4749]

If you paid attention in the video there are examples, they built them on pylons.

[@XSpImmaLion]

I can understand building a more aerodynamic house shape would resist stronger wind forces and all, but they mentioned the fires... so how exactly would this fare better in a fire given that it's basically made of wood?

[@silentstormstudio4782]

3:30 triangular houses could have been great too

[@jeromevet007]

Hightech , whaha. i used these materials for building treehouses when i was young not a actual house ! , those roof beams are not even connecten trough a proper connection. just a cold connection with a metal mesh ? what ! and you still wonder why your homes keep blowing away :D

[@soulether4388]

Whoooo!👊🖐

[@CJ-ui4tg]

Future house design for OdettePh typhoon survivors

[@DeadlyApples666]

Aren't bricks, blocks and other strong materials an option? I think most houses in Europe are made from stone and other heavy and strong materials and we don't even get hurricanes like America does yet they build houses made of straw? Have the three little pigs taught them nothing? XD

[@taranbasi1457]

There’s another hurricane heading for the US?

[@Fruitarian.]

LifezLife nope, no more

[@PloxGeek]

Just a matter of time

[@zajebancija11]

Of course as already mentioned here is wood not the best material to build houses in a hurricane area but in the other hand the majority cannot afford a house made of bricks etc. So the presented house in the video is a great option. USA is the strongest economy on earth but a lot of ppl are struggling though...