With the trio of devastating hurricanes wreaking havoc parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean this fall, there’s no doubt that many homeowners will be looking for a stronger, more resilient way to rebuild. The sheer devastation wrought in cities like Houston, Jacksonville, and san Juan, Puerto Rico, is giving home buyers second thoughts about purchasing a new home that is made of sticks, bricks, and mortar.
Builders in these areas will undoubtedly be asked about concrete, one of the construction industry’s most time-tested and tough building materials. Whether poured, cast in place, or insulated concrete forms, houses built with this nearly impervious material are about as durable as they can be.
What may be surprising is that these bunker-like homes can look as good as they perform. Here are six that stand up to Mother Nature, meet coastal building codes, and meet the highest aesthetic standards, too.
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California Contemporary Folds Into The Hills
Set into the landscape, Oak Pass House takes advantage of views without becoming a visual focus.
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Modern Miami Villa is a Concrete Oasis
Designed by Colombian-Ecuadorian filmmaker Alejandro Landes, contemporary forms interact with nature in a bold concrete villa that hovers over Biscayne Bay.
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Beach House Takes Indoor/Outdoor Living to a New Level
The low-lying, zero-energy vacation home is ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at it.
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A Prefab, Concrete Tiny Home that Easily Moves with Owners
The green, off-grid KODA house by Kodasema is designed to be assembled anywhere in less than seven hours.
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Florida Waterfront Home Overcomes Serious Constraints
Located on an awkwardly shaped lot on the Intracoastal Waterway, the contemporary home had to be designed to withstand hurricane-force winds.
