June first marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with predictions for bigger and deadlier storms this year due to the transition to La Niña, coupled with above-average sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists are urging inhabitants of hurricane-prone areas to take extra precautions. Thanks to climate change, this trend towards more violent and volatile weather is showing no signs of slowing down, but a North Carolina based company named Deltec Homes has decided to fight back with hurricane-resistant homes that are so storm-proof, they’ve survived the likes of both Sandy and Katrina.
Deltec Homes was started in 1968 in Asheville, NC as a builder of hurricane-resistant round homes in seaside resort communities, particularly in the Atlantic south, where hurricanes are an ever present threat to coastal homes. Although the company has recently expanded into rectilinear Net Zero Energy Homes with the launch of the new Renew Collection (we wrote about it here), Deltec originally made a name for itself with iconic storm resistant round homes. Initially commissioned for seaside resort communities, these structures soon became sought after by homeowners across the country for their striking aesthetics and durability.
Deltec’s hurricane resistant homes are so strong that in over 48 years and with over 5,000 homes built, they’ve never had a home lost due to hurricanes or high winds of any kind. And that is all the more impressive considering that Deltec homes have stood against some of the most detrimental storms in history including Hurricanes Hugo, Sandy, Katrina, Ivan, Andrew and Charley.
RELATED: Deltec launches line of super efficient, net-zero energy homes
So what makes Deltec Homes different from other homes? The earliest forms of human shelter were round – inspired by Mother Nature’s most structurally stable ovoid designs such as the egg. Unlike traditional box-shaped homes, round homes possess only octagonally slight corners and sides. In the absence of sharp corners, wind and waves are permitted to flow freely around the house rather than allowing the kinds of pressure buildups that typically lead to structural failures.
Circular homes are held together by a greater number of interconnected points, making their joints both more flexible and stronger than rectilinear constructions. For these same reasons (slight corners, smoother flow of wind), round roofs are far more successful at withstanding wind and are less susceptible to being lifted off in a storm. Radial floor and roof trusses, which meet in a center ring like spokes on a wheel, lock the building in a constant state of compression, which further reinforces the building’s strength.
RELATED: Why Our Ancestors Built Round Houses – and Why it Still Makes Sense to Build Round Structures Today
In addition to the impressive physics supporting these round homes, Deltec’s trusses and walls are composed of framing lumber that is twice as strong as traditional framing, while their reinforced windows and factory-precise prefab panels work to keep wind and water out. With an emphasis on environmental responsibility, these energy-efficient homes have the option to be topped with a reflective roof that minimizes radiant heat gain. An airtight envelope along with smart window placement and passive solar design, helps maintain the home’s balanced internal temperature. Deltec’s wide variety of add-ons and configurations allow buyers to incorporate solar power, triple paned glass, and more to make the home net-zero energy. The company recently achieved B Corp certification for meeting the highest level of verified social and environmental performance.
With stormy weather on the horizon and speculation that hurricanes will increasingly begin to affect cities that least expect it, prospective homeowners might find it helpful to consider all their options before settling on a traditionally shaped house. These prefab round houses ship anywhere in the world, and according to Deltec’s Rachel Kassinger, “Since Deltec started in 1968 we’ve never lost a home due to hurricanes or high winds of any kind. The most damage ever reported were a few lost shingles off of a roof. It’s an extraordinary record considering our homeowners have had direct hits from some of the most damaging storms including Sandy, Katrina, Hugo, and Charley.”
All images © Deltec and Cayman Villas.
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Deltec: These are some of the ugliest buildings I have ever seen as an architect, worldwide. besides, we have to get away from the American conception of "homes" as detached houses, with their attendant problems of energy waste and emissions as well as the sealing of the soil to build houses and roads, which reduces water absorbtion and leads to flooding in storms. We need to move to multi-storeyed, multi-familiy buildings as in most cities all over the world.
June first marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with predictions for bigger and deadlier storms this year due to the transition to La Niña, coupled with above-average sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists are urging inhabitants of hurricane-prone areas to take extra precautions. Thanks to climate change, this trend towards more violent and volatile weather is showing no signs of slowing down, but a North Carolina based company named Deltec Homes has decided to fight back with hurricane-resistant homes that are so storm-proof, they’ve survived the likes of both Sandy and Katrina.
Memorial Day weekend may conjure up carefree thoughts of the beginning of summer, but for many people across the country, June first marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. With predictions for bigger and deadlier storms this year due to the transition to La Niña coupled with above average sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists are urging inhabitants of cyclone-prone areas to take extra precautions. Unfortunately, due to climate change, this trend towards more violent and volatile weather is showing no signs of slowing down, but a North Carolina based company named Deltec has decided to fight back with hurricane resistant homes so successful, they’ve survived the likes of both Sandy and Katrina.
Though the company has since expanded with the launch of its Renew Collection, Deltec originally made a name for itself with its bespoke, prefabricated, round Classic homes that range between 300 and 10,000 square feet in size. Initially commissioned by seaside resort communities, these structures soon became sought after by visitors for their striking aesthetics and durability.
Initially commissioned by seaside resort communities, these structures soon became sought after by visitors for their striking aesthetics and durability.
Like the earliest forms of human shelter, Deltec's Classic homes are round were arguably inspired by nature’s structurally impressive ovoid designs such as the egg.
Circular homes also tend to be held together by a greater number of interconnected points, making them more both more flexible and stronger than rectangle constructions.
Due to their optimal pitch, round roofs are far more successful at deflecting wind and are less susceptible to being lifted off in a storm. Radial floor and roof trusses, which meet in a center ring like spokes on a wheel, lock the building in a constant state of compression, which further reinforces the building’s strength.
With an emphasis on environmental responsibility, these energy-efficient homes come topped with a reflective roof that minimizes radiant heat gain.
Deltec’s seemingly limitless number of add-ons and configurations allow buyers to incorporate various solar powered goodies, triple paned glass, and much more to make the home truly net-zero energy.
Unlike traditional box-shaped homes, round homes possess neither corners nor sides. In the absence of both, wind and waves are permitted to flow freely around the house rather than allowing the kinds of pressure buildups that typically lead to structural failures.
In addition to the impressive physics supporting these round homes, Deltec’s trusses and walls are composed of framing lumber that is twice as strong as traditional framing, while their reinforced windows and factory-precise prefab panels work to keep wind and water out.
With stormy weather on the horizon and speculation that hurricanes will increasingly begin to affect cities that least expect it, prospective homeowners might find it helpful to consider all their options before settling on a traditionally shaped house.
Learn more about why out ancestors built round homes.
According to Deltec’s Rachel Kassinger, “Since Deltec started in 1968 we’ve never lost a home due to hurricanes or high winds of any kind. The most damage ever reported were a few lost shingles off of a roof. It’s an extraordinary record considering our homeowners have had direct hits from Sandy, Katrina, Hugo, Charley and several others.”
An airtight envelope along with smart window placement and passive solar design, helps maintain the home’s balanced internal temperature.
Deltec's prefab houses ship anywhere in the world.
June first marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with predictions for bigger and deadlier storms this year due to the transition to La Niña, coupled with above-average sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists are urging inhabitants of hurricane-prone areas to take extra precautions. Thanks to climate change, this trend towards more violent and volatile weather is showing no signs of slowing down, but a North Carolina based company named Deltec Homes has decided to fight back with hurricane-resistant homes that are so storm-proof, they’ve survived the likes of both Sandy and Katrina.
June first marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with predictions for bigger and deadlier storms this year due to the transition to La Niña, coupled with above-average sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists are urging inhabitants of hurricane-prone areas to take extra precautions. Thanks to climate change, this trend towards more violent and volatile weather is showing no signs of slowing down, but a North Carolina based company named Deltec Homes has decided to fight back with hurricane-resistant homes that are so storm-proof, they’ve survived the likes of both Sandy and Katrina.
June first marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with predictions for bigger and deadlier storms this year due to the transition to La Niña, coupled with above-average sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists are urging inhabitants of hurricane-prone areas to take extra precautions. Thanks to climate change, this trend towards more violent and volatile weather is showing no signs of slowing down, but a North Carolina based company named Deltec Homes has decided to fight back with hurricane-resistant homes that are so storm-proof, they’ve survived the likes of both Sandy and Katrina.