Storm-resistant dome homes sweep the nation

A dome home at 7625 State Route 179, Sedona Ariz., which is currently on the market for $1.2 million
A dome home at 7625 State Route 179, Sedona Ariz., which is currently on the market for $1.2 million

WEEKENDEDITION With a rise in extreme weather across the country, some homeowners have found a unusual way to safeguard their investment: by building dome-shaped homes.

A domes’ balanced shape is naturally self-supporting and can even be strong enough to withstand the force of an EF5 tornado, a hurricane or an earthquake, according to CNBC. And dome buildings made of sturdy materials, such as concrete, can deflect flying debris without compromising the roof.

“People feel safer in a dome,” Nanette South Clark, a design engineer and Texas resident, told CNBC. “Domes have a double curvature like an egg so they’re very strong. They’re the buildings of the future.”

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But even though a dome home can protect against the forces of nature, the unusual shape will most likely keep homebuilders from taking the design mainstream.

“It’s not for everybody,” Ken Robertson, a Sotheby’s International Real Estate agent, said of a bizarre-looking, rainbow-colored dome house in Arizona. “It takes someone with imagination and creativity to appreciate this home. It’s almost like a fantasy home.” [CNBC]Christopher Cameron