South Florida — especially Miami and the Keys — was one of several regions that Hurricane Irma pummeled in early September. The Category 4 storm brought winds up to 70 mph, destroyed hundreds of houses, and knocked out power for 5.8 million homes and businesses in Florida.
A new type of solar-powered home could withstand future storms and rising seas. Designed by architect Koen Olthuis and housing startup ARKUP, the design will be presented at this month’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
Olthuis told Business Insider that the moveable home will be able to withstand Category 4 winds up to 156 mph. In the event of a storm, it will be buoyed, so that when water levels rise, the home will bob with it.
Check out renderings of the home, which the team hopes to start selling next summer, below.
SEE ALSO: These 10 cities are the most prepared for the future
The luxury homes, which Olthuis and ARKUP call "livable yachts," will feature hydraulic jack-up systems to anchor and stabilize them during storms. To prevent flooding, the systems will be able to lift the home 40 feet above the ocean floor.
Each home’s layout will be customizable.
The homes will be completely powered by solar panels located on the roof.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
from SAI http://read.bi/2AovnLb
via IFTTT