Bubble Houses (Hobe Sound, Florida)
History
Completed in 1954 by Airform, the Bubble Houses were designed by Eliot Noyes using the airform monolithic dome system developed by Wallace Neff, which consists of reinforced concrete cast in place over an inflated balloon to establish the house's shape.
The original interiors of the houses consisted of a bathroom and open concept living, dining, and kitchen area on the 569 square feet (52.9 m) main floor, with a loft-style, raised sleeping space above.
They were built to sell for $6,500 Shortly after their completion, it was stated that more than 3,000 people had toured the newly constructed bubble houses. The nearby Olympia School even closed early one afternoon so that its students could tour the Bubble Houses.
Status
The easternmost of the two bubble houses, painted yellow, received media attention in March 2012 because of its owner's proposal to replace it with a larger house. The historic structure was demolished to allow for the construction of the new house. (This was the easternmost bubble house located at 9096 SE Venus Street, Hobe Sound, Florida.)
The only remaining bubble house is still standing, with the current owners intending to keep it in place.
The westernmost bubble house, 9086 SE Venus Street, has received little or no attention in the media, although both houses were featured in a 2008 Inside Hobe Sound Tour sponsored by the local chamber of commerce.
The bubble house is located on a five plus acre park. It is one mile from local beaches, and two miles from the residences of Celine Dion, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods.
Media coverage
The two bubble houses were featured in Life magazine in its February 22, 1954, issue, which described them as "both hurricane-proof and bugproof". They were featured in a chapter of the 2011 book by Jeffrey Head, No Nails, No Lumber: The Bubble Houses of Wallace Neff published by Princeton Architectural Press.
See also
- Bubble Houses (Litchfield Park, Arizona)
- Blobitecture – architecture in which buildings have an organic, amoeba-shaped, form.
- Hurricane-proof building
References
- ^ Michelson, Alan; et al. (2012). "Noyes, Eliot". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ "Semitropical Igloo". Life. Vol. 30, no. 8. Chicago: Time Inc. February 22, 1954. pp. 75–78.
- ^ Michelson, Alan; et al. (2012). "Airform House, Oak Knoll, Pasadena, CA". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ $74,600 with inflation accounted for.
- ^ Head, Jeffrey (2011). No Nails, No Lumber: The Bubble Houses of Wallace Neff (1st ed.). New York: Princeton Architectural Press. pp. 78–83. ISBN 9781616890247.
- ^ Klaus, Rikki (March 15, 2012). "Talk of demolishing a 'Bubble House' in Hobe Sound bursts some neighbors' bubbles, delights others". WPTV. West Palm Beach, Florida. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ deFiebre, Conrad (March 12, 2012). "Controversy surrounds Bubble House in Hobe Sound's Zeus Park". TCPalm. Stuart, Florida: Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ LePore, Doreen (16 August 2008). "The Bubble Houses". The Hobe Sound Project. Hobe Sound, Florida. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ Michelson, Alan; et al. (2012). "Bubble House, Hobe Sound, FL". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ Roberts, Lindsey M. (February 17, 2012). "Book Review: 'The Bubble Houses of Wallace Neff'". Architect Magazine. Washington, D.C.: American Institute of Architects. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
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