Hurricane-Proof Cabin Comes in Box, Is Strong Like Bull

Cubicco’s modular construction houses can withstand the worst

By The Editors
January 12, 2016 9:00 am

As any man who’s ever had an IKEA bookshelf, chair or — God forbid — bed collapse on him can attest, it doesn’t take a natural disaster to cripple unbox-and-build furniture.

But despite the flimsy reputation of all things pre-fab, one brave new house-in-a-box concern is welcoming the challenge of hell and high water: Cubicco, built to meet Florida’s 180 MPH High Velocity Hurricane Zone building code.

Its secret: super sturdy laminated veneer lumber — a material, it bears noting, that utilizes up to 90% of the tree. The modular two-bedroom houses — which can be disassembled and moved if the owners relocate — can also handle getting ten feet of snow dumped on them and withstand blistering heat or freezing cold.

They’re smart too: the homes harvest rainwater and use solar technology, and at a reported $115,000 (or $685/square foot), you’re looking at one hell of a bargain.

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