Tinsley Monolithic Dome Home
The Tinsley Monolithic Dome home has sailed through two hurricanes and will face many more in the future. The living quarters are situated on the second and third floors. The area beneath the home accommodates storm surge while also providing covered parking for cars and creating space for a breezy patio.
The great room in this home features a well-outfitted chef’s kitchen with a gas range and a farm sink. The dining room has a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean and flows naturally into the living room.
The Tinsley Monolithic Dome home is a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom residence in Cudjoe Key, Florida. Situated onto an 8000-square-foot (743 m²) lot between a boat canal and the Atlantic Ocean, the home includes a swimming pool and a boat dock—and it has already survived two hurricanes virtually unscathed.
The Tinsley home consists of two Monolithic Domes set 20 feet (6.1 m) apart on a concrete slab elevated 13 feet (4 m) above the ground, supported by concrete pilings driven deep into the soil. The pilings are anchors that hold the whole structure still, even when a hurricane floods the ground level. The Tinsleys park their cars between the pilings underneath the home above.
The first dome is 34 feet (10.4 m) in diameter and has a combined dome and stem wall height of 18 feet (5.5 m). The second dome is 28 feet (8.5 m) in diameter with an overall dome and stem wall height of 20.5 feet (6.25 m).
A conventional structure connects the two domes, creating a third-level roof-top patio overlooking the ocean.
Shortly after moving into their home in 2017, Hurricane Irma struck Cudjoe Key with the eyewall passing directly over the Tinsely’s dual-dome home.
In 2022, Hurricane Ian came ashore, but the Tinsleys already knew their house would stand strong.
The site of the Tinsley home in Cudjoe Key was chosen for its rural location and close proximity to Key West, which is only 20 miles away. Positioned between the Atlantic Ocean and a canal, the Tinselys have easy access to all the waterways of the Keys and beautiful views all around.