Has the world鈥檚 safest house been designed? Its architect Eugene Tsui thinks so. His design was inspired by a tough, microscopic creature called a tardigrade and Tsui says the house can withstand earthquakes and wildfires. Built in Berkeley, California, the house could face either hazard. The tardigrade is oval, and Tsui has designed everything in his house to be circular or elliptical. 鈥淣ature doesn鈥檛 build boxes,鈥� says Tsui. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e among the weakest forms because stress is concentrated in the corners and along flat surfaces, making them vulnerable to collapse.鈥� Tests also show that flames flow around curved walls, rather than being sucked towards them.
The house is called Ojo del Sol, or Eye of the Sun, after the large south-facing window that heats the living area. Small 鈥渘ostril鈥� windows draw air into the house to cool it in the summer. The structure is built entirely from recycled materials 鈥� the foundations and ground floor are made from blocks of compressed Styrofoam cups reinforced with steel. The upper floor is made from a series of wooden arches, tied with steel mesh and sprayed with concrete.