The client’s representative set out to find the Florida builder capable of turning a visionary dome concept into reality. After consulting city officials and local experts in Ponce Inlet, one name kept surfacing: Newberry Homes.

The client approached Newberry with a bold proposal, a 6,000 SQFT dome-shaped residence unlike anything in the area. The structure needed to be not only visually striking but also capable of withstanding Florida’s coastal climate.

During the discovery meeting, Newberry’s in-house architect, Bob Balch, immediately recognized the opportunity. Having studied dome architecture in college, he saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime design challenge – a chance to apply structural innovation to luxury residential design.

“This is not just another home. It’s architectural art, built to stand against nature while redefining what luxury can look like.”

— Bob Balch, Lead Architect, Newberry Homes

From the first meeting, the project evolved through a series of nine major redesigns. What began as a 6,000 SQFT residence grew to a 15,000 SQFT living space and over 20,000 SQFT total, driven by the client’s vision for grandeur and livability.

Each redesign explored:

• Engineering feasibility of dome geometry
• Integration of panoramic ocean views
• Luxury-grade structural materials (steel framing)
• Seamless flow between open interior spaces and oceanfront terraces

This iterative process required close collaboration between Newberry’s design, structural, and engineering teams to ensure every aesthetic decision aligned with safety, scale, and code compliance.

When the client visited Newberry’s Ponce Inlet Key  project and learned the firm designed and built not only individual homes but the entire community she said:

“If you can build this, you can build our dome home.”

Designing a large-scale dome structure on oceanfront property required unconventional engineering approaches to handle wind loads, foundation anchoring, and curvature-based stress points.

The design evolved from 6,000 to 15,000 living SQFT, necessitating contract amendments and budget recalibration, ultimately tripling the original scope.

Selecting appropriate materials to maintain both the aesthetic curvature and the hurricane-grade resilience demanded extensive research and custom fabrication planning.

The expanded scope was formally amended with clear terms, ensuring mutual confidence and continued partnership.

The Dome Home is currently in the engineering phase, with structural analysis and permitting underway. Once complete, it will stand as one of Florida’s most distinctive luxury residences — a 20,000 SQFT oceanfront architectural landmark that pushes the boundaries of design and durability.