May 5 marked the release of Hulu’s new home renovation show “Designed to Last.” Featuring designers, contractors, and architects, the show follows three teams as they face brutal environmental challenges for the top prize of $100,000.
American Family Insurance sponsors the show to meet consumers in a format they recognize. Replications of different weather threats highlight the real dangers that homebuyers face during natural disasters. As environmental disasters occur more frequently in our current age, the future of homeownership may be geared towards the survival of the fittest home.
The foundation
The show follows three teams through four design challenges related to weather disasters: wind, water, fire, and ice/snow. Each team comprises three members, each bringing their own special expertise to the group. For each round, each team has 10 hours to renovate a tiny home to exact sizing specifications, designed to withstand the weather hazards the judges throw at them. The show is hosted by Maria Menounos, with judges Eric Eremita (a contractor) and Wendell Holland (a designer). Together, Menounos, Eremita, and Holland score the homes based on the innovation, design, and scalability of the projects, as well as the overall damage each home develops after the challenge is over.
The team names align with the colors for American Family Insurance: red, blue, and the combination of the two, purple.
Red team includes builder Courtney Dober, designer Kendra Mays, and inventor Marcus Hunt. The only team with an inventor, their edge includes bringing automation efforts into their designs.
Blue team includes: contractor and company owner Erica Anenberg; designer and professor of architecture for 22 years, Scott Singeisen; and builder and police officer Russell Holmes. A police officer on the team helps to bring in the citizens’ perspective, as he has been on site during many natural disasters.
“If I can come up with something to help mitigate loss, I’m in,” Holmes said in the first episode.The
Purple team consists of architect Satoshi Teshima, designer Davon Johnson, and contractor and company owner Nancy Rodriguez.
The challenges
Each challenge was created by crew members to replicate obstacles similar to those faced during natural or man-made disasters. The wind challenge was produced by large industrial fans, which were later brought back in other challenges in collaboration with other elements. Gallons of water were collected and dropped to simulate mass rainfall, while controlled fires were lit for the fire challenges.
Wind
Menounos introduced in the first episode that one of the leading causes of property damage in homes across the country is wind. With information provided by American Family Insurance, wind damage accounts for almost half of all home insurance claims.
The first challenge was to protect the home against strong gusts and the debris they bring. Phase one included 55-mph winds, sweeping mulch and dirt up to the house. The following phase ramped up to 70 mph winds, blowing sticks and gravel against the sides of the house. The final phase indicated hurricane winds, large debris, and roof pressure, which impacted each of the tiny homes.
Snow and Ice
The teams took what they learned about time management and about the damage that ensued during the first round. Each tiny home’s structural damage was professionally repaired by the crew on-set. However, the teams still needed to repair cosmetic damage during the next challenge.
Menounos stated that the following event, winter weather, puts tens of millions of homes at risk every year. American Family Insurance reported that more than 60% of homes are affected by winter weather.
After the 10 hours of redesigning the homes, the first phase of testing was what the judges called a “thundersnow” — strong winds that push snow in all directions. This included 55-mph winds and snow. The following phase included hailstones atop the wind and snow. The final phase was a record-breaking snowfall that dropped onto the roof. While not entirely realistic of the pressure, it served as a strong reminder of how powerful these storms can be.
Water
The third challenge carried greater weight, as its scores would determine the teams’ placements right before the final round. Similar to the previous challenge, the crew professionally repaired the structural damage, but the teams were tasked with addressing all cosmetic issues.
Menounos stated that water, the third challenge, is so destructive that it accounts for a quarter of all property damage.
“Water is a very invasive element,” Rodriguez said in this third episode.
To address water issues, the homes had to mitigate flooding and leaks from both inside and outside. Phase one experienced 100 pounds per square inch of water pressure, comparable to a fire hydrant. The second phase turned inward with a burst sink pipe. The final stage resembled hurricane-like rain, with 60-mph winds and a torrential downpour of 7 inches.
Fire
The show had a fiery finale with what Menounos described as one of the most unpredictable threats. Smoke inhalation was reported as the No. 1 cause of death in fires. The crew structurally fixed the homes for this final round.
For the final challenge, the first phase faced a breaker box fire, where power surges account for over 50,000 house fires every year. The next two phases centered around a cook-out fire, with the second phase including an air fryer explosion at the front of the house. The final phase was a propane explosion just outside the home with the cookout grill.
An Important Conversation on Climate Change
As the planet continues to experience shifts due to global warming, the frequency of stronger storms increases. The warmth from the global shift provides more fuel for these storms. Strong storms that were once infrequent are occurring more regularly as the years pass. Nearly 10,000 storms caused more than 832,000 deaths over the past three decades, an increase from prior decades.
Each episode showed the power of storms and the disastrous effects they cause for homeowners around the world. As these storms ramp up, it is possible that homeowners must aim to adjust to these conditions and make homes truly designed to last.
