More than 123 million Americans live near the coast, and NOAA says that number will continue to rise, putting 40 percent of the U.S. population in the line for dealing with a potential hurricane.

There's little doubt that building our homes differently will save lives, families and even money in the future. And that's exactly what fueled Spanish artist Dionisio Gonzalez to design his "Dauphin Island" series.

Dauphin Island sits just south of Mobile, Ala., bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the south and Mobile Bay to the north. The location makes it a sitting duck for tropical threats.

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"Dating back to 1852, there have been 28 hurricanes that have passed within 75 miles of Dauphin Island," weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman explains. "Recent large hurricanes such as Isaac (2012) and Ike (2008) also drove storm surge flooding into Dauphin Island, despite their centers of circulation landfalling well west of the area."

Gonzalez, drawn to the idea that sustainable architecture could stop the cycle nature put in motion, came up with a fascinating design that he believes could change how people on Dauphin Island, and others in the path of hurricanes, build for the future.

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In Gonzalez's renderings, there's no sign of traditional stilted, wooden homes. Instead, he designed "real futuristic forts made of iron and concrete."

The Dauphin Island series is one example of how the artist is using architecture to respond to weather and climate threats. Several pieces of his work are currently on display at the Yusto/Giner Contemporary Art Gallery in Marbella, Spain. You can see more of his work here on his website.

Artist Dionisio Gonzalez's conceptual series called 'Dauphin Island' is his vision for hurricane-proof homes. (Image: Dionisio Gonzalez/Yusto/Ginger Gallery)