Fascinating Underground Homes
We received a great response from our feature on Klima Hotel (Bella Vista), the semi-sumerged underground hote in Bozen, Italy, so we were pleased to come across 6 Fascinating Underground Homes on Inhabitat. Of course, you can’t book a stay in these places like you can a hotel, but they just might change your idea of a dream home.
Green enthusiast and British football star Gary Neville’s house-to-be is hidden under the ground, save for the petal-shaped openings that flood the interior with light. The one-story, nearly 8,000 sq ft structure was designed to keep energy consumption to a minimum.
Designed by the architects of SeArch and Christian Müller, this home in Vals, Switzerland is hidden on all sides save for one. By building the house underground, the architects were able to almost completely eliminate the need for heating or cooling in the winter and summer months.
The underground cottages surrounding Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, will reside in the hills of the 5,000-acre Bear Run Nature Reserve that surrounds the architect’s most famous home.
Modern designs meets cave-dwelling with this eye-popping home nestled inside of a 15,000-square foot sandstone cave in Festus, Missouri. Built by Curt and Deborah Sleeper, the underground abode features smart examples of energy-efficient architecture like geothermal heating and passive design that keep the interior comfortable while completely eliminating the need for a furnace or air conditioning.
Peeking out from underneath bumpy layers of greenery, this Swiss estate looks more like something out of a fairy tale than real life. Designed by Vetsch Architektur, the structure was built using earth house construction, resulting in an insulating blanket that protects it from rain, low temperatures, wind and natural abrasion.
For more amazing underground abodes, view the entire list at Inhabitat.
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they are hobbits?
The first few ones just look like the teletubby houses
the people who built their house in a mountain:
Dont mountains move a bit each year? They are plates of the earth, that are consistantly shifting and moving correct? Doesnt seem smart in the long run.
My mind is made up. This will be my goal home — an underground one to save money and be innovative! Probably not in Cali because of the earthquakes, but definitely somewhere in the midwest or in Maryland.
Great post!
Years ago, an architect designed some which he called Earthships. They were built from old car tires & supposedly flex & shift with the surrounding soil. Google “Earthship” and you will likely find info
I am reminded of the Idiot Sanitarium built by Russ Blevins in the odd town of Herald. He then moved in. I suppose it was a sort of poetic justice or something.
Fantastic thermal advantages a s well as some structural advantages!
I’ve often though about building a house similar to the one in the third image just in case of a zombie apocalypse, I’d have some where to take safety lol
the telly tubbies grew up..
I’m surprised you haven’t featured the Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur…they pioneered underground hotel rooms, and they’re ocean-view as well!
At jess,
You know the entire city of Shanghai, China is built on a freaking delta right? They don’t seem to give a crap over how far it SINKS INTO THE GROUND every year, and I’m sure that’s far worse than building your home in a mountain.
Also, I believe mountains don’t move like you suggest. It its building your home right on top of a fault line that will ruin that for you, and obviously no expert will suggest doing that. It would be a waste of materials/time.
“Dont mountains move a bit each year? They are plates of the earth, that are consistantly shifting and moving correct? Doesnt seem smart in the long run.”
Yep! It could definitely be a problem in a couple million years.
They forgot one thing.. Earthquake in the future and weather will screw up due to global warming. Read the bible. I will not live in those things. Cool but no thanks!
A secluded home with low energy costs, minimal maintenance, and is disaster resistant?….I’m sold.
May the gaudy cookie cutter suburbs rot in peace.
Really Awesome Homes
I love mountains, and these underground houses attracts me a lot.
Very cool!
I hate to say this, as the photos are great, but I do get tired of seeing the same photo more than once on a page.
haha the comments here are awesome! One guy worried about something that takes millions of years and another worried because the bible said the weather is going to screw everything up.
If I have the money definitely building one of these.
Theres a place in Australia where all the homes are underground because of the heat. Its a mining town I think.
yeah i want an underground home. i was going to reply to the comments that were stupid such as worrying about tectonic shift destroying your home when everyone lives in houses which would be destroyed in 20-50 years (without any human intervention) by the natural wear and tear of the elements. but somebody already put those fools in their place
Jess-
You can’t possibly be that dumb. Tectonic plates move so slowly that these houses will not be affected in at least the next thousand years.
The house in the next to last picture would be best for surviving the zombie apocalypse. Built right into the mountain so you have the option of tunneling in and creating a large self-sufficient shelter, plus with a few tons of rock the front is sealed off, with a nice top deck to snipe zombies from
Ok, the outsides were of passing interest, but what we’d REALLY like to see is the insides. It’s the insides that show how practical these places really are to live in, & let us decide if we could live somewhere like these.
Wow, amazing houses…
Jess isn’t necessarilly dumb, considering some of the other comments here.
Mountains reside ON tectonic plates, as do ALL landmasses upon which humans reside. Mountains are MORE stable than other land features due to their relative density.
Soft ground such as is found in valley floors, plains, or basis transmits the force of an earthquake more easily and is subject to liquefaction, shift and splitting more readily than the more solid ground in mountains.
Gee, where’s the pic of the Osama Bin Laden cave estate in the lovely Pakistani Hills area. Maybe not Frank Lloyd Wright material but still another fine example of post WW III modern.
What do these people do when it starts raining? Flooding would probably be the biggest issue in a house like those.
@Ryan, haha, I was thinking that as I was looking at the photos too but I think the one built into the cave would be the best, just board that lower floor up and your set.
PS Theres a bit of bullshit going on with the first and last ones, same photos different countries? Plus the designers last name, Architektur?? hmmm
“Earthquake in the future and weather will screw up due to global warming. Read the bible.”
So global warming causes… earthquakes? Oh good grief. Please, put down that bible, go to a library and pick up some books that do not have the word “god” *anywhere* in them.
Omg, I’ve never seen this before!! I want such a home too!!
Amazing.
@Chris, I’m pretty sure “Vetsch Architektur” is the name of the contracting company, not the individual designer.
Plus, the first picture is not attached to a description. It is just there as a “cover photo” for the article and reappears with information about where and what it is at the end.
caves?
Very cool abodes. Bonus: your safe from most conventional bombings.
these underground houses attracts me a lot. very nice houses indeed
@Matt
The place in Australia is called Coober Pedy, it’s on the road between Adelaide and Alice Springs and has been used for numerous films over the years. It’s not completely underground but the majority of the town is, it’s actually kind of weird sleeping in the hostel but is the best place I have ever visited and I instantly fell in love with the place
What is this…the Shire? haha cool places though.
@Chris: the top photo is just the feature photo of the series. The last one IS the same one along with it’s description… Which is missing from the first photo. These comments are entertaining.
I want one…so I could feel like a hobbit in LOTR
I am amazed to see the pictures of these underground houses as they are quite unique and are constructed at some of the most beautiful places. Thanks for sharing it.
Ever since seeing how someone built their own home to resemble one of the hobbits’ from LOTR, I’ve wanted an underground home. These are just so innovative, but I had no idea they were also money saving! Great looking and efficient? Colour me sold!
Awesome, thanks. stumbled…
The human imagination has no limits, these homes are fantastic …. just a good idea!
The first one looks like a hobbit house….
How about the house of designer and architect César Manrique on Lanzarote? Built into a lava mountain…
i think that the comments make this post
some stupid thoughts some smartass/hilarious answers but hey a contrast of both is what actually give us the true answers. those with the mistaken belives walk away with the truth and does who provided right answers walked away with a laugh and the privilege of sharing their knowledge….point is everyone walks away with something, i personally love the idea even with its faults which everything in this world has…..great post! 
Thanks Ray!
You guys are acting like these would save you money over buying a normal house, which is dumb.
What the article says is that once they are built, they can save costs on things like electricity and that sort of thing.
In terms of actually getting a house like this built you need to be rich.
I want a bat cave. Not a bat swamp.
http://www.blairlockout.com
Underground homes are called “Earth Shelters” for several reasons. They were the next big thing in the early ’80s, especially in pubs like Mother Earth news. They are nearly the safest homes on earth. Typically they are reinforced concrete with 3 ft of earth over foam insulation = tons of thermal mass = pipes never freeze even withour heat. Earthquake? They are submerged in and move with the earth, not shaked by the foundations like surface structures. Only loose internal furnishings are at serious risk. Tornadoes? Might rip up the landscape and break some windows but no structural damage. Bombs/fallout? With 3 ft of earth and 9-12 in of concrete overhead you’ll probably be one of the survivors. Anarchy/Apocalypse/Zombies? It will be the last house they’ll find. Super volcano? No worries about ash caving in the roof. Flood? Like any other home don’t build in a floodplain and are wrapped with much better drainage than any basement. Dark? No, most have more window area than a “stick-built” house. Extreme heat or cold? In most of the world the temperature 3 ft or more below ground doesn’t vary too much from 50 degrees (F). The Heat/AC only needs to warm or cool the interior by 10-20 degrees all year. Most places don’t even need AC. If I ever get a chance to build it will be like one of these.
I forgot to mention, building costs are only about 10% higher than for similar square footage. Remember, there’s no roofing or siding labor or materials. Also, lumber prices are rising much faster than concrete. Interior walls can be finished the same way. Heating/cooling equipment can be much smaller. The structure will last MUCH longer than “stick-built” and require less maintenance.
You should try and get some shots of the Opal mining town of Coober Pedy in the Australian desert, it’s so hot that everyone has to live underground, there’s even a major hotel which is also underground.
Yeah, it’s all well and good until the giant-mean-eating worms arrive. These people have clearly never seen Tremors.
This is the legacy of Hundertwasser!
You must incluide “El TARO” The Cesar Manrique House in Lanzarote, Canary Islands Spain, built inside old Lava globes underground… is quite imppressive
http://tinyurl.com/3fmxfym
I knew the Teletubbies were Italian.
Waaalteer…time to mow the roof again!
I first saw homes like these in a National Geographic feature on energy in about 1974. I’ve wanted one ever since.
Wow – really amazing houses! I like the last one – feel like a hobbit and get the ring of the lord.
Shire anyone?
good day mr. Frodo!
Why dont you show more interiors?
Earthships-by Michael Reynolds (building them since 1969) are the way forward for mankind. Check out his company Biotecture. Considering they are made of rubbish (car tyres, bottles & tin cans, etc.)they are phenominal! Even without their “green” credetials they are things of beauty, & awe inspiring. Dennis Weaver’s house is arguably one of my favourites. Blessed be.
[...] Fascinating Underground Homes | JetSetta I am amazed to see the pictures of these underground houses as they are quite unique and are constructed at some of … [...]
OH MY GOD ITS HOBBITON!
these are incredible,i want to see more
and our evolution into hobbits has begun….
I noticed something odd. The first picture is described as being from Italy, the last picture is apparently the same as the first, but is described as being from Switzerland. What’s up with that?
BTW, if it is designed correctly, flooding would not be a danger in an underground home.
We studied underground architecture at school but these are much more creative structures than the basic ones we looked at. Almost makes me want to live in one. But not quite.
Great to see what rich people can do.
Some of these remind me of the Teletubbies for some reason….
these are amazing……
Amazing. Very happy to see these awesome pictures.
Suddenly I want to live underground. Is that a healthy compulsion?
what hipsters! get it? cuz they’re underground!
@Gus You can have an underground home too if you want. Truthfully, I dont like the exterior of a lot of homes that are suposed to be underground. When I picture an underground home I picture a home with a mound of dirt on top so that plants can grow. With minimal ugly human stuff on the outside. With multiple small sky lights in the ceiling.
checked out ur pics cos topic really interesting and do-able. only problem i have is finding some desolate land in South Africa to build one. With cost of inflation here…seems the only way to go. (with a small cabbage patch and some chickens. lol