There are various misconceptions about underground houses. People believe that no matter how you design them, they may be claustrophobic. However, the truth is quite contrary to this. There are many spectacularly built underground houses that leave us spellbound when we look at their special features and facilities. They are built in various designs and styles according to the futuristic vision of the architects. All these homes have good ventilation, natural lighting facilities and all other requirements just like other normal homes. The best thing about such houses is that the earth acts as a natural insulator and helps to control the temperature inside.
Some of the benefits of underground houses include structural integrity keeping the houses safe from natural disasters, land preservation, reduction in the usage of utilities and costs, tax incentives and savings, protection from insect invasion due to strong walls, safe from intruders, no freezing of pipes and no necessity for external maintenance.
Let us look at 15 of the coolest underground houses:
1. Gary Neville underground home
The whole house is built under the ground. Like any other normal house, it is fully functional as well. The fabulous house is designed by Make Architects and it occupies about 8,000 sq ft. The best thing about this house is that the energy consumption is very low.
2. The cave house
The cave house is very special in all ways. It is a hybrid home that has a natural stone roof, assorted antique furnishings and furniture and modern infill walls. Since sand keeps falling from above you need to use umbrellas when you are in the kitchen or the dining room. Power for heating and cooling devices is provided by geothermal energy and makes energy consumption minimal. This organic and enchanting home is for sale on eBay.
3. Swiss mountain house
The Swiss mountain house is totally different from all other underground homes. It is situated in the Swiss village of Vals. This house is a result of the collaboration between Christian Muller Architects and the Netherlands Architects at SeARCH. The cool outdoor area takes you right into the house that is built inside the land. It has all kinds of modern facilities like any normal house.
4. Sedum house
This house is considered to have a futuristic design. Located in North Norfolk, it is built in a steep hill of sand. A large wooden hood covers the major living rooms of the first floor. It controls the heat during summers. In winters, the house gets a lot of sunlight through the windows. Flints are used for building the base of the house. There are four bedrooms located under the ground and they enjoy good insulation. The house was designed with the sun as the focal point.
5. Cave house with human face
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You can find this underground cave house in Bomarzo, Italy. It is considered to be built in the 16th century. The main focus of this house is its entrance. The interiors must also be as interesting as the entrance.
6. Cumbria underground house
The unique and elegant underground house was built by a local architect John Bodger. It was designed for Helen Reddy and Phil. The house is built in such a way that the two storied building is burrowed into the rock in an old quarry site.
7. Malator underground house
Just one look at the features can tell you that it is one of the most modern houses built underground. Located in Druidstone, it is believed to be the blueprint of the Welsh Housing. There is a nickname for this house. It is locally known as the Teletubby house because of its steel chimney, turf roof and peephole doorway.
8. Abandoned missile base
This missile base property was sold by Ed Peden, a real estate leader, to Bruce Townsley. He undertook it as a challenging remodeling project like many other projects he had completed. The house is located at the base and leads you to the first and second levels with the help of staircase inside.
9. Greek Isles underground house
The underground house has been designed by Deca Architects. It is very special because it is designed in such a way that it can withstand all kinds of windy weather coming from the Aegean Sea. The second floor can be seen above the ground. Many kinds of natural materials are used for building the house.
10. Modern underground houses by KWK Promes
The modern underground house by Promes is designed in such a way that the lush green roof is accessible only for the inmates with the help of a staircase from within. The house blends well with the local surroundings and provides great interaction between the indoors and outdoors.
11. Underground stone desert home
The house is partly hidden in the ground and is designed in such a way that it has good control on all the heating and lighting needs. The house enjoys a lot of winds too. The whole house has two slopes on adjacent hillsides. It looks like a pre-historic and intriguing ruin that has been discovered and remodeled.
12. Missile silo underground house
This house has been offered for $2.3 million by the 20th Century Castles. It has a private airport along with forests, trails and grounds. There is a hangar above the house. Other features include spacious and open living room with fireplace and wraparound porch. Below the ground is the 3 bedroom and 21/2 bath with an open living area and kitchen built in about 2300 sq ft.
13. Eco friendly house in Stockholm
The modern underground Swedish villa was designed by RB Arkitektur, a design firm based in Stockholm. It has all the modern comforts and the benefits of eco design. It is partially underground and blends well with the mossy surroundings. The house uses geothermal energy as an alternative source of energy.
14. Glass roof house
This underground house is a perfect balance between architecture and nature. It was designed by Sambuichi Architects of Japan. The interiors have natural aesthetics and use minimalist modern decor. The contemporary glazed roof can be seen on the grassy surface with other parts of the house like the four bedrooms, a sunroom built into the ground. The natural surroundings comprise of stone and wooden elements.
15. Casa Monte na Comporta, Portugal
The modern underground house is built into the sand dunes. The fact is that there are no sand dunes in Portugal and so they were artificially created for building this house. The angular facade is made of concrete, glass and wood protrude from the sand. You feel that the house has been there for a long time sporting its cave-like organic interiors. This is a low-profile and single storied house designed in a skewed X shape. Each wing has different functions and offers great amount of privacy. When you step out, you feel as if you are setting foot on a beach.
