We are building a house in the ground. Underground houses around the world

The underground is fashionable, in the literal sense of the word, if translated from English. Underground homes have become incredibly popular over the past few years. Undoubted environmental friendliness and low cost completely cover its shortcomings, but more on the bad later. It would seem like some news, the house is underground. For thousands of years people lived in caves and dugouts. But today, science and technology have made it possible to reconsider the very format of the underground house.

What does it look like

A modern house underground is not a pit with a log or thatched roof. Now the materials have made it possible to produce modules of the highest strength, on which underground housing construction is based. Having such a module, you can do it in a matter of days, and you can make changes to it even when it is not underground. So to speak, test the module in ground conditions.

The most stable, cheap, warm and accessible building material in the world is earth. It automatically provides a constant temperature, the main thing is to maintain it occasionally. Brilliant - no drafts, no waterproofing, no sound insulation. Everything has already been built. All that remains is to think about ventilation, water supply and sewerage, and the underground house is ready for use.

Depending on the geographical location, an underground house may not require heating or any anti-vandal protection, because it is simply impossible to imagine a higher level of protection against unauthorized entry. Leaking roof? Natural disasters? Winds and showers, hurricanes and earthquakes? What are you talking about. All this is not scary for the house underground. But there are several difficulties.

The good and the bad of living underground

To ensure the stability of the structure, the same underground module is still needed, which is not cheap. The process of burying and building an underground house itself does not cause any engineering or technological difficulties.

And the module underground is quite high. But at the same time, environmentally oriented wealthy extravagant customers will receive a lot of advantages:

• unconditional environmental friendliness, since the level of pollution in the house depends only on how much phenol and polymers the owner brings into the house;
• construction time is minimal - time from the start of design engineering systems and the project plan before the first turn of the key in the lock - up to 30 days;
• savings on labor costs compared to construction an ordinary house - 90 %;
• minimal insurance risks and, as a consequence, premiums;
• does not harm the environment and even has virtually no effect on the landscape.

The advantages are the sea. The main thing is to find a company that will undertake the implementation of such bold projects en masse. But the idea is worth it, and there are more and more fans of eco-friendly and unusual housing. So, underground...

Although this is not a very popular idea, some people today prefer to live underground. This is an alternative to ordinary houses. Whether it's a decision based on style, personal preference, or a desire to recreate a scene from a movie, living in any of these homes should be simply unique.

The amazing house was designed by Make Architects specifically for British football star Gary Neville. This shining example a successful combination of beautiful design and functionality. The one-story underground residence occupies about 8,000 square meters. One of the main goals when designing this house was the idea of ​​creating a special building in which energy consumption would be kept to a minimum. Plus, it should also be an environmentally friendly version of a standard house.

The house was built from natural materials and using traditional construction methods. A heat pump provides heating to the home, while photovoltaic panels and wind turbines generate energy. The house is almost entirely built on a hillside, and this allows it to easily integrate into environment. Externally, the house resembles a flower with rooms instead of petals, which are organized around a central kitchen. At night the house looks simply magical. A fabulous glowing flower on a hillside! An interesting and beautiful example of how nature and the work of human hands come together in a harmonious building.

A stone house built on a hillside is the result of a collaboration between Dutch architects SeARCH and Christian Muller Architects. It is located in the Swiss village of Vals and is quite difficult to spot. There are two access roads leading to the house. The main entrance opens up to large areas, while the second entrance leads underground. There are many windows in the round wall, letting in sunlight and allowing one to admire the delightful mountain landscape.

Most people probably associate an underground house with the village where the hobbits lived. These little creatures have become a real inspiration for many people. Many fans have tried to create something similar to their small hillside dwellings, and only a few have managed to create simply unique and wonderful masterpieces.

One of the successful projects is the world's first motel for hobbits, located in Woodlyn Park, on the North Island of New Zealand. It is built from polystyrene foam blocks. Thanks to this, the rooms are not very hot in summer and not cold in winter. An interesting and effective isolation method. Surprisingly, the rooms are quite spacious. They are also very well furnished. Each room has a kitchen and shower, and each unit can accommodate up to 6 people. The motel also offers a bar and restaurant.

Hobbit houses from the world famous trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” have become a real symbol and inspiration for many projects. In the village of Matamata in New Zealand you can see real hobbit houses. This is exactly the place where scenes from the movie were filmed. After filming was completed, the decision was made to keep some of the hobbit houses and use them as tourist attractions.

Recently, a lot of eco-projects have appeared, and eco-hotels are no exception. In Italy you can find the amazing KlimaHotel, designed by designer Matteo Thun, who set out to create a sustainable, eco-friendly hotel. It is exactly the same as the Bella Vista Hotel. It consists of 11 individual hostels, seamlessly built into the hillside. Construction began in 2009.

The buildings are distinguished from others by their environmentally friendly heating and cooling systems and construction methods. Local resources and materials from surrounding areas were used. When it comes to the architecture and design of the hostels, they are heavily influenced by the local culture. The emphasis was on creating a strong connection with nature to combine natural and man-made elements to create a harmonious look.

Most underground houses or structures were built on the hillside, following the model proposed in the Lord of the Rings films. But there are other possible construction options, for example, a cave. A very logical and simple solution. This wonderful home is located in Festus, Missouri. It was built inside a sandstone cave. Designers Curt and Deborah Sleeper developed and implemented this project, which has become a cozy home for them. The interior is very modern, using unique textures such as unfinished sand walls, giving the home a unique charm.

Not only is the location of the home unusual and unique, but there are other details that make it a great example to follow. This is an energy-saving house equipped geothermal heating and smart design that eliminates the need for air conditioning. The cave-house has three rooms, all with unfinished walls. This is a house that, in some ways, looks more like a museum than a residential building.

Located in Switzerland, this unusual underground house is the implementation of a new and original concept associated with environmentally friendly, progressive architecture. The structure, called Earth House Estate Lättenstrasse, consists of nine houses with different numbers of rooms. There is much more to the houses than they seem at first glance. This is mainly because they are almost completely hidden by soil and grass. It seems like they appear out of nowhere. The houses are grouped around a small artificial lake.

The design of all homes uses the earth as an insulating “blanket” that provides not only protection from heat and cold, but also from rain and wind. The organic forms of these structures will allow them to integrate naturally into the surrounding area and become part of the landscape.

Most underground houses that are built on hillsides have entrances that make them visible. However, Malator House, located on the Welsh coast, is an exception to the rule. It is very difficult to find unless you know the exact location because the house almost disappears into the ground. The house project belongs to Future Systems. It was built in an artificial embankment and located on top of a hill. Thanks to this location, the house offers stunning views of the Welsh coastline.

Using materials found in the area for construction is another way to integrate the house into the surrounding landscape. A house built from them will simply disappear into the surrounding landscape. This is why most of the houses on the mountain slopes and hills of the Cyclades islands were built of stone or wood.

House Aloni is located in a beautiful area of ​​the Cyclades Islands. It had to match the landscape of earthworks and agricultural areas. Therefore, materials that have a low environmental impact and are effective in quality were used in the construction of the house. insulating materials. The house is a single-level structure with an area of ​​240 square meters. The earthen walls regulate the temperature, the green roof provides additional insulation and helps the house disappear into the surrounding landscape.

The mountains of west Wales are full of different villages and quaint houses. But the ecovillage in the Preseli mountains is by far the most interesting. It is characterized by huts built into the hills, made of straw and clay. It should be noted that it has become a very popular building material in modern world. In addition to the fact that the houses in the village are eco-friendly, the people living here also grow their own organic food.

The unique community was created in 1993 and remained a secret for several years. The village was discovered in 1998 when reflections of sunlight were noticed on solar panel located in the main building. The pilot saw the reflection and reported it to higher authorities, but at that time officials could not find any information about the construction project in that area or permission for it. The houses were very well camouflaged among the trees and bushes. After the information given by the pilot, a real nightmare began for 22 village residents. However, everything was resolved successfully, people were able to defend their homes, and now they can finally officially enjoy this way of life. Plans for houses, agricultural buildings, workshops and other institutions were officially approved.

Underground houses are so reminiscent of a hill or a hole that they almost merge with the landscape. Lately everything large quantity people are trying to acquire such housing outside the city. This can be considered a way to stand out from the crowd or get closer to nature. Buildings of this type are located completely or partially underground. This is rationally beneficial not only at the time of construction, but also during operation.

Underground houses are not so expensive; almost anyone can build them. In this case, it is important to comply with technological standards so that the quality of the environment inside the house is at a high level. The soil has certain temperature characteristics, which is why the described buildings allow you to save energy. In addition, right up to the most severe cold weather, the heat that accumulated during the warm spring and summer days is retained inside such buildings. That is why the summer season can be extended.

Why choose an underground house

Soil acts as a rather poor conductor of heat. Due to this, the temperature passes through the soil for a very long time, which is beneficial not only in summer, but also in winter. Studies show that heat on the hottest day penetrates to a depth of 2.5 m only after three months. Spring is considered the coldest time of the year for such houses.

Choosing a site for construction

Underground houses must be built on terrain that must first be selected. It's better if you can find the top of the hill. This will prevent groundwater from seeping into the house. It is recommended to orient the windows on all four sides, which will provide the rooms with sufficient light.

When building a house, the top part of the soil must be cut off and returned to its place after completion of the work. In such houses it is rare to find additional lighting. There are enough natural rays so that, once inside, you will not feel the difference between such a building and an ordinary brick house.

There are two types of underground houses:

• bunded;
• underground.

The latter type involves the location of the building underground and below the upper level. The bunded houses are located above ground level or are partially hidden behind the level line. However, their surface is still covered with soil. After completion of the work, the soil is returned to its place so that it can become part of the site.

Features of dugout construction

Underground construction of houses may involve the creation of a dugout. In this case, the house is located on a terrain that has a slight slope. The roof should be covered with soil; it is usually made gable; in rare cases, such a structure can be vaulted or flat.

The entrance must be made from the end, equipped with a canopy. Steps are lined up to the door. Windows are usually found in the roof or gables. A special feature of the dugout is the presence of only one floor. If you make two, it will be an ordinary building with a basement. The width of the building depends on the span of the floor, however given value usually does not exceed 6 m.

For construction, it is necessary to prepare a pit, inside which walls are erected. It is important to waterproof them and install them on which the roof will then be located. After completing the construction of walls and ceilings, as well as laying waterproofing materials the roof is covered with soil.

Features of the construction of a bunded house

If you are interested in underground house construction, then you can choose a bunded building, which is suitable for a flat plot, slope or hill. The building will not be completely submerged, it top part remains on the surface. The remaining walls are embanked, which reduces construction costs.

The house can have any layout, and in this case the windows usually face two sides. The first stage of construction will be digging a pit. If the house is supposed to be built on the surface of the earth, and then protected with soil, then you can immediately move on to the second stage - the construction of walls and roof. You will need waterproofing that must withstand the load of the soil, so calculations should be made according to the standards. At the last stage, the house is covered with earth, with the exception of those areas where windows and doors face.

Construction rules

If you decide to build an underground house with your own hands, then you should follow certain rules. It is important to remember that the building will be exposed to moisture. Therefore, construction materials must be appropriate. For example, wood is treated with water-repellent impregnation. It is best to use monolithic concrete or ceramics. Aerated concrete is not suitable, because it can absorb moisture.

Before choosing waterproofing, it is important to consider all possible situations. The most common way to build an underground or bunded house is to dig a pit. In this case, the house should be buried more than 1 m compared to the planned size of the building.

On the external sides of the house, the endurance of which is calculated taking into account the loads. If it is not too large, the soil load should be taken into account. The roof structure is usually made on the basis of a rafter system, but you can use the plank installation method.

When a residential underground house is being built, you can use concrete or brick when constructing the walls. In this case, the ceiling is made monolithic and has the shape of a vault. This design will be more durable. Waterproofing of the floor and walls must be made in the form of a continuous contour. If the house is buried more than 1 m, then there is no need to insulate the building. This applies exclusively to the walls, while the roof must be additionally insulated.

When installing floors, it is important to install waterproofing, thermal insulation and screed. At the final stage it is installed decorative coating. Modern underground houses must have a drainage system, which is located near the walls along the entire perimeter. In this case, the water will drain and be directed into the drainage pipe, which should be located below the level of the house. The output must be directed to the drain.

Houses with underground garage

A house with an underground garage is also a fairly common occurrence today. This solution is relevant if you have a site that is limited in free space. Before starting work, it is necessary to decide whether the parking lot will be completely or partially deepened.

The second option is more economical and can be easily implemented. Garages that are too deep have some disadvantages such as excessive dampness and soil pressure. It is important to prepare the floor slab, which must be reinforced and thick enough. It is necessary to begin work by calculating the volume of materials. It is important to provide waterproofing.

At the next stage, the pit is prepared; it is important to take into account the slope of the entrance road. The slabs are placed at the bottom of the pit, and lifting equipment should be used. Houses with underground parking can be built using a technology that involves filling the bottom of the pit with concrete at the stage of constructing the garage. The foundation of the walls is formed using They will be load-bearing, which means they will be subject to a high load. A ceiling should be installed on the side slabs, which will serve as the first floor. A residential building with underground parking must have waterproofing on the top of the walls. This will prevent moisture from penetrating into the premises.

Construction method

The walls and ceiling must also be covered with waterproofing. A reinforcing mesh is installed on the surface, and then covered with plaster. The base plane is pre-treated with antifungal compounds. This must be done before you cover the surface with primer.

At the next stage, you can begin installing the gates and designing the entrance route. The design of an underground house, like an underground garage, must include communications. It is important to lay the cable; you just need to decide on its cross-section. The voltage must be sufficient. Experts advise choosing a cable with an increasing tolerance. Otherwise, you will be faced with the fact that communications will not last as long as you would like. After construction is completed, you can begin to install the heating system.

Registration of entrance to the underground garage

Underground houses, photos of which are presented in the article, quite often also have underground parking. In this case, it is important to register entry correctly. Too steep and short can cause inconvenience. In good weather, the difficulties will seem unnoticeable, but during the rains you may not be able to cope with the task of entry. Plus, a large amount of water will flow down.

The angle of inclination in this case is usually made in the range from 140 to 150°. If this value is less, then you may encounter problems during the cold season. As the depth of the garage increases, the length of the entrance should be increased. The trajectory of the race must be divided into separate zones. The first of them is the starting one, its length is usually 3 m. The slope in this section should be 120 °C. The second zone occupies half the length, the angle varies up to 150°. The third zone is called red and is located directly in front of the gate itself. Its length is usually 1.2 m.

It is important to ensure that there are no too sharp differences between the mentioned areas.

When arranging the entrance, you should use materials that will have an anti-slip effect. Some craftsmen make braking serifs that will help during ice and rain. A walking path with a handrail is laid near the wall. This will allow you to safely go down inside and back up.

A gate equipped with a grille is installed with the gate. It is better to supplement it heating element, which will prevent water from freezing. They are installed on the sides of the entrance, this will prevent soil collapse.

Construction of an entrance road to an underground garage

The formation of the road should involve filling the soil, which will protect against failures. The road is covered with crushed stone, which is well compacted. The thickness of this layer can vary from 10 to 15 cm. The load-bearing layer, which will be the main one, is made of a 15 cm layer of concrete.

It is important to ensure that the solution does not get exposed to Sun rays. If the weather is too hot, the surface is watered. Once the concrete has dried, the covering can be installed. Sometimes it is used as asphalt, paving slabs or other materials.

Ventilation installation

Ventilation for an underground garage and home is necessary. The first installation method involves installing a monoblock. This system will extract exhaust air and provide an influx of new air. The monoblock provides ventilation, and its advantage is ease of installation.

But if you are afraid of its high cost, then you should use the second method, which involves installing a modular system. The design has two separate blocks, one of which is responsible for the inflow, while the other is responsible for the outflow of air. The system has special sensors and provides automatic adjustment of operation.

Conclusion

One of the important tasks in the construction of underground houses and garages is waterproofing. It is performed using a drainage system and the formation of a filter pad.

You should not assume that this issue can be solved by using liquid waterproofing, which is used only indoors. In reality, this approach is not effective. Liquid waterproofing can be used as an aid.

Reading time ≈ 5 minutes

A dugout on your own site is a necessary and useful thing. Most often it is used as a cool pantry for storing vegetables and preparations, and sometimes simply as an interesting and unusual storage shed. The domed dugout will fit perfectly into any landscape of the site. Buttresses will help strengthen the door on the structure and will additionally support the walls, and will also provide an amazing, mysterious look to the building.

Preparing bags of earth

To build a dugout with your own hands, as in the photo, you will first have to stock up on building materials. In this case, we propose to build a dugout using the most economical and environmentally friendly technology - from bags of clay or even just earth. This technology for building a house from bags of earth is called earthbag.

First, decide on the soil. You can take ordinary land and mix a little cement into it, you can take clay and sand. The optimal soil mixture recipe: clay + sand + gravel. Clay should be 30-40%. if you just take soil, you need to moisten it a little for convenience. This way it compacts better in bags.

Then buy polypropylene green or white bags; before work, it is better to turn them inside out so that the corners do not stick out. The mixture is poured into them in 2 doses. First you need to fill it to 30 cm, tamp it down and fill it up so that 15 cm remains to the top. Tie the bag. It is enough to prepare the bags for the bottom 2 layers, and then fill the bags directly on the walls so as not to lift them.

Dugout drawings

Before starting work, it is necessary to draw up detailed drawing To build a dugout with your own hands, consider the dimensions of the external and internal diameters, the height of the room. After this, the site is prepared for construction work.

The area is marked, cleared of debris and leveled. Inside the contour of the future dugout, the top layer of earth is removed, a trench is dug under the future walls for the foundation, approximately 35-40 cm deep, which is filled with 30 cm of gravel. Expect that the wall thickness will be about 65 cm. The gravel must be carefully pressed with a hand press.

The first row of bags is the foundation base. For a dugout, two rows of foundation will be enough. It is necessary to add cement to the mixture for the foundation for strength. The base bags are laid along the full radius of the dugout along with the buttresses. After the first 2 rows of bags are laid, you need to pour enough soil on the outside to prevent subsequent shifting.

Laying bags of earth

To ensure an even circle, it is advisable to find the center of the site, drive a peg into it and stretch a string with a length equal to the radius of the dugout.

In this way, the correctness of the circle can be constantly checked. In addition, horizontally, each row is measured using a board thrown between the sides with a level attached to it.

Each subsequent row is laid with a slight shift inward.

You need to go over the newly laid row several times with a compactor and carefully level the protruding parts. The last pass should already be along a tightly compacted row.

Each subsequent row can be laid using a slider.

We place the bag on a piece of tin, transport it on a sheet to the place of installation, and after the slider falls into place, simply pull it out from under it.

The bags should sit tightly opposite each other. Laying the bags tightly end to end ensures the strength of the building up to the very top of the dome. The last bag on top will look like a mushroom cap.

Construction of a doorway

When laying walls, you cannot forget about the passage. To fasten the door block, you can use so-called steel T-shaped anchors, which must be placed between the bags, 3 on each side, at an equal distance from each other. It is better to drill holes in the plates in advance for anchor bolts for attaching the door frame.

In order to build an arch over the doorway, you can use a plywood frame or, for example, an old large tire. The tire is installed on supports and bags are placed on top of it. You need to add more clay to the bags for the arch and place them as closely as possible to each other.

To install a canopy over the entrance, logs or boards soaked in antiseptic are taken. Those parts of the logs that will be between the bags can be wrapped in thick polyethylene.

Buttresses

At the same time, buttresses are also built with reinforcement. The bags for them are placed offset so that you can climb along the buttress to the top of the dugout (see photo). Buttresses can be additionally reinforced with vertical reinforcements to add strength.

A row of barbed wire is laid on each row. If you are planning a large dome, you can put 2 rows. It provides strong adhesion between bags.

Dome

2-3 layers of black 5mm film are placed on top of the dome and covered with earth. It is better to take the soil of such a consistency that it retains its fertility and contains clay. The top of the ground is covered with turf. The buttresses are covered with plastic mesh and plastered on top, because plastic bags can be destroyed by ultraviolet radiation. The dugout house was built with my own hands.

Video of building a dugout with your own hands

At Forum-Grad we are collecting our own collection of amazing houses! And today we want to show you extraordinary underground dwellings, magnificent and daring residences, some of them are hotels. Indeed, there is nothing better than a cozy abode, which is the main part landscape design. A large percentage of today's buildings are created using environmentally friendly materials and energy sources. It's definitely fascinating to see how the architects and interior designers worked together to create this innovative retreat! What do you think the finishing of an underground house should look like? Does it have to fit into the landscape or stand out? Should the houses be hidden underground, or boast windows that look out onto the countryside? Look at the images below and you can answer all these questions.

Villa Vals, Switzerland

We start with the Swiss Villa Vals, this project is built into the alpine slopes of Vals. SeARCH and CMA collaborated on this amazing home, the design of which shows a sincere respect for nature. The façade of the house is made of Valser quartzite, mined from a nearby deposit (photo from SeARCH Architecture and Urban Planning).

Underground Retreat

The dwelling has a stone courtyard with a natural hot spring for bathing. This is the ideal place to enjoy the breathtaking views in comfort.

The interior floors of the house look like concrete boxes nested inside each other. On the ground floor there is a living room, kitchen and bedroom, which is also a library. Dutch decor master Thomas Eyck also had a hand in the development of this project. Furniture, textiles and ceramics were created this way famous interior designers, like Hella Jongerius and Studio Job .

silty area of ​​the Swiss underground house

The elongated table and artistic lighting in this home's dining space look great.

Bunk and double beds on podiums and raised baths are just a few of the features in the villa's four bedrooms. Light streams through modern windows draw attention to nature and beautiful views outside.

How is Villa Vals environmentally friendly? This secluded location is thermally insulated and uses hydroelectric power thanks to a nearby reservoir. Below you can see the villa at night. Looks amazing, doesn't it?

Bolton Eco House in England

Now we're heading to north-west England to see this amazing structure - original house Bolton Eco House. Called the “house of the future,” this dwelling is built into the slope of the Pieniny Mountain. It is a picturesque building with a grass roof. The house was designed in close collaboration between client Bolton Council and CABE (photo from MAKE Architects).

This four bedroom cottage designed with an emphasis on economical energy consumption. It is produced through features such as a ground source heat pump, photovoltaic panels and wind turbines that generate a renewable energy source. In the photographs below you can see the interior of the house. Pay attention to the contrast of dark walls and white ceiling.

The external facade of the house has floor-to-ceiling windows through which you can enjoy the picturesque green landscape. Contemporary furniture creates a chic look, while rectangular pots filled with herbs add a cozy and comfortable feel.

Bella Vista Hotel in Italy

For some vacationers, the availability of strawberries and champagne is important in the service. Others prefer modern eco-friendly homes, especially if they have stunning designs! The Klima Hotel in Bolzano (Italy), created by architect and designer Matteo Thun, consists of 11 rooms on a hillside. We can see this in the photo below.

A sustainable heating and cooling system is one of the highlights of these homes. They look absolutely gorgeous in the snow and are very cozy.

Eco-friendly underground hotel

At night, the slope is enlivened by the lighting of the apartments. It looks simply incredible!

Welsh Hobbit House

What can a man create when he has little more than a chainsaw, a hammer and a chisel? Build a Hobbit House! Designed and built by Simon Dale along with his family and friends, this cozy house in the forest amazes with its appearance. Although the house is not technically located underground, it was dug into the side of a hill and has a true Hobbit style, don't you think?

In the photo we see a cozy living space. Wooden details create warmth, and various light sources create a golden glow.

Malator in Wales

Also known as Teletubby House, Malator is built on the slope of Wales' St. Bride. The house looks out from it like a mirrored perch. A metal chimney extends through the grassy roof. This house was commissioned by politician Bob Marshall-Andrews and his wife Jill ( from Architectural Digest).

Let's look at the interior decoration. Bright yellow cabinets and shelving are the focal point of the kitchen. The goal of the interior design was to create grandeur in the space using bold colors. The kitchen utensils are very carefully selected, so the overall impression is simply wonderful ( from 4Balls).

Hidden Poolhouse in Lebanon

Another example of a hidden home is the Poolhouse in Lebanon. When building the hotel, the designers relied on nature itself to organize individual elements of the landscape. You'll love how the structure shown below fits neatly into your grass lawn. Pay attention to the surrounding rocks - these treasures had a significant influence on the formation of the project (from Francis Landscapes).

Underground Garage

We end the story with an underground structure that is not a house. This is a garage designed by Peter Kunz Architektur! A series of cases carefully stores and protects every valuable vehicle.

Would you live in an underground dwelling? Such projects are truly innovative and also quite cozy. How about staying in an underground hotel for your vacation? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Categories: