Living underground sounds disturbing – cavernous designs, claustrophobic
images of cramped quarters and fuzzy pictures with low light levels
come quickly to mind. A well-planned
underground home,
however, can be designed precisely around these problems to have all of
the advantages of a cozy and private above-ground house as well as the
sustainable and structural benefits of an fully-enclosed living space –
entirely under the surface of the Earth.
William Lishman sums up the design advantages nicely: “Why build underground? There are many advantages to earth integrated
architecture.
With the earth as insulation, heating and cooling energy requirements
are significantly reduced, especially in windy areas. Underground homes
offer protection from storms, never have to painted, shingled or have
the eaves troughs cleaned out! Underground architecture is unobtrusive,
leaving clear views, and can be covered with gardens and lawns.”
Lishman has lived in his own incredible underground home design for
decades now with the pictures to prove it. Despite the advantages of
living underground he cautions potential builders that the costs can be
high upfront though there are energy and other savings that amount to
offset that initial expense over time. Also, it is of course incredibly
difficult to fit square appliances and hang rectangular frames in
spherical rooms and on rounded walls.
His eco-friendly earth home consists of a framework of steel trusses
covered in spray-on concrete and covered with tar and a layer of plastic
for water protection. Built-in modular path designs make it possible to
upgrade electronic, internet and plumbing systems over time. Though a
lot of work went into the initial design and construction of his unique
home it has clearly been a rewarding experience overall and the result
is a stunning house hidden underneath a hill.
source;click
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