While the house will likely be quite costly, the eco-standards it is implementing will certainly make it a worthwhile and impactful venture. The structure has already been selected as an exemplary project within the Government’s ‘Planning Performance Agreements for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Schemes’, and it is anticipated to be so advanced that the government is considering using the scheme as a benchmark for all future zero-carbon developments. The team hopes that construction permits will be granted soon in order to commence preliminary work on the residence this year.
The ancient becomes modern, and not a moment too soon. Here in rural northern California the opportunities for this type of housing are endless, and our culture of innovation should be fertile soil for underground housing. However, many years of experience tell me that simple intellectual inertia can be a real idea killer. Convincing local planning and health officials as well as homeowners and investors of the soundness of this approach will be no easy matter, at best. Being able to point to real world examples like this can be helpful and hope springs eternal. Design may save the world, but only if the powers can be convinced to pull their collective head out of….ahh….the ground and put some houses into it, windmills upon it etc. Congratulations to the team at MAKE. It would be interesting to hear more about their experience with the planning and approval process.
This is a fantastic design! I’d love to be able to see it in person and get a feel for what it’s like to walk through the space. The walls around the teardrops would have to be a bit higher in rattlesnake (and other creepy-crawlies) country though.
Looks like tellytubbies’ home
http://www.treehugger.com/teletubbies.jpg
fantastic design – can’t help but wonder how a famous footballer is going to stop nosey-parkers peeping through all those windows and skylights – I think I might feel a bit vulnerable, out in the moors…..
Sounds like the beginning of a good horror film
This is another example of using sustainable building ideas from the past
Looks impressive
Very cool! I’ve often wondered about — and longed for — a home underground.
What is the literal footprint of this home — i.e., how much land is being used — and how many residents will such a structure accommodate?
Energy input has got to be zero, for heating and cooling that is.
It’s a stunning piece of design. I do hope the appeals process gets this through the planning objections especially to have the on-site renewable energy generation.
It will no doubt have absolutely awesome thermal mass and daytime natural lighting looks excellent!
*grumpily looks around rented Victorian era slum. Why do I need lights during the middle of the day? why do I need to burn gas to keep warm for hours per day? *sigh*
I like that underground home. I would love to live in one.
very interesting, how can I be assisted in building a similar home and what would it cost