Forums > Social Chat > Living underground

Posted: 27th Nov 2002
Well...it would be energy efficient...if not a bit dark. Might get wet if you happen to live in a moist place like...say...England. Better invest in a good sump pump.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

Posted: 27th Nov 2002
Yeah, I was thinking about the dark bit - as long as you didn't build it in a valley under some trees or anything, I reckon it'd be fine - the windows at the top would let in sunlight for the majority of the day and a few strategically placed mirrors would do wonders for it.
I'm not sure it'd be any different to rooms in most buildings that only have windows facing one direction.

The damp would be a problem places like here, but as long as you're not living on a floodplain or somewhere that's got really bad drainage, you should be ok with a slightly heavier than standard waterproofing layer around the outside. Since you'd be filling in the earth around the outside anyway, you could make sure the water wouldn't sit for long by filling it with gravel to improve the drainage, or clay to make sure no water got anywhere near it.

But there's no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

Posted: 28th Nov 2002
that's be pretty farkin' cool. I imagine it wouldn't be too bad if you really stylized the domes to take advantage of their shape. If tried to design to feel like a regular house it would be pretty dumb. but get some futuristic arcitecht on the job and I'm certain it would be very cool...

you'd really cut down on your heating costs at the least...

I was thinking it would be cool to have the window at the top extend below earth level in some places...you'd see mostly dirt but over time you might get patterns of roots swirling around, or maybe insects attracted to the light...would give a real earthy feel, that's for sure.

Personally I've always wanted to go up, and live in the trees...I've made a tree house and decked it out with all sort of cool stuff, but that's another thread. When I get older I want to build a really fancy one in the middle of nohwere, like this one. (I've seen cooler ones- I think smaller is acutally better than big and rambling- but this was all I could find.)

Posted: 27th Nov 2002
is this kinda like the tellytubbies house?.

Posted: 27th Nov 2002
how would everyones farts get out??

drugs.. rock and roll. bad ass.. vegas hoes.. late night. booty calls.. shiny disco balls!!

Posted: 27th Nov 2002
Nice idea :0)
I've heard of something similar.
Houses that are one story tall, with it's own recycled water and gas supply. The exterior is predominantly made out of old car tyres (which you get paid to take away from the burning dump yards), then covered in earth & florna, forna, turf etc. I'll try to find s link for ya, they are being used in Mexico in the deserts, and there are a couple in the uk.

Posted: 27th Nov 2002
Here's the link: https://www.homestager.co.uk/articles/article268.htm
not exactly what you meant, but it's an step in the right direction

Posted: 28th Nov 2002
erm...rory....i ever so slightly very worried about you....

i would love to live underground....like the wombles..or the tellytubbies cos there fab.

On that homepages website...i particuarly like how they are appealing to poi people ..."New Mexican Wave" but yeh...that would be really fun...dont know if the solar pannels would work over here in blighty...but hey..im all up for living on me tod in the middle of the nether regions

erm...this is only a temp account until i get home and get the password to my usual account...sorry (itsa still the same flipping wierdo though)

Posted: 28th Nov 2002
LOL, PK, I was thinking more along the lines of a hobbit hole, but I suppose at least I'd be able to stand up in the teletubbies house without stooping

You're only slightly worried Jon? I'll have to work harder

Actually, I've been thinking about stuff like this for ages, another idea that I saw on tv was a house built out of straw bales - you build the house like lego, pin all the bales into place and plaster over the top - it ends up quite resiliant and can take a huge battering.
Plus, it's incredably cheap and quick to build.
I still prefer the underground dome idea though - if I was ready to settle down I'd certainly be considering building one.

But there's no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

Posted: 28th Nov 2002
hobbit holes...?

like this?

"i see you at 'dis cafe.
i come to 'dis cafe quite a lot myself.
they do porridge."
- tim westwood

Posted: 28th Nov 2002
I'd have to go with Paddy on this one - living underground would be cool, but a man needs a decent view. Treehouses would supply great views, whereas looking up at the sky through a 'sunroof' all the time might get tedious. Be great in a thunderstorm though!

Don't worry, be happy...

Posted: 28th Nov 2002
A periscope would solve the lack of view problem. And it would be cool.
But an underground house would need a good ventilation system, particularly in summer.
And those sunroofs would need regular cleaning, or they'd get all manky.

"Switching between different kinds of chuu chuu sometimes gives this "urgh wtf?" effect because it's giving people the phi phenomenon."

Posted: 28th Nov 2002
Ooo! Ooo! My treehouse *has* a skylight!

I found it on the side of the road. I fixed it up and put it in and it's gorgeous! I sleep out there and can see the tree reaching into the sky silouhetted again the moonlight...

I will tell the whole treehouse story when I have some time...

Posted: 29th Nov 2002
Coleman, that page is exactly the one which reminded me of the underground home I was thinking of - great minds think alike

I agree that the lack of view would be a problem, but you can always get around that by building it on a slope and putting a couple of windows in the sides.

The ventilation wouldn't really be a huge problem is it was made with domes - the air inside them circulates really well so a few vents would be able to sort the air out pretty well. Add in a couple of air filters and you'd be sorted.

Tree houses would be really cool, I'd love one of them too, but I'd have to build it somewhere with a minimal risk of strong winds - I wouldn't stake my whole house on how well a tree can take being blown over

But there's no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.