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View Full Version : Real life Hobbit hole.


Irving
12-08-2009, 12:58
Of all the Earth homes I've seen, I think I like this one the best.

http://freshome.com/2009/12/05/incredible-underground-residence-in-switzerland/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FreshInspirationForYourHome+% 28Fresh+Inspiration+for+Your+Home%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

http://freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/underground-home-designs-swiss-mountain-house-8.jpg
Batteriesnare
12-08-2009, 13:01
Thats pretty sweet!
spleify
12-08-2009, 13:27
Wow that is damn cool!!
Irving
12-08-2009, 13:31
I like all the firewood neatly tucked under the lip of the rim, along with their cool grill.
Batteriesnare
12-08-2009, 13:34
They're keeping a "low" profile....[LOL]



Sorry, that was kinda dumb.[Bang]
SA Friday
12-08-2009, 13:58
The road construction and house construction don't look American. It has the feel of European/eastern European to me.

Edited to add: Oops, just clicked the link.. Switzerland.
Ridge
12-08-2009, 16:02
Interesting architecture, but the bare concrete everything looks like it'd be very cold...
SA Friday
12-08-2009, 16:13
I don't know... The ground insulating the home alone would keep it at a pretty level temp, low to mid 60's. If you ran hot water pipes through the concrete floors, it would stay quite toasty.
GreenScoutII
12-08-2009, 17:19
I don't know... The ground insulating the home alone would keep it at a pretty level temp, low to mid 60's. If you ran hot water pipes through the concrete floors, it would stay quite toasty.

Yeah, from a plumber's perspective, that house would be an ideal candidate for geothermal heat. You're right Friday, if it has radiant tubing in the concrete, it will stay warm.

I'm curious about the cost. I have long thought that type of construction, where practical, could save a huge amount of money on heating and cooling costs. Unusual methods of construction like this are frequently cost prohibitive unfortunately.
rhineoshott
12-08-2009, 17:59
That's pretty cool!
Marlin
12-08-2009, 18:33
Must have been a real interesting electrical rough....
Irving
12-08-2009, 18:44
The more I look at the picture I included in the original post, the more it looks like a drunk driver trap that a giant spider built. I like the fence they have on the roof to keep kids on sleds out.
7idl
12-08-2009, 22:11
looks pretty cool to me
theGinsue
12-09-2009, 00:16
Interesting architecture, but the bare concrete everything looks like it'd be very cold...

I was thinking the same thing -unless, as others have suggested, radiant heating was used. I can also imagine getting really sick of looking at all of that concrete. It looks too industrial, or like I'm living in an unfinished basement.

I wonder if thay have a cover to go over the opening - sort of like a part of dome tent - to keep the tough Swiss snows from filling up their entry area.
Irving
12-09-2009, 01:33
All the concrete kind of reminds me of living in a parking garage.
arz
12-09-2009, 01:48
exactly.



but this table is gorgeous.

http://freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/underground-home-designs-swiss-mountain-house-13.jpg
rondog
12-09-2009, 16:42
Interesting, but not for me thanks. No parking near the house? Only way in is those steps up the yard? No garage to work on my junk? Bare-ass concrete throughout the house? Bleh. Think I'd rather have one of those homes built on an old Minuteman missile silo location, and I'm not so sure about those either.

I'd rather have a log house in the country, with a big radiant heated workshop out back, and a private shooting range into a big hillside.