How to build an underground house with your own hands. Modern dugout or underground house. Villa Vals, Switzerland

House protected by land

A modern underground house bears little resemblance to a bunker, cellar or dugout. It is beautiful, comfortable and environmentally friendly. The construction of such unusual housing is a bold experiment, but it is completely justified.

Underground houses have the appearance of a hill or hole in a slope and look like an element of the natural landscape. The growing interest in dwellings in which the walls and roof are covered with earth, as a result of which they are often called “fox holes,” is explained not only by the desire for originality and maximum unity with nature, but also by rational considerations - the desire to obtain economic benefits during construction and operation. Underground construction is accessible to everyone, and adherence to technology guarantees a high quality environment in the house. Exists big choice options for the depth of the structure into the ground: from completely underground to completely above-ground, embanked with earth (embankment, fenced with berms - from the German berme - an element of an embankment slope). Construction methods are also varied: from simple ones, suitable for building a house with your own hands, to complex ones based on avant-garde architectural and engineering ideas. Therefore, the houses are different - from low-budget buildings to luxurious underground villas.

Temperature underground

Ground temperature is an important factor in energy saving at home. The soil conducts heat poorly and accumulates it well (in a dry state, these qualities are approximately the same as those of a brick), therefore temperature fluctuations that occur on the surface of the earth spread in it slowly, reaching depths with a great delay. Measurements have shown that at a depth of 2-3 m the warmest moment of the year comes 2-3 months later. The soil is coldest in the spring. In the climatic conditions of Ukraine at a depth of 2 m in winter the temperature will be 6-8 °C, in summer - 15-18 °C.

Benefits of construction

Living below the surface of the earth in past times was considered the lot of the poor. To dig a space in the ground for one or several rooms, no funds are required; enclosing structures do not need to be erected - the earth serves as them. However, the disadvantages of such a home were dampness, lack of sunlight, and difficulty in ventilation, so it could not be considered healthy and environmentally friendly.

The view of a house underground began to change in the late 60s of the last century. Over time, solutions have been developed to manage living in such structures to healthy standards. But this affected the cost of housing: when using high-quality materials, which are preferably used in underground construction, it may turn out to be no less than a similar area located on the surface.

But on the right site, you can take full advantage of the unique benefits that land protection provides:

Energy saving. Since the earth does not conduct heat well and can be very thick, such dwellings are characterized by stable internal temperatures: heat is well retained in winter and air conditioning is not required in summer. In extreme climates with long, cold, windy winters and hot summers, maintaining a comfortable temperature will not be energy-intensive;

High sound insulation. The earth perfectly protects from sounds of any frequency; there will always be peace and quiet in the premises. The penetration of sounds outside is also limited. Therefore, underground houses are comfortable in noisy areas, near highways;

Safety. An underground house is safe in areas with increased seismic activity, is not afraid of hurricanes, and is protected from the outside from fires. It is difficult for thieves to get into your home, since the number of places for entry is limited. In the event of hostilities, an underground structure becomes a comfortable personal bomb shelter and provides reliable camouflage;

Landscape conservation. The natural landscape of the area will change minimally after the construction of the house, the area of green cover of the site, the ecological and aesthetic value of the place will be preserved; the opportunity to build on inconvenience. An attractive, but difficult to develop slope, hilly area can be turned into an advantage and can be easily developed;

Reducing labor costs during construction. In rough terrain, the amount of excavation work can be reduced. No labor-intensive façade and roofing. This will reduce the cost and time of building a house; minimal costs for maintaining the building in safety. When using high-quality waterproofing, walls and roofs overgrown with grass will require maintenance only from the point of view of landscape design, as part of the site.

A well-built underground house will have no disadvantages, except that the view of the area from the windows may be limited. However, its features and construction costs significantly depend on natural conditions plot. Sometimes it is advantageous to bury a house in the ground, in other cases it is rational to build it above the ground and embank it. An analysis of the site will show how complex and expensive measures will be needed during construction so that the house does not suffer from water penetration, soil shifts, or lack of lighting.

House on top of the hill

A convenient place for construction is on the top of a hill. The location at the highest point of the relief helps to maximally protect the premises from water penetration, orient them to any cardinal direction, and provide excellent lighting and visibility from the windows. During construction, the top of the hill is torn down, and after the structures are erected, they are filled up again.

Site requirements

To determine the feasibility of building an underground house, it is necessary to take into account the features of the site in the complex:

RELIEF. Relief with elevation changes is preferable - sloping or hilly. On such a site there is room for a harmonious placement of a house while saving on excavation work. In any building on a slope, a floor is formed, at least partially located underground, and its expansion and deepening will make it possible to make all the premises underground. In hilly areas, a dwelling can be placed on a horizontal platform, while being partially built into one of the elevations of the relief, which will act as a natural embankment of the walls. Therefore, most underground buildings are built on topography. Owners of a hilly plot that is difficult to construct standard house, it is worth thinking about building underground housing.

It is also important that they drain quickly from sloping areas. surface water and the soil remains dry. An underground house should not be located in a lowland, ravine or thalweg where water from the surrounding area collects.

ORIENTATION. The southern orientation of the slope is ideal, providing the premises with sunlight for most of the day. The northern slope, although it will provide coolness in a hot climate, is still unacceptable for an underground house from a hygienic point of view, since the premises require insolation. In hot climates, a good orientation is eastern. On a flat area, you should also orient the entrance and windows to the sunny sides.

PRIMING. It is best if the site has soils that allow water to pass through well - sand, sandy loam and loam. They dry quickly and are suitable for natural and artificial embankment (which is done with soil taken from the pit). Clay is an unfavorable type of soil because it retains moisture and erodes when wet. However, it can be used as an additional waterproofing lock in layers adjacent to the load-bearing underground structures of the house. Used as a top coating fertile layer soil, which is removed and stored during construction.

GROUND WATER LEVEL. The best area would be one where groundwater lies at great depth. This will allow the house to be lowered as much as possible and integrated into the terrain. Below level groundwater the dwelling cannot be located; you should also make sure that there is no underground flow at the construction site - in these cases it is difficult to prevent water from penetrating into the house. Modern technologies make it possible to reliably protect against moisture seepage through structures, but the cost of the work will be unreasonably high.

MICROCLIMATE. The drier the area, the better for building an underground house. A humid microclimate is contraindicated for it: to combat dampness, it will be necessary to increase ventilation and constantly monitor the condition of structures, which will cause costs and discomfort.

House types

There are two main types of houses protected by earth - underground and bunded. Underground is a structure that is located entirely or mostly below ground level. A bunded house can be located above ground level or partially below it, while the upper part of its walls and roof is covered with soil. The earthen roof directly goes into the surface of the site (which distinguishes an underground dwelling from a ground dwelling with a green roof).

Each house protected by earth is individual, but several common solutions can be identified depending on the appearance, location on the terrain, and method of construction.

1. DUTCH HOUSE. The traditional and simplest version of an underground house. The most suitable terrain for construction is with a slight slope or flat, and the building can also be adjacent to a hill. Only the roof covered with soil is visible above the ground surface. With a rectangular plan, it is usually gable, but can be flat or vaulted. The entrance is arranged in the end wall, in front of which there is a pit with a canopy and steps leading down. Windows are built into the gables on the end walls; sometimes (for example, if the rear end is adjacent to a hill) windows are used built into the roof in the form of skylights or lucarnes. The house can only be one-story (with a higher number of floors, the result is an ordinary building with a basement), its width usually does not exceed 6 m (this is determined by the possibility of spanning the span), and the length is arbitrary. The room can be divided into rooms, providing them with windows.

When constructing a dugout, a foundation pit is torn out, walls are installed around its perimeter to protect it from damp earth, as well as support structures for the roof, then the room is covered and the roof is covered with earth.

2. BEDED HOUSE. An option suitable for any type of terrain - flat area, slope, hilly area. The house can be slightly recessed, including completely above ground or combining underground and bunded parts. For example, a ground one can be “attached” to a hill, which will serve as a natural fence for part of the walls, and the remaining walls can be embanked (this is economical, since the volume of excavation work is reduced). It is possible to make a house of any shape in plan, multi-room, two-story, with windows oriented to several cardinal directions.

When building a bunded house, first, walls and a roof are erected in a pit of the required depth or on the surface of the earth. Enclosing structures must not only separate the premises from the ground, but also withstand soil pressure. Then the building is covered with earth, leaving vertical sections of the walls with windows and an entrance open.

3. HOUSE BUILT INTO A SLOPE. The parameters of such a dwelling depend on the steepness of the relief and the orientation of the slope. The steeper the slope, the higher the number of storeys. Living spaces are usually illuminated from the side of the slope, while it is advisable to make the light front of the house as long as possible. During construction, as a rule, part of the slope is removed, building structures are erected and the landscape is returned to its previous state. If the stability of the soil allows, construction work can be carried out directly in the soil.

When the site is located near the top of a hill, the house can be a through tunnel with exits to opposite sides of the slope, which will expand the possibilities of lighting and ventilation of the premises. It can be constructed by directly penetrating the soil layer or by removing and refilling the top of the topography.

Architecture and interior

The architectural appearance of underground and bunded houses is significantly different from above-ground ones. In addition to green walls and roofs, many of them are characterized by plastic, streamlined shapes of volumes. The structures that form them are often made of reinforced concrete, since it is able to withstand high pressure created by the mass of soil and effectively protect against water.

There are also differences in layout. Houses built into a slope often have an extended plan with a shallow depth of rooms - up to 6 m. Rooms that do not require daylight (bathrooms, storage rooms) can be located deeper underground, but their area will be small. Underground construction is characterized by the use of overhead lights, as well as light guides equipped with mirrors that launch the sun's rays deep into the earth. External walls are sometimes completely glazed. Large windows oriented to the south help not only better illuminate the house, but also accumulate heat. In order to improve lighting in the interior, translucent partitions are sometimes used to separate rooms, and surfaces are painted in light colors.

Walled houses can have a completely traditional plan. But there is another possibility - the rooms can be made not adjacent to each other, but connected by corridors (“underground passages”), which will increase the similarity of the house with “ fox hole" This is important if you need to isolate the premises as much as possible. In addition, you can form interior parts (tables, beds, etc.) from soil, finishing their surface with tiles, wood or other material, depending on the style of the interior.

Construction rules

When constructing underground and bunded houses, preference should be given to moisture-resistant materials. You can use ceramics, treated wood, suitable material is monolithic reinforced concrete. Aerated concrete, which absorbs moisture abundantly, should not be used. It is important to use high-quality waterproofing (the material depends on the specific conditions and construction technology). The embankment of the building is carried out with soil selected from the pit. To cover an above-ground house, you will need to bring it to the site a large number of soil.

The simplest and most common technology involves the construction of a house (both underground and bunded) open method. They dig a pit of the required depth and shape, 0.5-1 m larger than the dimensions of the building. Along the perimeter of the walls that will form the shell of the house, a shallow foundation is made (its thickness depends on the size of the building, the design and material of the walls, and the planned thickness of the soil layer). The walls are made of brick, wooden logs, concrete blocks, monolithic concrete. They may be thinner than those of a ground-based house, but when bunded they must withstand the pressure of the earth (half a brick or up to 10 cm of concrete). The supporting structure of the roof can be mounted in the form rafter system with a frequent arrangement of rafters (for increased strength) and plank rolling. For brick or concrete walls, it is worth performing a monolithic reinforced concrete floor and give the ceiling, which will become the roof of the house, a vaulted shape most effective in supporting the mass of the earth.

The outer shell of the house and the floor are waterproofed in a continuous loop. Thermal insulation is not required if the thickness of the soil layer protecting the structure is more than 1 m. As a rule, in the roof area the soil is laid in a smaller layer, so in the upper part of the house it is necessary to install additional insulation(preferably extruded polystyrene foam, resistant to interaction with wet soil). Floors are laid on the ground, as in a regular house, with waterproofing, insulation, screed and topcoat being laid in succession.

To drain water from the walls, it is necessary to organize drainage. Drainage ditches placed along the perimeter of the building (on the slope, paying special attention to the area above the house) and taken to the area below the house. A drainage layer is also required in the thickness of the soil covering the house. It helps reduce water pressure on underground structures.

More complex technology - construction in a closed way- used for the construction of underground houses on steep slope. It involves creating a cavity in the earth and carrying out work completely underground and requires the participation of specialists with experience in underground construction, the use of special equipment, creating a soil-strengthening structure.

Engineering

The energy and water supply systems for bunded and underground houses are the same as in above-ground ones. There are differences in the ventilation device. It is necessary to take into account the vapor tightness of the walls and the risk of dampness (especially if there were errors in the installation of waterproofing - for example, the material turned out to be fragile and cracks formed). Therefore, in both bunded and underground houses (especially those oriented only to one side of the world and deprived of through ventilation), it is necessary to provide forced pressure supply and exhaust ventilation. The exhaust pipe openings are located under the ceiling, raising the pipe above the roof (if the house is large, there may be several of them). The inflow is made through special holes left in the entrance area at a height of half a meter from the floor. The volume of air exchange and the cross-section of the holes must be calculated by a specialist, and the first indicator is increased if appliances with an open flame, such as a stove, are used in the house. Fans are installed not only for exhaust, but also on the supply openings, providing a forced flow of air. The exhaust and supply must be equipped with dampers to regulate air exchange. It is also desirable that the windows can be opened. They will provide additional air flow, and when placed in the upper part of the house, for example on the roof, an exhaust hood.

In an underground house it is better to use electrical systems heating and water heating, it is profitable to equip the house solar collectors. Furnaces and boilers running on solid fuel are also possible (however, they increase the load on ventilation system). Using gas is dangerous.

When an underground recessed house is located on a flat terrain, difficulties may arise with the installation of a sewer system. If wastewater is generated at depth, it is not always possible to organize its gravity flow to the point of accumulation and the use of a pump will be required. It is advisable to avoid such a situation, as it places residents seriously dependent on the supply of electricity. Therefore, the issue of sewerage installation should be taken into account when determining the depth level of the house. It should be deepened only to a level that allows gravity drainage to be installed.

Selection of waterproofing

The waterproofing option depends on a number of factors:

Material of walls and roof. Using stone materials Coating, roll, and plaster waterproofing are used. For concrete, penetrating (injection) waterproofing is the most effective, creating a water-impenetrable barrier inside the wall.

Soil moisture. For dry soils, painting with two layers of hot bitumen is sufficient; for wet soils, it is better to apply roll materials in several layers (their number should be greater, the higher the water pressure on the surface).

Mechanical effects on waterproofing. In the presence of shearing forces (for example on inclined surfaces), you should not use bitumen and synthetic waterproofing materials, which are characterized by creep. For walls experiencing shear, tensile or high compressive stresses, as well as seismic loads, plaster waterproofing is most reliable.

Ground cover installation

The comfort and durability of an underground house largely depend on a correctly executed multi-layer soil system, which is actually its final enclosing structure.

The load-bearing horizontal part of the house (floor slab, roof) must have a slope to avoid stagnation of water in the soil and its further soaking. For guard internal space Homes and structures are provided with thermal insulation against hypothermia, and then with waterproofing, which has a long service life (20-50 years) and high strength. A drainage layer (made of expanded clay, fine gravel, coarse sand) is placed on top and protected from erosion by filter material (geotextile). For large slopes, it is convenient to use special synthetic mats or profiled membranes for drainage.

The soil above the house is poured in a layer of at least 30 cm, which is enough to create a lawn and flower bed. On inclined surfaces, overgrown roots will reliably hold the soil, but to immediately protect it from sliding, they usually use rolled lawn, and for slopes greater than 45° the surface is reinforced with a special mesh. The more massive the soil layer, the larger the plants can be planted, but you should always choose specimens with a surface rather than a tap root system. It is also important to consider the irrigation system.

Features, types and methods of constructing earthen houses. The advantages of buildings and some difficulties associated with their operation and design. Technology for constructing a domed house.

Features of earthen houses

Technology of building houses from the earth in its modern form, which was called Earthships, was developed almost half a century ago and is still being developed today. Soil, as the main participant in such construction, refers to materials taken from natural resources, such as wood, straw, leather, cotton, stones, peat and many others. All of them are neutral or beneficial to human health and do not pollute nature.

The choice of soil for the construction of walls is largely due to the energy intensity of the material, which compared to brick or steel is extremely low and amounts to up to 0.5 GJ/t. Therefore, with the correct orientation of the earthen structure and maximum use of solar energy, it will require minimal heating even in severe frost.

Earthen houses that are used in various climatic zones, successfully demonstrate their resistance to fires, floods and even magnitude 7 earthquakes. Thanks to thermal inertia, thick earthen walls slow down the gain or loss of heat by almost 12 hours. This means that the earth house is cool during the day and warm at night.

In favor of using soil as building material says several significant factors:

Availability;
There is no need for transportation, which reduces construction time and costs;
Environmentally safe wall material that does not harm the microclimate of the house and the environment;
Excellent thermal insulation of the material, its plasticity, which allows earth houses to be given different shapes;
Possibility of dismantling walls and reusing their material.

Most earthen house designs are strictly individual, as they take into account the topography of a particular site and use local natural materials to create enclosing structures.

The benefits obtained from the construction of earthen houses include the following:

High construction speed. For such buildings, a foundation is usually not required. Therefore, for example, a one-story building in the form of a dome with a base diameter of 6 m can be erected by four people who do not have special skills in a week. Technologies of such construction make it possible to create buildings for various purposes: residential or commercial.
Low thermal conductivity. The enclosing structures of earthen houses are less susceptible to changes in air temperature outside than buildings made of stone and even wood. The low thermal conductivity of soil as the main material of the roof and walls allows the inhabitants of an earthen house not to feel the effects of bad weather and significantly save on heating in winter, maintaining optimal temperature premises.
Availability of materials. To build an earthen house, they can be found anywhere, even on your own site - wood and stones, soil and clay. This reduces the cost of delivering them to the construction site. You can decorate the outside of such a building with local plants that will fit perfectly into the overall landscape. The cost of maintaining a house made from earth with your own hands is also minimal. Since the structure is almost entirely covered with soil, it requires very little paint or other material.
Fire and environmental safety. Houses made of earth don't burn. For this reason, they can be safely used for a sauna, for example, or a bathhouse. Due to the environmental friendliness of the materials, the debris of the building does not need to be removed during dismantling - several seasons will pass, and they will crumble on their own in the open air. Protruding slightly above the ground level, such a house practically does not change the topography of the site, thanks to which the land area is used to the fullest.
High reliability. Walls finished house are frost-resistant and practically do not shrink. If external structures are dried and then covered with plaster, they will not absorb moisture. Over the long period of their existence, earthen houses have proven their increased resistance to hurricanes, droughts, fires and even earthquakes. The strength of such structures, according to the testimony of soldiers Afghan war, allows you to withstand a hit from a shell fired into an earthen wall from a tank.
Long service life. The durability of earthen houses is confirmed by the fact that the oldest of them, discovered in Jericho, are more than 8,000 years old.

The disadvantages of houses made from soil include the inability to erect buildings more than 2 floors high. However, this can be corrected by building additional structures next to the main building, connecting them using corridors. It will come out very beautiful!

A strong enemy of Earthships technology is the dampness caused by rain. Therefore, if plastering is not done after the house is built from the earth, the structure may slide. In damp regions, equipping such buildings with a waterproof roof is mandatory.

Certain difficulties in the construction of earthen houses may be caused by the psychological attitudes of site owners. Some of them associate life under a layer of earth with imprisonment, poverty and even death.

The construction of small structures from soil is within the capabilities of any craftsman. But, in order to build a building with an area of more than 20 m2 or a whole composition of such objects, you will need a well-made project, the help of architects and builders environmental objects. Today, such specialists are difficult to find, since due to the minimal cost of materials, there are few people willing to have a small income or short-term employment. Here you cannot save on the “waste” of building materials, get a “kickback” or a dealer discount.

Putting a finished building into operation is also fraught with difficulties. Supervisory authorities use long-established SNiPs and DBNs, and new environmental standards are at the development stage.

As for mortgages, banks assume maximum risk for earthen construction, considering such technology experimental. Therefore, they take a higher percentage according to this risk.

Types of earthen houses

The choice of the type of house made from earth depends on the type of soil, the terrain features of the site and the climate of the region. Depending on the method of construction, such buildings can be buried or above ground. In turn, each of them has its own varieties.

Ground houses include:

Earthbiting. The walls of such a structure are erected by filling the formwork with soil, or from earthen blocks pre-made using special molds by compaction or by plastic molding. The second method received greatest distribution in the world, since before laying the strength and shape of the blocks are more stable than in the first case. In addition, when a block wall dries and shrinks, cracks are unlikely to appear.
Adobe. It belongs to composite materials and is laid manually during construction. monolithic walls Houses. Adobe is a mixture consisting of clay, soil, water, sand and straw.
Earthbags. This is a technology for building walls and creating domes from bags filled with soil. The construction of such houses is now actively underway all over the world. Traditionally, such technology was present in the construction of military fortifications, dugouts, flood control, etc. If you add a little cement to the soil mixture, an earthbag house can last for decades.
Geocar. This is a house made of peat blocks. The material has properties that allow it to be used both as insulation and as a structural element in the construction of houses up to three floors. Peat blocks are most suitable for the natural conditions of the Non-Black Earth Region, meeting all requirements regarding strength and environmental safety standards.

Buried houses include:

Atrium house. This is the name of an underground structure in which the atrium is the center of the house, as well as the entrance to it. The concept of “atrium” implies the central space of a building, illuminated through an opening or skylight. Such a house is built on a flat plot and covered with earth. The deepening is carried out at 2.7 m, and minimum thickness the turf present on the roof is at least 0.2 m. All four walls of the atrium are accessible to daylight. The living spaces are located around a courtyard, which is overlooked by glazed openings, providing the house with the warmth of sunlight. The atrium has natural ventilation, rises slightly above the ground and practically does not change the landscape, while providing reliable protection from the wind in winter period of the year.
protruding house. From the façade it is open to the light, while its other sides and top are covered with earth. The open wall of the house, usually oriented to the south, allows the sun's rays to easily penetrate into the home, providing heat from the facade to its entire area, including the bathrooms. The structural elements of the building are the cheapest compared to other earthen houses.
Penetrating house. In addition to windows and doors, such a structure is completely covered with soil on the sides and top. The advantage of a penetrating house from the ground is cross natural ventilation and the entry of sunlight from one or more of its sides.

The main goal of creating any of the listed earthen buildings is to maximize energy conservation with the complete absence of harm to human health.

Basic technologies for building a house from earth

Earthen houses are built using three methods:

Method sliding formwork . It is designed for the construction of buildings with right angles. Racks are installed on both sides of the walls along the entire perimeter of the future house. Then identical shields are attached to them opposite each other. The resulting formwork is filled with soil mixture. After compacting and setting, the formwork is dismantled and installed in a new area. Finished wall usually consists of 15 cm of compacted soil and a 5-6 cm lime layer. Due to its high labor intensity, this method is not often used.
From earth blocks. This method has become more widespread than the previous one. For the manufacture of piece materials use folding forms. They are filled with soil mixture, compacted, then removed ready-made bricks and dry them.
From bags of earth. This method allows you to build buildings that differ in shape and have a unique style. Options for houses with domed shapes or round walls with an equipped roof are very popular.

We will consider the features of the latter method in more detail below.

How to build a dome house?

Before you make a house out of earth in the form of a dome, you need to choose a suitable place for it. In the plan he will have round shape. Therefore, you need to stick a stake in the center of the planned structure, tie a rope to it, measure the required radius on it and mark the circumference of the walls of the house.

When the marking of the site is completed, on the resulting circle it is necessary to provide the location of the entrance and determine the dimensions of the doorway. It should be noted that the base of the entrance to domed house a little should go inward so that the door can be installed vertically on an inclined wall.

Then, along the finished circumference, you should dig a trench with a depth of about 40 cm and a width corresponding to the size of the bag. After this, it needs to be covered with crushed stone, which will act as drainage and foundation.

To build walls, propylene sugar bags or sleeves made of rot-resistant fabric are suitable. The bags need to be filled with damp soil, leaving 25 cm to the top in each of them. Due to the large weight of such “bricks”, it is recommended to perform this work on the wall of the structure. To prevent the soil from spilling out, the free edges of the bags should be sewn together with wire.

The first layer of bags filled with soil must be laid around the circumference of the house and compacted in any way. The second layer should be positioned similarly to brickwork, performing ligation of sutures. It should have a smaller circumference relative to the previous layer. This alternation will give the house a domed shape.

Before laying any bag underneath, a piece of synthetic twine should be stretched underneath to tie the next two or three layers of wall together. This will make plastering the house easier in the future. Between layers of bags of soil you need to lay two strips barbed wire, which in this case plays the role of reinforcement and fastening mortar.

When laying round wall It is necessary to leave openings for windows and doors from bags of soil. They are often made in the form of arches. After drying, the outside of the house needs to be plastered with cement or clay mortar.

How to build a house from earth - watch the video:

Finally, a piece of advice: before building a house out of earth, we recommend practicing on a small structure such as a sauna or barn. Good luck!

In our understanding, a modern underground house is a room underground with the strength of a modern bunker and all the amenities modern cottage. But the choice always remains with the client; you can order an underground room with all the amenities, or, on the contrary, choose a real bomb shelter, but if you need reliable protection for years to come, then of course you need both. The main difficulty of such a house will lie in its construction itself, since this is not an easy task and requires certain skills and careful elaboration of the plan. Appearance Such houses underground are a small mound or a kind of hole, which allows them to fit perfectly into the natural landscape. Today, this type of house (often called *fox holes*) is in quite good demand and this is due not only to the desire to live in nature, but also to the fact that the construction and use of such a house has economic benefits in comparison with other types of houses. Construction of an underground house is affordable option, and also guarantees (subject to all construction standards) an environmentally friendly environment inside your home. If we talk about the temperatures inside an underground house, it is worth noting that the earth itself conducts heat poorly, but at the same time accumulates it well. All changes in temperature outside pass very slowly in the soil itself, that is, heat comes to depth with a long delay. The temperature of an underground house will depend on both the type of soil and the climatic location. Temperatures will be approximately as follows: in winter it is from 5 to 10 degrees, and in summer from 15 to 20 degrees.

What are the requirements for the construction site?

Speaking about the construction of an underground house, it is immediately worth noting that this cannot be realized everywhere due to the characteristics of the soil. Therefore, next we will talk about what the terrain, soil, groundwater level, and so on should be like, in order to have an idea of what the site should be like for building an underground house.

What should the relief be like? The best site for construction will be a site that has differences in height, that is, with slopes or hills. A site with such a relief will allow you to choose a place for construction, where you will not have to invest heavily in excavation. During construction, a kind of floor will appear on the elephant, further deepening and expanding of which will make it possible to arrange a room underground. If construction will be carried out on an area with hills, then the house will be built into a horizontal surface, which will ensure the formation of natural walls. Due to this, most underground houses are built on hilly areas. It is important to know. You should not build an underground house in a low area, as water from the surface formed as a result of rain, snow and other sources will flow there, and the soil will be wet, which will negatively affect your house.
What is the best orientation for the terrain? The best option would be to choose a location oriented to the south, which will provide you with more solar heat. Choosing the north side will be wrong, since at least it will relieve you from excessive heat in summer times year, but it will be unacceptable in terms of ecology and hygiene, since the house will need sunlight. If your site is located in latitudes with a constantly or mostly hot climate, then choosing an eastern orientation of the house would be a good idea.
What kind of soil should be on the site? If your site has soil that is most in the best possible way allows water to pass through, then this is the best option for the site. Such soil is: sand, loam and other types of soil. Due to better water permeability, such soil dries quickly and makes it possible to make natural or artificial embankment. If we talk about which soil is less suitable for building an underground house, then it is clay. It allows water to pass through very poorly and gets washed away. But it can be used as some kind of additional waterproofing of the load-bearing parts of the house underground. On top, a fertile layer of soil is used for waterproofing.
What climate is best for a site with an underground house? There is only one rule here: the drier the climate and the surrounding area, the better for an underground house. If the climate is humid and you still decide to build an underground house on such a site, then you will need to better organize ventilation and constantly monitor the condition of the entire structure of the house. Therefore, such a choice will not be the best and will bring a lot of problems and extra costs.
What should the water level in the ground be? The lower the groundwater is, the better for the site. This will give you the opportunity to build an underground house lower in the terrain itself. Construction below the groundwater level is strictly prohibited. It is also necessary to make sure that there is no underground water flowing on the site in order to avoid water entering your home. Of course, thanks to new technologies, it is possible to protect your home from water penetration, but this will require huge costs.

What are the benefits of building and living in an underground house?

In the old days, living in an underground house was considered the lot of poor people, since the construction of a dugout did not require large expenses and was, so to speak, a budget solution. Now all the necessary technologies have been developed that allow you not only to quickly and cheaply build a house underground, but to organize in it everything you need for a comfortable stay. But with the use of all these benefits, the cost of such housing increased and became not much smaller house on the surface, and sometimes more expensive. Construction can be made less expensive through proper use of the terrain. This is what we will talk about:

Energy saving. Due to the fact that the soil does not transmit heat well (and the thicker the soil layer, the worse the heat passes through), a certain temperature balance is maintained in the house, that is, there are no temperature fluctuations. In the same winter, the heat remains in the house and does not go away, and in the summer you will not need to use optional equipment to reduce temperatures, as they will be acceptable, which will allow you to save on energy savings.
Excellent isolation from external sounds. Considering that the soil layer does not transmit external noise of various frequencies well, you will be able to enjoy silence in the house and you will not have to install additional sound insulation.
It doesn't take much effort to build. This is due to the fact that for an underground house there will be no need to carry out work on the facade and roof, which will further reduce your construction costs. In addition, you will not have to invest in maintaining the integrity of the house for many decades, provided that the construction was carried out in accordance with all standards and high-quality waterproofing was installed.
Defence from external factors. An underground house will be almost completely protected from weather events such as hurricanes and small earthquakes. Also, in the event of a fire on the surface, your home will not be in danger. Among other things, the house can be used as a bomb shelter. In general, the construction of an underground house, in comparison with others, is quite profitable if you take into account all the nuances and build in in the right places. Yes, in some cases the best option There will be construction in the ground, and sometimes it is better to build it on the surface and carry out embankment. What types of underground houses are there?

The most basic types of such houses are: underground and bunded, which are protected by earth. An underground house can be considered a house that is entirely submerged under a layer of earth or partially. Embanked houses are usually located either above the ground or are not completely buried in the soil, and the entire part of the house that is above the ground is covered with a layer of soil so that it smoothly blends into the surface of your site.

Options for the construction of underground houses

All of these underground houses are unique and have their own characteristics, but there are several main options for constructing such houses:

Bunker, bomb shelter

Such a house can be built on any terrain; the only problem during its construction may be the presence of underground layers of water. But again, this will depend on the depth at which the house is being built. Such a house can be called an underground bunker, because in 95% of cases at great depths it is bunkers that are ordered from us. The only difference between a bunker and a house at depth is the thickness and technology of wall construction.

Bounded

Such a house can be built on any terrain, from ordinary flat to a site with hills. Usually the house is partially submerged in the ground, and its top part sprinkled with earth. A typical construction of a bunded house involves building an extension onto a mound, which will serve as part of the walls, and the remaining walls are subjected to further bunding. With such construction there are practically no restrictions; you can build a house with several floors or with a large number of rooms. You can also arrange windows in two or three cardinal directions at once. Bund construction is quite economical due to less excavation work.

Dugout

This type of underground house is the most common and typical. Its construction is carried out on flat areas or on areas with some slope, and in some cases there is the possibility of an extension to a mound. The house is built so that only the roof is visible on the surface, which is covered with a layer of soil. The entrances and exits are arranged in the wall from the end side, in front of which it is necessary to dig a small hole with steps down and make a canopy. Windows are installed on the front end walls or in the roof so that they look like some kind of lanterns from which light comes. The disadvantage of a dugout is that it will not be possible to build more than one floor, otherwise it will not be an underground house, but an ordinary one with a basement. The construction itself consists of digging a large pit, on all sides of which walls and roof supports are built. After this, the entire structure is blocked and covered with soil.

House on a slope

The dimensions and height of such a house are determined by such parameters as the steepness and direction of the slope. That is, the steeper the slope, the more floors you can build. Lighting is organized in such a way that it extends as far as possible. Before starting the construction of a house, it is necessary to remove a certain part of the slope, after which the necessary structure is built and subsequently the previous appearance of the site is restored. If there is a hilltop on your site, you can organize some passages with exits in opposite directions, which will make it possible to improve ventilation and lighting.

What rules must be followed when building a house underground?

Use for construction such material that has good performance moisture resistance, for example: ceramics, reinforced concrete or wood after special treatments.
Be sure to waterproof the entire building.
The embankment must be carried out using the same soil that was removed during the excavation process. And filling the house is done with the help of brought soil, which will require a lot.
For a house, a finely jagged foundation is installed underground, the dimensions of which will be based on the characteristics of the house.
The walls of the house can be made from different material: wood, brick, concrete blocks or completely cast concrete.
The roof structure is made in the form of a system of rafters. If the walls are made of brick or concrete, then the ceiling is vaulted to increase strength.
If the layer of earth, which is the natural protection of the house, is less than one meter, then it is necessary to perform additional thermal insulation and waterproofing.
To remove water from the surface of the walls and reduce pressure, it will be necessary to perform drainage around the entire perimeter of the house.

What type of waterproofing should I choose?

The choice of waterproofing will be determined by the selected material for the construction of an underground house, the level of moisture in the soil of your site and mechanical factors:

— If the construction of the house was carried out without stone, then the waterproofing can be rolled, plaster or coated. If concrete was used, then it is best to use waterproofing, which penetrates into the thickness of the concrete and blocks the passage of water.

— When the soil on the site is dry enough, you can simply paint the surface of the house with several layers of bitumen. It is better to use roll waterproofing if the humidity is high and the number of layers of the roll will depend on the strength of the water pressure.

— If the house was built on a slope, then it is best to use plaster waterproofing, since it will not move and slide off the walls, unlike bitumen and similar materials.

What do you associate with the phrase “underground house”? Many of us imagine an ordinary dugout, which, by the way, is the cradle of humanity. With the advent of fashion environmental solutions underground houses acquired a completely different meaning. Today, such a home is not just a damp room with little light, but a technological and very environmentally friendly solution. And such a house can cost more than a penthouse in the center of New York.

A striking example is the underground house from Make Architects, which was built for the famous British football player. The area of this house is 8000 sq. m. feet, and the main idea of construction is to create a home that consumes a minimum of energy and is an example of a house created from environmentally friendly pure materials. The energy generators here are a wind turbine and special photo panels, and a pump is responsible for heating. An underground house has a number of advantages:

Minimum heating and air conditioning costs. Dry soil, just like brick, conducts heat well. In the underground house it will not be hot in the summer (there is certainly no need for air conditioning), and in the winter it will not be cold, since the temperature does not drop below +6 degrees.
Weather protection. Such a house is not afraid of a tornado, fire, or hurricane. The only thing that can be damaged is those placed on the surface wind turbines or solar panels.
Preservation of the natural landscape. After construction, the landscape will remain virtually unchanged, and you can even grow flowers, vegetables and herbs above the house.
Minimum costs for operation. If an ordinary house needs periodic painting and roof repairs, then an underground one will save money on such regular work.

What’s also interesting is that underground houses have good sound insulation. They can be built even in densely populated cities. For example, in one of the districts of Tokyo there is such a house.

1 Is it possible to build it yourself - requirements for the site
2 The most interesting underground dwellings in the world

Is it possible to build it yourself - site requirements

Yes, an underground house has a number of advantages, but it will not be possible to build it on every site. Since soil conditions and landscape features will matter. What are the requirements for the territory?

Relief. The best place for an underground house is sloping section or hill. The simplest solution is to build the house directly into the sloping part of the landscape. Such areas are also good because the water will drain almost instantly, without having time to saturate the ground. But it will not be possible to build a house in ravines - it will be constantly flooded. The orientation of the slope also matters. It is best if it is the southern side, and for countries with hot climates - the eastern side.
Priming. Underground dwellings should be built if the soil is of the type sand, loam or sandy loam. Such mixtures can be called “natural water filters”, and they dry quite quickly. By the way, loams are also suitable for above-ground diking. The embankment is carried out with soil that is dug from the pit. But the most unfavorable soil is clay.
Ground water level. In the place where the house will be built, there must be a low water level, since it is impossible to lower the dwelling below the “wet” level. Areas located near bodies of water are also not suitable - with high humidity it will be difficult and very expensive to fight, and living in such conditions is also harmful to health.

It is also worth saying that there are several types of underground structures - bunded, traditional (dugout) and built into the hill. The main advantage of a bunded house is that it can be built on almost any suitable site, since the building itself will be covered with soil on all sides, but will be located above the zero level. The bunded house can be attached to a hill and buried a little, and the size will depend on your capabilities - you can even build a two-story penthouse. You can create a built-in house if there is a hill nearby. In this case, you can build an underground house like a tunnel or carry out excavation. An important point will be the installation of floors.

The most interesting underground dwellings in the world

Our ancestors were the first to build houses underground. But modern buildings are an example of not only beauty, but also energy saving. And the most famous buildings are probably familiar to you - these are the hobbit houses from the film The Lord of the Rings. You can see them live. They are located in New Zealand, where the film was filmed. These buildings are a striking example of a classic underground house, where only the front door is visible to the prying eye.

Bella Vista Hotel is the world's first eco-hotel built in Italy. The project consists of 11 separate houses, which are succinctly integrated into the landscape of the region. They were built on a hillside and are an example of a landslide structure.
House Estate Lättenstrasse is a complex of underground houses that was built in Switzerland. It consists of 9 buildings, each of which has several bedrooms. The peculiarity of the complex is that all the houses are located around the lake (artificial) and seem almost invisible due to the fact that the top is completely planted with greenery.
Malator is an “invisible house” that can only be found by those who know its exact coordinates. It was built on the coast of England and is compact. The structure is almost completely buried in the ground, but has panoramic windows on both sides, allowing you to enjoy the landscape.

The underground house is far from a surprising new product. There are more than a dozen such buildings in the world. And these are just those that came under the guns of journalists. And almost anyone can build their own house. The main thing is to comply with the requirements for the site and study the features of the construction and connection of generators.

In this article we will look at an example of building a house in the ground. We will talk about the main pros and cons of such a structure and see how it differs from the ground one. An interesting point in such a house is that the landscape outside the window will correspond to the landscape of the above-ground house thanks to a system of mirrors. Thanks to this, it develops full feeling life on earth.

Let's start with the pros:

1). No need for a house façade.

2). In winter, an underground house retains the greatest amount of heat than an above-ground one. This reduces gas and electricity costs.

3). In summer this house It will be cooler than above ground and we may not install an air conditioning system.

4). The very structure of the house is a protection against thieves, because the only way to get into the house is through the entrance.

5). Having windows (with mirrors) in the design, you will be able to observe the world around you, but they will no longer be able to look through your windows. Thanks to this you will feel comfortable.

6). Your house is located underground and almost the entire plot is free for landscape design ideas. For example, you can create a beautiful garden.

7). Such a house is not afraid of news of an approaching tornado or heavy rain.

Cons of this house:

1). The most difficult thing in this house is organizing the sewage system. To do this, it is necessary to install a pump system so that wastewater flows into the wells.

2). In such a house it is necessary to install electric generators in case of a power outage. For example, the same wastewater pumps will turn off.

3). Russians love to show off their wealth beautiful facades houses. With an underground house, it turns out that there is no house at all, and you climb home into a dugout.

Let's consider the main points of building such a house.

The first step will naturally be digging a pit. The pit for this project will be deep and special safety precautions must be observed. The most dangerous thing is the collapse of the pit walls. In order to avoid such a problem, you need to dig a pit at an angle on four sides.

After the foundation pit, monolithic construction begins. The next steps will be installation of the slab, installation of formwork under the walls and subsequently under the monolithic ceiling.

In this type of construction we save money. For such a house you only need concrete and reinforcement and you don’t need to think about the beauty of the facade and an expensive roof. Having made the building, we remove the formwork and coat it with bitumen mastic. After which, we fill it in, not forgetting about the entrance group. You also need to remember to drain the water before entering the building.

The only thing that can be done beautifully for others is the entrance group. It can be lined with rubble or other material.

Let's consider a window system. When pouring the walls, we leave an opening for the window in the place where it should be according to the project. From the inside of the wall, under the window, we cast a platform the width of the window, and the length should be determined in advance depending on the height of the window and the inclination of 45 degrees. When tilted, the edge of the mirror should coincide with the top edge of the window.

A red brick pipe is laid out from the site. We install the pipe for the height from which you want to observe the site. A mirror is mounted oppositely at the top of the pipe.