23 Unique and Functional Underground Houses That Will Amaze You (2024)

Have you ever considered living underground?

Well, when I was growing up there was a road we often traveled to get to my great grandmother’s farm. On this road was a house that was built underground. It was odd looking to me at the time, but I’ve grown to really appreciate a unique home as I’ve grown older.

Then the other day, I was browsing through a forum I follow on social media when I came across a question someone was asking about building a home underground. That home from my childhood came flooding back to me.

So I decided to do a little research on the internet and see what type of underground homes really do exist. I wanted to share my findings with you all, so in the event that you might be interested in building a home underground, you could use this as inspiration.

Even if you are satisfied living above ground, you may still find this very interesting. Here is what I found:

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Mind-boggling Underground Houses

1. Traditional Yet Under Ground

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This home looks very traditional from the front. I couldn’t find the actual link where this home originated from, so you can only see the outside.

But when you look closer, you realize the home is actually built into a hill. Which means it has a traditional outer appearance while still being underground. Isn’t that neat?

Check out this underground house

2. The Backyard Hobbit House

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Some people don’t build underground houses to live in all of the time. Often they are built as a private getaway or for protection from natural elements or war.

So if you would like to have your own underground hobbit house, then this tutorial could show you how to achieve this on your own in very vivid detail.

Check out this underground house

3. The Dutch Mountain Home

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The Dutch Mountain home is very dreamy. From the outside, it looks like a basic wooden home built into the mountain.

But when you scroll through the pictures you quickly see how the inside has been transformed into this light and area space that seems very warm and inviting.

Check out this underground house

4. The Earth-Sheltered Home

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This underground home is an absolute work of art. It looks pretty fancy by looking at the outside. Then you begin looking at the photos on the inside.

See, this person spent 18 years to build this work of art. But you can tell, this home isn’t your typical underground house. It truly is a masterpiece.

Check out this underground house

5. The Underground House or Shelter

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These are basic computer plans for a small space that could be either your underground home or an underground place to seek shelter in the event of an emergency.

But when you dig into the plans you see that they are very detailed and have lots of wonderful off-grid qualities.

Check out this underground house

6. The Hobbit House

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I’ve shared one person’s tutorial on building a hobbit house in your backyard above already. But this one gives you another view of the process.

So if you are looking for a quaint hobbit house to use as a full-time home or even as a shelter, then you’ll want to scroll through this tutorial.

Check out this underground house

7. The Modern Hobbit

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This house can only be seen from the outside, so it’ll just have to be used for inspiration. It is also attached to an article that gives you a lot of benefits of living in an underground home.

But what I found so fascinating about this design is how you can still have a circular, underground hobbit style home with such a modern finish. It is truly a gorgeous idea.

Check out this underground house

8. The 70’s Style Bunker

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This home looks as though it was a bunker from back in the 1970’s. From the outside, it has different areas of architectural charm.

But when you begin to view the inside you see how much care was put into designing this home. It is welcoming and looks to make for comfortable living.

Check out this underground house

9. The $50 Underground House

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The man who is in the video touring this home is the author of the book The $50 and Up Underground House Book. The house that they are touring was originally built for $50.

However, they have since turned it into a mansion meant to withstand up to 200 mph winds! Isn’t that crazy how durable these homes can be?

Check out this underground house

10. The ‘Right Way’ Underground Home Tutorial

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This isn’t exactly an underground house design, though they do give you a computer generated image to look over as you walk through the tutorial.

However, they do offer lots of great tips to make sure that if or when you build an underground home that you do it right so you can enjoy it for years to come.

Check out this underground house

11. The Invisible House

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I really like this house design. It is meant to be built into the ground or a hill so that it is very difficult to be seen.

So if you are a prepper or just someone that would like a home or shelter that would be difficult for other’s to find, then this might be a really nice option.

Check out this underground house

12. The Umbrella Home

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This is a really neat idea to have a self-sustainable home underground. This home design follows many of the traditional underground home designs.

But there is one small change. They create an umbrella under the earth that is meant to be a layer of insulation for the home so it’ll hold more cool and warm air as needed.

Check out this underground house

13. The One Bedroom Solar Underground Home

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This home is another one that’ll just have to be used for inspiration because the site it originated from is no longer in business.

But as you can see from the floor plans, the home has a living room, bedroom, dining area, and also includes solar panels in the plan as well.

Check out this underground house

14. The Virtually Indestructible Underground Home

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Do you want a home that is sturdy and can potentially withstand most natural disasters? If so, then you’ll want to tune into this tutorial.

Basically, this article shows multiple different underground varieties, but I like the one that has a nice little porch with it. It makes the home feel like a welcoming place that can also offer a lot of protection.

Check out this underground house

15. Underground Home Encased in Glass

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There is a style of home known as the ‘American Pit House’ for an underground housing structure. It looks relatively simple and kind of on the plain side.

But these people amped it up by using this basic style of home and then encasing the whole thing in glass. It is really gorgeous.

Check out this underground house

16. Underground Shipping Container Homes

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If you are looking for an underground house idea but would prefer to have something inexpensive and prefab, then consider one of these shipping container homes.

So this video walks you through multiple different options, and they are modern, unique, and look rather awesome.

Check out this underground house

17. Prefab Hobbit Homes

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I don’t know about you, but when I see an underground home I suddenly have this horrible feeling of claustrophobia as I imagine my roof collapsing on top of me because I didn’t build the structure quite right.

But when I saw these prefab Hobbit houses, I knew someone had shared in the same fear and wanted to make underground building a little easier.

Check out this underground house

18. House in a Hill

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We’ve all heard people talk about how they dream of living in a house on a hill when they grow up. I guess there was something regal about that at one point in time.

Well, these people took that dream one step further and built themselves a house in a hill. It is open, gorgeous, and has wonderful views.

Check out this underground house

19. The Wonders of an Underground Home

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This article is a wonderful collection of the different interiors and exteriors you can have with an underground home. It also offers a few interesting facts as well.

So if you’d like to see the different wonders that underground houses can provide, then you’ll want to check out this resource.

Check out this underground house

20. Underground Houses and Off-Grid Living

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This article is another amazing resource that will give you more insight and helpful facts if you are interested in living underground.

But I wanted to share with you also the image that they provide with the article. You can tell they have successfully built a two-story underground home that is hidden, yet gorgeous.

Check out this underground house

21. Silo to Underground Home
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This is a great idea for those that are working on a tighter budget but still want to live underground.

Basically, if you find that building underground is out of your budget, then you could take an old silo and place it in the ground to form a nice underground home for less money.

Check out this underground house

22. The Underground Round House

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This house is another really unique and gorgeous option for an underground home. Obviously, the majority of the home is underground.

But when you look at the front, it is rounded with lots of windows and rock features to really make the home pop.

Check out this underground house

23. The ‘Blended In’ Hillside Underground Home

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This home is absolutely gorgeous. It has lots of natural light and gorgeous views to boot. It also seems to be quite spacious.

But what is so amazing about this gorgeous home is how well it is hidden into the hillside. This could provide you both comfort and protection as well.

Check out this underground house

Well, you now have over 20 different underground homes to view. They are all different and have different things to offer.

Also, you can see that you can make an underground home as simple or dolled up as you would like.

But I’d like to hear from you now. Would you consider living underground? If so, why? Do you already live underground? If so, do you have any tips for those considering it?

We love hearing from you. Just drop us a line in the comment section below.

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23 Unique and Functional Underground Houses That Will Amaze You (2024)

FAQs

What is an example of an underground house? ›

Some examples would be the Sassi di Matera in Italy, declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site, and the town of Coober Pedy in Australia, built underground to avoid the blistering heat of the Outback. One of the traditional house types in China is the Yaodong, a cave house.

What are the benefits of building a house underground? ›

Advantages & Disadvantages

On the plus side, an earth-sheltered home is less susceptible to the impact of extreme outdoor air temperatures than a conventional house. Earth-sheltered houses also require less outside maintenance, and the earth surrounding the house provides soundproofing.

Are underground houses better for the environment? ›

In fact, some underground houses don't even require heating or cooling systems, as the earth's natural temperature regulation keeps the interior at a comfortable temperature year-round. Sustainability: Underground houses are also often more sustainable than traditional homes.

What are underground houses called? ›

An earth shelter, also called an earth house, earth bermed house, or underground house, is a structure (usually a house) with earth (soil) against the walls, on the roof, or that is entirely buried underground.

Why do people live in underground houses? ›

Certainly one of the biggest advantages of underground homes relate to energy savings. One estimate suggests that since such dwellings benefit from geothermal mass and heat exchange – all that natural insulation – they save around 80% in energy costs, staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

What are the benefits of living underground? ›

Underground houses have less surface area so fewer building materials are used, and maintenance costs are lower. They are also wind, fire and earthquake resistant, providing a secure and safe environment in extreme weather. One of the greatest benefits of underground living is energy efficiency.

Are underground houses worth it? ›

Cost. While completed underground homes are energy efficient and can help significantly lower heating and cooling costs, building costs generally run 10 to 30% higher than conventional structures. But this initial cost is later offset by lowered heating and cooling costs.

Why is the underground houses cool? ›

While rammed and compressed earth is great, building underground regulates temperature because the temperature a few feet underground is constant, and such a building is basically a passive geothermal heated and cooled system.

Are underground houses cold? ›

Some underground houses get heat from the soil around them. Being underground tends to only make the interior temperature more stable throughout the day. Adding heat through appliances will make the interior always warmer than the soil around the house. And “cold” is not very exact.

Do underground houses stay cool in summer? ›

In general, earth sheltered houses are less susceptible to changes in outside air temperature, so inside temperatures remain relatively constant.

Do people live in underground houses? ›

Many people who choose subterranean living do so to help the environment. Earth-sheltered homes are built into the land on at least three sides, keeping energy use to a minimum. An engulfed home allows for more stable temperatures throughout the home as well as less exposure to the elements.

How long do earth houses last? ›

A Rammed earth house can easily sustain its integrity for 1000+ years. Primary factors affecting the cost of any project are design and site characteristics.

What is living underground called? ›

Fossorial [fo-SOHR-ee-uhl] (adjective): An animal adapted to living underground, often by digging a burrow and/or tunnels. Some examples of fossorial animals are earthworms, ants, moles, voles, and shrews.

What are half underground houses called? ›

Pit-house: a prehistoric house type used on many continents and of many styles, partially sunken into the ground. Rammed earth.

What is an underground house? ›

The house is usually built at ground level, and the earth is built up or bermed around and on top of it. This design allows cross-ventilation and access to natural light from more than one side of the house."

What are the examples of underground? ›

Examples of underground stems include corms, such as taro (left); rhizomes, such as ginger (center); and tubers, such as potatoes (right).

What is an example of underground work? ›

Underground chambers, often associated with a complex of connecting tunnels and shafts, increasingly are being used for such things as underground hydroelectric-power plants, ore-processing plants, pumping stations, vehicle parking, storage of oil and water, water-treatment plants, warehouses, and light manufacturing; ...

What country has underground houses? ›

Reuters photographer Zohra Bensemra recently spent time in southern Tunisia's Djebel Dahar region, where locals have lived in underground homes for centuries. The cave houses, also known as troglodyte houses, offer protection against the extremes of summer and winter in the arid desert.

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