6. Flower Petals House - For famous soccer star Gary Neville, not just any home will do. He’s submitted plans for a futuristic luxury home to be built in Bolton, UK. The plans call for an 8,000 square foot subterranean home, with different teardrop-shaped living areas around a central hub. When viewed from above, the living areas resemble the petals of a flower, thus the home’s name. The architects claim it will be a zero carbon development, taking advantage of natural light and ventilation, rain water, heat pumps, and a wind turbine to power the house. Despite its environmentally friendly design, the plans have been rejected because residents think it will have too much impact on the surrounding protected land.
5. Sedum House - Architect Tom Ground knew he wanted to build something special for his home in the village of Gimingham, England. He decided to build an eco-friendly house of the future, in his spare time, over the course of 4 years. He set the house in the side of a hill and oriented it based on the sun. He built a large curved roof that would block the rays of the sun in the summer but let the rays shine through in the winter, when the sun was positioned lower in the sky. The roof is covered in sedum, a living succulent plant, from which the house gets its name.
4. The Underground House - Phil and Helen Reddy knew they wanted to build an environmentally friendly earth-sheltered home and when they found some available land in an old quarry overlooking Eden valley in Cumbria, England, they knew they’d found the ideal spot for their dream house. Local architect John Bodger designed a two story house that burrowed back into the hill, but still made use of natural resources for light, heat, and power. They were so happy with the house that they decided to build a separate structure for Helen’s clinic and veterinary practice, which seemed a natural fit given the beautiful location.
3. The Hidden House - You’d better get an invite if you want to visit the Hidden House in Wroclaw, Poland, otherwise you may never find it. The driveway ends at a grassy field, which hides the huge grass covered trapdoor that allows entry into the house. The home is built partially underground, in the remains of an abandoned tunnel, with one side open to the countryside. Natural light illuminates the living areas and part of the structure is cantilevered to provide a panoramic view of the area. It also includes a grassy roof that is only accessible to the owners, via a set of stairs that rises up from the home below.
2. Malator House - Malator House is a subterranean house located in Wales, built for a former member of the Welsh parliament. The roof of the house is completely covered in grass and the house itself is nearly invisible when viewed from above. The only giveaway is a large glass window that overlooks St. Brides Bay. The interior consists of an open plan concept, similar in style to a medieval hall. It is affectionately known as the “Teletubby House” by the locals, due to its uncanny resemblance to the Teletubbies home in the children’s television show.
1. Cave House - Proving once again that you can find anything you need online, the Sleeper family did just that when they decided to purchase a cave they found on Ebay! Located in Festus, Missouri, the Cave House originally started out as a mine and later was used as a skating rink and concert venue before the Sleepers decided to use it to build their dream home. And it was a labor of love – the Sleepers slept in a tent inside the cave while the house was being built, but after four long years, they finally achieved their one-of-a-kind home. The house uses geothermal and passive solar systems to keep the temperature at a comfortable 70 degrees all year long. And storage isn’t a problem – the house only takes up 2,240 of the 17,000 available square feet in the cave.
