Comments on: UNDERGROUND ECO HOUSE: Snowden House

By: erincha

erincha — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:52:52 +0000

that is a wonderful house u got there

By: LaMarr

LaMarr — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 20:27:31 +0000

I personally live in a Red brick seven bedroom monster. Three bedrooms are in the basement which is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter unless the doors are left open and the cold air really drops fast. We’ve had the sewer back up with tree roots and water pipes break. Under ground isn’t bad if it’s into the side of a slope so water can drain out naturally. Hoping to build a subterainean home in the future and unload this beast.

These houses pictured are sterile and reminiscent of German design of the 1930’s.

By: Nicholas Johnson

Nicholas Johnson — Tue, 01 May 2007 18:52:23 +0000

Don’t forget the rain facter. The roof is mostly flat from what I can see of the house. When it snows alot you will get some bad results unless you have very good roof structures. I have personally see buildings collapse becuse of snow build up. But all in all it looks nice.

By: Nicholas Johnson

Nicholas Johnson — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:46:07 +0000

I would say the house looks plain not much color to it. Very little green. For being only 16 I have a very good understanding of architecture. It seems the home really isent too spacious on the out side and im not talking about overall space more of the fun factor as people would say. You don’t have a good out door experience. A fauther would like to show his son how to play football, soccer, baseball,ect. With this home you could very well live with adults but childern… not so much. It seems to have a lot of breakable items such as windows. The corded phone very good ideal, very energy efficent. A cordless phone we all have had problems with when it comes to a battery running low… then you have to go and get a new battery. Even when you charge it for a while it will still run low in a short time span. Some cordles phones work with no electricity, but instead using the telephone lines themselves as its own power source. The issue of fire hazerd can be a small problem, but can be avoided by mounthly fire drills and planed excape routs. Another very good comment stated, Underground dwellings are not common at all. The intercom linked to the cammera/microphone/speaker seems to be a good ideal but in some cases can be a bad ideal. Very good ideal though. I really all depends on the person. Also winter photos would be interesting to see. The glass block do put a very interesting textur to light, meaning that it isent just a regular window, it bends the light giving it a very nice effect. I live in Ohio and I aam currently in 10th grade. My school have blocked windows in the front. It is avery interesting sight. I live in a small town called miamisburg, a plain old town. Most of the buissnes buildings in town are the origional brick it was built with. Some of the houses are origional, but this house takes the cake… Well i got to go back to class.

By: majchers

majchers — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:01:20 +0000

Great house. More like an aquarium though but I love it regardless.
Very convincing concept bringing lots of light in.
Once inside hard to believe most of this dwelling is under the grade.
Too bad this type of approach is not that common around.

By: Nick Simpson

Nick Simpson — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:01:29 +0000

The reason it gets enough light is because a roof light lets in much, much more light than one on a wall, which is what most people have. I think it’s a beautiful piece of architecture, in a way much more so than any thunderous airport, arena or shopping centre…

By: Evan

Evan — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:50:25 +0000

And how do you exit lowest levels in case of fire?

By: wanderindiana

wanderindiana — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:35:31 +0000

Reminds me of the undergraduate library at the University of Illinois, built underground so as not to shade the adjacent Morrow Plots, “the oldest continuously operating agricultural experiment station in America and, as such … a designated historic landmark.” Of course, with the exception of two entry points, the entire library is underground. And it is a library and not a residence. Just brings back memories….

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:15:47 +0000

I believe that is an intercom system linked to an external camera/microphone/speaker setup not a phone though I can’t understand the reason for such a thing in such a small building and right next to the front door where a peephole would suffice unless this is part of a gated community. It’s like technology for technology’s sake. That rubs my green side the wrong way though I love the building architecturally with its excellent natural lighting and abundant plantlife.

By: Cullen

Cullen — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:35:28 +0000

i love glass block.

By: Ulrike

Ulrike — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:19:04 +0000

They’re beautiful homes, but they’re just two stories with a finished basement–not exactly an architectural wonder there. I think it’s great that they make an effort to “flood” the lowest level with natural lighting. On the other hand, “underground” house implies that at least half of the house is under ground level. That is not the case.

By: alasdair

alasdair — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:14:10 +0000

the corded phone looks like a door entry system to me and I’ve yet to see a pretty one of those, mind you you’d want it having to run UP two flights of stairs to let somone in – looks very cool but personally I’m not convinced that natural light would be sufficient to replace an outside opening even if it only has a view of a wall opposite

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:06:27 +0000

love to see this in section.

By: Willofgod

Willofgod — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:46:22 +0000

I love the idea of underground housing. To me the best would be if only an elevator/stairway and light tubes were above ground. All the rest natural area.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:31:12 +0000

I like the house, however seems to be highly relying on Natural lights, I would be interested to see pictures taken during winter season…