Sketch Model

Sketch model of the underground house. The punctures that I have made for the skylights have to be resolved i.e be more of an intergrated design component.

There are some very private areas of the house especially towards street level, being underground and all. In contrast to the space towards the back of the site which is still 1m+ dug into the ground, which is open and exposed to the neighbours on each side who have two storey dewllings. However this contrast might work well in balancing the degree of isolation that might be felt spending so much time underground.

The image above on the left is what the house will look like from street level. And becuase it is flush with street level this leaves oppurtunity to dwell on the roof plane as well as use it as a secondary means of entering the house from the outdoor space at the back of the site.

Some images looking into the house from the outdoor area. During the day this space will be filled with a filtered light passing through the trees that occupy the outdoor space.

The Trojan House - Inspiration

Earth Houses by Peter Vetsch, this one is in Switzerland. The concept is quite extraordinary in that you virtually live underground. The house designed for my client will be similar to these houses by Peter Vetsch.

The interior of the same house as above has a very organic and fluid nature to it, Also very white but earthy. Note the skylight - very important as there are limited facades where windows can be placed.

An Earth Housing Estate also in Switzerland, this image reminds me very much of hobbit houses but only because of the curvaceous forms.

ACROS Fukuoka, Japan by Emilio Ambasz and Associates. It's a hotel complex with a green roof, there is a zig - zagging pathway that steps down the building from what i can gather from the image. I'm not really sure wether it stands out or blends in?!.

I love this house! It is Villa NM in Upstate New York, designed by Ben Van Berkel and UN Studio. The two way split of house and the interlocking of volumes is intriging.

Some colour wouldn't have gone astray, it has a showroom-like quality to it rather than a home, in my opinion. :) What an effective little model though!