If you’ve ever wanted to “not to live under or in the ground, but with it”, then here’s the neighbourhood for you: architect Peter Vetsch’s ‘Earth House’ development located in Switzerland.  After looking through a few photos of the developments, one could argue that the ‘Earth House’ development is a true Garden City… in the literal sense.

Clearly, the idea of living in harmony with nature (or a tamed version of it) has been of central importance to several urban planners throughout the years. Thus the ‘Earth House’ is especially interesting when compared to urban planning schemes and utopian fantasies of the past century. Unsurprisingly, the fixation on natural light, green space, ventilation, space for recreation, and affordability remain central concerns for architects and urban planners. It is with these factors, coupled with the modern day preoccupation of environmental consciousness and ecological concerns, that Vetsch has created a new sustainable settlement. This new development consists of single-family homes covered by a blanket of earth and grass and surrounding an artificial lake in Dietikon Switzerland.

                   The ‘Earth House’

Vetsch focuses on promoting his unique style of architecture as environmentally friendly and financially savvy, two major concerns today. In recent years there has been an especially decisive shift towards environmental sustainability, and the ‘Earth House’ is the epitome of this movement. The ‘Earth House’ is surrounded by ground, which acts as insulation to keep the heating costs low while still protecting dwellers from adverse weather conditions. Vetsch designs these unique developments to preserve the natural landscape and he moulds each house according to the environment. This allows for organic arches to characterize the interior of the home; creating an environment highly effective for insulation that can result in energy savings up to 50%! Moreover, this unique structure also allows for a plethora of natural light in several rooms.

The ground enveloping the home also acts as a cocoon to protect it from rain, wind, and abrasion. According to Vetsch, these homes are also very well protected from earthquakes, fire hazards, and severe windstorms due to the fact that they’re built into, opposed to on top, of the ground. This may provide additional reassurance to some as we navigate the unpredictable terrain of climate change. Finally, the ‘Earth House’ also provides ample room for green space as the ‘roof’ of the home can be used as a gardening space or a terrace.

I personally think the idea is fascinating, environmentally conscious, and whimsical. I love the idea of having an environmentally friendly home focused on renewable energy as an option in a society that’s growing at an unprecedented rate. Having said that, I can see how it wouldn’t appeal to everybody considering that it’s clearly not conducive to city living. What are your thoughts on this style of development?