Living in Earth

By Keith Heyde

Okay, so you’re cynical, I understand. We all technically live ‘inside’ of the earth. Whether you want to include the atmosphere as part of earth, or if you want to call the buildings made out of earth originating material ‘earth’, it is easy to argue that we live within the earth in one way or another.

However, for the adventurous folk not willing to compromise creativity for cynicism, it is interesting to envision an earth in which humans live within the earth, rather than on it.

For a few people, this doesn’t take any imagining. There are people in Australia currently who live within the old salt mines near Perth. These establishments (similar to Uncle Owen’s from Star Wars) are partially exposed in courtyard like areas with the rooms housed in underground caverns. Interestingly, these housing establishments have remarkable insulation that result in immense passive and active energy savings. Furthermore, because the housing structures are truly underground, there is passive plumbing. It is truly a remarkably sustainable existence.

Then, for all of the Lord of the Ring enthusiasts, there are many individuals in both England and the United States who have constructed ‘hobbit holes’, houses under small hills with grass or moss on the roof. These houses allow for the benefits of above ground construction, while adding a means to further insulate and protect structures with an earthen layer above. Although they are plagued with some structural and decay issues, they still result in massive energy savings in both hot and cool seasons. Coupled with geothermal heating systems, they can comfortably warm inhabitants without any ulterior fuel source.

Finally, designer Charles Duchosal recently proposed an entire earthen city, built into a rock cliff. This project, a joint venture between Duchosal and eVolo is deemed the Mountain City and is designed like a series of aerially accessible ports into a cliffside. With access via aircraft or balloons, each duct would be an independent store, house, or office with interconnecting tunnels inside the cliff network.

The “Mountain City” was created in response to the rapid urbanization in Africa and Asia. Although the plan may not be the most feasible with respect to current building practices, perhaps it is time we looked past feasibility in the present and into sustainability for the future. The benefits of the Mountain City (limited environmental impact, excellent efficiencies, and increased natural light network) may not be the primary building factors in the present, but in the near future they may become a more important decision factor.

Certain cities receive great praise: Washington D.C.’s electricity plan was decades ahead of its construction and New York’s water system was a century. Isn’t it time we started making forward facing city decisions of our own?