The final permit granted by Bolton Council in England to build the first underground house with zero carbon in the country will be defined soon.
The house was designed by Make Architects for British footballer Gary Neville of Manchester United who turned out to be a person concerned about the environment. The underground house would have a structure of almost 800 square meters and has been designed to keep energy consumption to a minimum.
This design not only considers the eco-impact it would have but also maintains harmony with the tranquility of the surrounding meadows. The location and orientation of the property was something taken into account as well as the building materials (all local) and the use of traditional construction methods as far as possible. A heat pump will provide heating and voltaic panels and a wind turbine will generate renewable energy.
The house is shaped like a flower, each of the petals being a different area to eat, relax, have fun, work and play, all surrounding the central kitchen. When illuminated at night the floral design will be projected in the area. Many have compared it to the teletubbies house as it shares some aesthetic values. However, the architects in charge of Make Architects claim that the inspiration came from the Neolithic settlement under the ground Skara Brae.
Stuart Fraser, architect at Make Architects says: "The client was directly involved in the design process and really wants to preserve the beauty of the area." If the permit is granted, construction work would begin in the coming weeks.
Authors: Val
