Earth House Lattenstrasse
Written by S. Kim Henson
Though it looks like the Hobbits have moved in and decorated quite nicely, this project was actually designed by Peter Vetsch. Earth House Estate Lattenstrasse is located in Dietikon, Switzerland and has drawn attention for its in- and under-earth construction. The waviness of the home flows together with the countryside to integrate seamlessly into nature.
Earth Houses, also called Earth Berms and Earth Sheltered Homes, are just that – sheltered by the earth. The ground acts as a blanket, wrapping around and sometimes forming the walls of the structure for a well-insulated and eco-conscious living experience. The land maintains the home’s heat and humidity while protecting from rain, wind and cold. Modern versions are built from concrete and contain insulation beyond what is provided by the terrain. Also, the same exterior that would have to face the elements on a traditional build is sheltered and given a longer lifespan.
“The aim of building an earth house is not to live under or in the ground, but with it.” This is a philosophy well accomplished by Earth House Estate Lattenstrasse. The home is energy efficient, leaves a small ecological footprint and beautifully blends with its surroundings. Hope the Hobbits agree.
What others have said
Simon I agree the interior is outstanding, though the exterior looks a little like something out of the Flintstones comics, or stone age era!
I rather like the exterior as well as the interior. It reminds me of the fantastic organic aesthetics of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi whose work I enjoy very much due to its whimsy and outright contrast to the usual straight-up, traditional architecture.
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Oh although the interior, is beautiful and esthetically pleasing, the outside, does not appear to fit well in the landscape and or surrounding homes. I wonder, if another exterior color would help the building merge into the local surroundings.