underground house

A bushfire-resistant earthship-inspired underground home, using recycled bricks from the former dwelling lost in the Black Saturday fires of 2009. This warm and light home generates more energy than it consumes. The thermal mass and north orientation of the house keep internal temperatures within a range of 22-23 deg C year round. Sheep are used to keep the grass short on the rooftop, and the north-facing greenhouse provides passive heating, and the perfect growing environment for tropical herbs such as tumeric, lemongrass and ginger.

The home is used regularly as a classroom for high-school and permaculture classes, as an example of permaculture design principles, passive house design principles and carbon-neutral living.

This project was featured on Grand Designs Australia.

Design team:
Alvyn williams
Barry O'Brien

Photographs:
Ben Wrigley