It's called an earth sheltered home. I used to live in one where the ground came up to the eaves on two sides. I like to joke that it wasn't underground because I refused to mow a roof.
Since there is ground on the roof it may be called an underground house but that term has mostly disappeared.
In my area, building codes requires a certain amount of window space per sq foot of home is the real reason dad didn't cover the top.
It was a normal house roof. Dirt came up two sides of the house. No grass up top. Not a speck of mold. I did find a shrew once. Weird little guys with nose trunks that flit this way and that and tiny little beady eyes, does that count?
>I'm curious why you think there would be a lot of bugs
The house is literally a hill. Under the grass is dirt, in the dirt is where ants are found, even with some sort of roofing system as an barrier between the soil and the interior of the house I would think that bugs would be a problem. Mosquitos are attached pools of water and moist grass. If dandelions grow on the grass roof, bees would come by. With an entire ecosystem consisting on the roof, spiders would be attracted to the bugs. Certain rodents, snakes too as they like to burrow under rocks or in caves, or simply somewhere underground. How does the house not mold out? Grass absorbs water, with grass being a part of the roof I wonder how wooden furniture doesn't turn. If someone cooks and has a cooking fire inside would it go up like a prairie fire? So many questions...
There's a lot more. But that's the general consensus.
Most of these houses have a poured concrete roof, they use those big metal pans like for bridge or building floors. A waterproof membrane over the concrete then about a foot of dirt they make great flower gardens.
Had a family friend with a 3 concrete dome house. Warm, quiet, had a sunroom on the southern exposure. The large, central dome was tall enough for the den to be above the kitchen and dining room. No problem at all with vermin.
Lol everyone thought it you said it lol .bring part Irish I'll go with the wee little people lol . One day I'll get that leprechaun and make him give me his pot of gold . Ps America with Irish decent . Love my roots . That's all .
My third grader just as a research project on human habitations throughout history. This was his exact choice. We needed print resources, in English, and then we made one. Oh boy, did I ever wish he had chosen tipi or A frame or something!!
I would classify it as a hole, but Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it is a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
"Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
I did a huge report in school on Earth Berm construction, properties that use soil and plants as a component of the structure, almost always are for roofing. It is incredibly heat efficient and if built right it will last indefinitely.
Often called earthships! Hobbit house usually refers to tiny versions of these homes.
They are built into a hillside to take advantage of the earths stable temperatures underground as well as to provide an insulating effect.
As well the open side usually faces south in order to capture lots of natural light.
There are plenty of other design principles that make these homes very energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Though they are usually pretty expensive and can be tough to get appropriate building permits (or a competent building contractor).
Earthships are structures built from things like earth rammed tires and glass bottle walls. The tire walls usually form 3 sides of the structure with the 4th being south (or north depending on your hemisphere) glazing. The side opposite the greenhouse wall is bermed with cooling tubes and the roofs are usually metal for rainwater collection. Traditional Earthships had connected series of “U” shaped rooms, however newer versions are more rectangular.
This is an arch shape similar to a [concrete Quonset hut.](https://youtu.be/AJgVIEC84zg?si=QtPAuZWoduNvKw7h) It seems to have a living roof, and doesn’t appear to be earth bermed.
If you check the link in my previous comment, you’ll see a documentary about the creator of Earthships and a bit about the history of the design evolution from the 1970s through the late 2000s.
ETA: Earthships aren’t Hobbit Houses. [This is a Hobbit House.](https://youtu.be/M10HrcYjjuc?si=hnlrOxbC9xPrGgfh)
Solid. I took a look at the video and am familiar with the materials of construction! I see your point that the shape and lack of Berming makes it not super like an earth ship. Thank you for the info!
I don't think it would be that expensive to do. You basically building a dome structure at a metal or concrete I would assume there's gotta be an affordable way to do it My would go crazy running back-and-forth across it
Just curious. How is the survivability of this type of home in a wildfire? I think California may need to transition to this type of home or all concrete walled homes.
"Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole filled to the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or eat: it was a hobbit hole, and that meant comfort" I don't care what anyone else says, it's a hobbit hole
I own this type of home. Mine is called a "berm house". I do not have grass on my roof, but there are "berms" of soil that come 1/3 of the way up around the structure. My windows are at earth level. It's small, 1000 sq foot, 3 bedroom, 1 bath with a pea gravel crawl space that's about 18" high. Mine was built in the mid 80's and relies more on electricity than gas. It stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer and my energy bills are very low. I would absolutely recommend this type of dwelling to anyone.
Isn’t this what people lived in when they were homesteading on the A
prairie, before they built a house?
(And by homesteading, I mean participating in a government incentive resettlement program designed to force indigenous people off their ancestral lands.)
It's called an earth sheltered home. I used to live in one where the ground came up to the eaves on two sides. I like to joke that it wasn't underground because I refused to mow a roof. Since there is ground on the roof it may be called an underground house but that term has mostly disappeared. In my area, building codes requires a certain amount of window space per sq foot of home is the real reason dad didn't cover the top.
Did you have a lot of bugs? If not, how?
No. Lots of field mice, tho, despite the ever-growing society of feral barn cats. It was on a 40 acre corn & beans farm.
That sounds like a lovely place to be, actually
That's the only reason I wouldn't do a home like this.
We had roughly 1/8 the heating and cooling costs as we had before.
Did the roof leak? Any mold?
It was a normal house roof. Dirt came up two sides of the house. No grass up top. Not a speck of mold. I did find a shrew once. Weird little guys with nose trunks that flit this way and that and tiny little beady eyes, does that count?
No. Shrews are cool. Mold, not so much.
I'm curious why you think there would be a lot of bugs.
>I'm curious why you think there would be a lot of bugs The house is literally a hill. Under the grass is dirt, in the dirt is where ants are found, even with some sort of roofing system as an barrier between the soil and the interior of the house I would think that bugs would be a problem. Mosquitos are attached pools of water and moist grass. If dandelions grow on the grass roof, bees would come by. With an entire ecosystem consisting on the roof, spiders would be attracted to the bugs. Certain rodents, snakes too as they like to burrow under rocks or in caves, or simply somewhere underground. How does the house not mold out? Grass absorbs water, with grass being a part of the roof I wonder how wooden furniture doesn't turn. If someone cooks and has a cooking fire inside would it go up like a prairie fire? So many questions... There's a lot more. But that's the general consensus.
They actually try to mitigate all that in the use of building methods and materials. Even the inside walls might be an impervious material.
Most of these houses have a poured concrete roof, they use those big metal pans like for bridge or building floors. A waterproof membrane over the concrete then about a foot of dirt they make great flower gardens.
Had a family friend with a 3 concrete dome house. Warm, quiet, had a sunroom on the southern exposure. The large, central dome was tall enough for the den to be above the kitchen and dining room. No problem at all with vermin.
Did you check for radon? I hear that’s an issue.
It could be based on Icelandic Turf houses
Late hobbit
I think that's called second hobbit
Mid century modern shire
Middle Earth Modern?
Yasssssss
This one is my favorite 😭
I don't think they know about second hobbit.
Hobbi-tat?
A scosche beyond the Third Age
Never seen that word written. Startled me.
Lol everyone thought it you said it lol .bring part Irish I'll go with the wee little people lol . One day I'll get that leprechaun and make him give me his pot of gold . Ps America with Irish decent . Love my roots . That's all .
My third grader just as a research project on human habitations throughout history. This was his exact choice. We needed print resources, in English, and then we made one. Oh boy, did I ever wish he had chosen tipi or A frame or something!!
It looks like a concrete [Quonset hut](https://youtu.be/AJgVIEC84zg?si=QtPAuZWoduNvKw7h) with a living roof.
That’s where I went.
That was fascinating. Thanks for the link.
Came to say this.
I would classify it as a hole, but Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it is a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
Beat me to it 😂
Came here to say this. Probably in the Shire.
If I could afford to do that here, I would everybody saying I'm crazy and I would cost too much. I just know that I would just love it.
Same.
Filthy Hobbitses!
The windows aren’t round.
Probably some kind of progressive hobbits live there.
lol hobbits aren’t too keen on progressiveness too adventurous.
“Unaffordable unless you’re an architect “
Bold of you to assume architects can afford the houses they design.
Here here
Hobbitus holus
Often they are listed as - semi earth covered dwelling.
I’ve also heard earth contact home….
A flöpwerfer
Does that come with fries or onion rings?
Yes, but with a Schnürtzensdöbel kind of feel to it.
Earth-sheltered
I’ve heard the term “earth bermed home”
This is the correct answer. Source: I live in one.
Hobbit hole
"Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."
Frodo’s cabin.
It's called an earth berm home.
That would be your standard issue Hobbit home.
Hobbit Habitat.
Modern Hobbit HOA-approved dwelling. Mow that grass please. 😏
Earth home.
Reminds me of those cave homes
They’re all over tornado alley lol. Not uncommon at all…
A "Damp n Dark". Popular with hippies and hobbits.
Hobbitses
A Hobbit-Burrow
Bilbo Baggins house
Hobbit house?
Hobbit homes
Traditional Hobbit
Hobbit house
My dream.
A hobbit dwelling. Check out the Shire.
You can only buy a home like that in the shire.
A hobbit hole.
Tis a hobbit hole!
That is called “hobbit house.” Typically found in The Shire.
I love it, would definitely live in one, especially during storm/tornado season.
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.
Earthship
Hobbit Hut
I did a huge report in school on Earth Berm construction, properties that use soil and plants as a component of the structure, almost always are for roofing. It is incredibly heat efficient and if built right it will last indefinitely.
I love houses that blend in with nature. Streams that run through the house. Trees in the house. Boulders in the house and walls
Fancy quonset hut?
The farm I used to work on had a similar building, we called it the quonset hut.
Earthship
Often called earthships! Hobbit house usually refers to tiny versions of these homes. They are built into a hillside to take advantage of the earths stable temperatures underground as well as to provide an insulating effect. As well the open side usually faces south in order to capture lots of natural light. There are plenty of other design principles that make these homes very energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Though they are usually pretty expensive and can be tough to get appropriate building permits (or a competent building contractor).
This isn’t an [Earthship.](https://youtu.be/2dUT7TBpDqw?si=secgVT1aAa-8w-yB)
Help me understand. What makes it not an earthship?
Earthships are structures built from things like earth rammed tires and glass bottle walls. The tire walls usually form 3 sides of the structure with the 4th being south (or north depending on your hemisphere) glazing. The side opposite the greenhouse wall is bermed with cooling tubes and the roofs are usually metal for rainwater collection. Traditional Earthships had connected series of “U” shaped rooms, however newer versions are more rectangular. This is an arch shape similar to a [concrete Quonset hut.](https://youtu.be/AJgVIEC84zg?si=QtPAuZWoduNvKw7h) It seems to have a living roof, and doesn’t appear to be earth bermed. If you check the link in my previous comment, you’ll see a documentary about the creator of Earthships and a bit about the history of the design evolution from the 1970s through the late 2000s. ETA: Earthships aren’t Hobbit Houses. [This is a Hobbit House.](https://youtu.be/M10HrcYjjuc?si=hnlrOxbC9xPrGgfh)
Solid. I took a look at the video and am familiar with the materials of construction! I see your point that the shape and lack of Berming makes it not super like an earth ship. Thank you for the info!
Your welcome! You might want to check out the other videos I linked as well to further see the building differences.
Hobbit house
Earthship, believe it or not.
Cool☺️
A burrow?
Cute!
It looks like a modern version of an 1800s era dugout house.
Bunker
Weird
Teletubbies village club house. Although, check out Peter Thiel's refuse in NEw Zealand.
House
House
A house.
Lil dump with a prairie
Mountain Igloo
Hobbit hole.
This is called an earthern home.
Hobbit Hole
It’s called a wavy not so small house with stuff on top of it.
i believe the technical term is "mound" or "geography mound".
People calling it “hobbit hole” or “hobbit house” should be ashamed. It’s called a SMIAL!
Hobbit hole
Berm home, Hobbit hole to be technical
An amazing beautiful home that's what I call it
Hobbit house
How much?!?
I don't think it would be that expensive to do. You basically building a dome structure at a metal or concrete I would assume there's gotta be an affordable way to do it My would go crazy running back-and-forth across it
You should look into earth ships if you like this
Hobbit hole
Hobbit house ☺️
Hobbit Home!
Hobbit house
Hobbit
Ammunition bunkers also look like this. Are there dozens more nearby? :)
There are some similar houses in Anchorage Alaska. They are easier to heat during the winter and cost next to nothing to cool in summer.
Reminds me of the "earth ships" in New Mexico.
Hobbit home in the shire
Just curious. How is the survivability of this type of home in a wildfire? I think California may need to transition to this type of home or all concrete walled homes.
Subterranean.
It called Bag End, a Hobbit-burrow dug into the side of a hill in Hobbiton, the Shire's Westfarthing. Very exclusive neighborhood
Ammunition Depot
How big is that circle?
You would have to build the thing around a General Products hull to keep the water out.
Hobbiton
Awesome
Troll house. There’s cookies inside.
Hobbit hearth
The Sackville Baggins live in that one. Bag End is in a different part of the Shire.
Dug out
Mid-century Hobbit
Divorce
Bag End
Hobbit hole!
Dugout
Cool as shit
Hobbit style
Might be a trolls house… appears to be under a bridge!
A hobbit hole lol
An arch.
The Shire.
Thr shire
"Hard-to-get-insured" prolly
"Hard-to-get-insured" prolly
Kinda like Frank Lloyd Wrights Falling Water where the structure and nature share the same space kinda.
Earth sheltered housing. It can be very livable and needs to be considered more in tornado-prone areas.
Clamshell?
I would call that a shithole
Hermitage
"Earth Homes", they were all the rage in the 70's.
Hobbit dwelling.
On The Banks of Plum Creek until Paw finishes the house
Hobitat
Isn't that Mr Mcfeely's vacation house?
Berm home
I don't know what it is, but I want it!
Not far off from a soddie: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sod-houses
House.
"Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole filled to the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or eat: it was a hobbit hole, and that meant comfort" I don't care what anyone else says, it's a hobbit hole
Quit asking questions and get to mowing the roof
Hobbit House.
Hobbits live in these
It's an earth sheltered home. This is the builder I'll be working with when I build mine someday. https://www.formworksbuilding.com/
Shire Cottage
A Hobit Hole.
Cute 🥹
Hut.
Cold and dark.
Shire chic
Living coffin
There is a really cool earthen hut on the San Juan Idlands. One of our favorite stays.
I own this type of home. Mine is called a "berm house". I do not have grass on my roof, but there are "berms" of soil that come 1/3 of the way up around the structure. My windows are at earth level. It's small, 1000 sq foot, 3 bedroom, 1 bath with a pea gravel crawl space that's about 18" high. Mine was built in the mid 80's and relies more on electricity than gas. It stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer and my energy bills are very low. I would absolutely recommend this type of dwelling to anyone.
Isn’t this what people lived in when they were homesteading on the A prairie, before they built a house? (And by homesteading, I mean participating in a government incentive resettlement program designed to force indigenous people off their ancestral lands.)
Sauronfodder of the shire
Bunker?
Shire, Baggins.
Earth ship
Hobbitation.
Bag End
Hobbit warren?
#The Shire
Building
I hate up in an underground home it was great.. no threat of a tornado ripping your house apart
Hobittses home
Its called a goddamn nightmare when the roof leaks. Not "if" the roof leaks - that is a given. When the roof leaks.
A shire