Future of Shelters/ Homes

"Hill Side" Homes
10 Examples of homes using "cut in" designs

In the past, homes. shelter was designed purely to protect from the changing elements. Rain, snow, wind, cold, etc. If it stood upright, kept you dry and warm then it worked. Currently builders are becoming more and more  aware of the toxic/ wasteful elements used in many houses and buildings. Change is slowly being implemented. Looking to the future, a shelter cannot simply provide the basic needs, now it needs to be more. It needs to be sustainable. It needs to be clean. Design is a large emphasis in how we look at things too. 
With these elements in mind, I stumbled across these self sustaining "in the hill" homes. complete with a stretch of green space out front that doubles as an insulating green roof for the unit below. The roofs are populated with local plants and feature rainwater recycling systems that help water the plants and provide greywater for use in the apartments. This means that not only can homes use this design, but apartment complexes as well. 

Multiple homes around the country are starting to approach this "underground" living. Adaptable to multiple regions, the ideation is endless. 

All kinds of mediums are being used: soil, rock, desert, oceanic scenes. 

Bullet answers:

1.) Globally: Looking at structures across america, housing is vastly different as it stands. Globally, we could implement this cultural designs into multiple cultural traditions. This leaves endless opportunity. 

2.) Nationally: This sustainable housing, especially apartment living: could make housing so much MORE affordable for people who have low income. These people could even potentially grow their own food on their own rooftops. Ending homelessness and those who are hungry?? AWESOME!

3. ) Locally: Minnesota has some great resources. If we could use these designs, we could use snow to our advantage as an isolator. This could cut heat bills in half, and allow people to not worry about making the cut on their heating bill each month. Perhaps spending money in other places needed. 

The greatest outcome is a home that not only uses energy from the sun, but also has self insulation  heating, while producing the ability to create more green space for activity, increased photosynthesis and the potential to grow ones own food. With the way our culture is trending: organic, growing your own, etc … These houses could be the next big "trend". 

The worst outcome, could be poor design. If not designed correctly: or if using an unstable material, natural disasters could easily crush homes without even trying. Or, we could live underground, completely neglecting the opportunity of sustainable growth. 

Would you want to design an in ground home someday?

What aspects excite  you?

What aspects would worry you about living underground?