WHY EARTH SHELTERING?

The aim is to adopt energy

Problems that modern world is saving structure in houses by
currently faced with, includes using earth sheltered
- The excessive consumption of structure.
non- renewable energy sources WHAT IS EARTH
- Environmental pollution SHELTERING? Earthhouse building(vetsch
- Depletion of natural landscape An earth shelter is a architecture)
and topography because of structure with earth (soil)
negative impacts of human against the walls, on the
activities. roof, or that is entirely
In this context, the role of housing buried underground.
is a major source of energy TYPES OF EARTH
consumption and polluting the SHELTERING HOUSES Bermed earth sheltering
environment is more than other bermed
building types. Therefore, earth inhill
sheltered housing is pointed out underground
as a significant alternative to
above ground structure due to
decrease the environmental
footprint and energy
consumption. Inhill earth sheltering

Underground earth sheltering

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
One of the oldest examples of berming is found at Skara
brae in the Orkney islands of northern Scotland which
dated back 5000 yrs ago. Another example of inhill
earthshelter would be Merso Verde in southwest USA.
These buildings are constructed directly onto the ledges Skara brae, scotland
and caves on the face of the cliffs. The front wall is built
up with local stone and earth to enclose the structure.
The village of Kandovan in Iran is another example of
rocky earth sheltered construction.The houses of Djebel
Dahar region of Tunisia in Sahara desert is also earliest
forms of earth sheltering houses. These underground
shelters protect the people from hot sun.

Village of kandovan Iran

Meso verde national park

Djebel dahar region, Sahara
desert
ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
HOT AND HUMID CLIMATE -
ALONI HOUSE
INTEGRATION INTO TOPOGRAPHY
The Aloni house is located between two
downhill in flat site . The east and west of
the house are placed to the slope of hill. It
is fully in underground. Due to integrate
with the surrounding landscape, this
stunning underground house is combined
with the planted roof which is supported
by two parallel stone walls. Green roof of
the house helps to be part of the
landscape, so the house is integrated part
of the landscape.
DAYLIGHT CONSIDERATION
The four courtyards Aloni House
separate the living room into five
interior spaces with large windows,
flood the natural light and provide
the spectacular and compact view
to the outdoor spaces with
relationship to the landscape and
topography. Hence, natural lighting
is achieved through these
courtyards.
BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
Construction of Aloni House is based on the atrium design in which the
habitable rooms cluster around the atrium or courtyard to provide
exterior exposure. The role of these atrium design is very important
due to mitigate the wind speed, reduce the adsorption of solar
radiation during the summer and increase it in winter. In other word,
this natural element creates the micro-climate in order to modify the
unsuitable effects of weather. Hence, the courtyards have been
considered as an essential native element and as a passive cooling and
heating strategy due to control the thermal behavior by generating the
cooling in summer and heating in winter alongside with acting as an
obstacle against the stormy wind while circulating the air for
ventilation. The significant climatic adaptation of the Aloni House is
related to utilize low impact materials. The underground construction
with rustic (rural and local) materials such as local stone, clay and
timber led to enhance energy efficiency and protect the house against
the inclement weather.
COLD CLIMATE - VILLA VALS
INTEGRATION INTO TOPOGRAPHY
Utilization of passive solar radiation and
thermal mass has a significant
importance in Villa Vals because of the
very cold winter. Hence, whole of the
house is faced to the south for capturing
solar energy. In Villa Vals, entire of the
southern façade covers with large
opening with double glazed windows to
absorb more natural light, passive solar
energy and to provide ventilation. It is
located in the sloped topography (rocky
mountain) with south orientation due to
capture passive solar energy gain. In cold
climate, the best topography is the
slopey site with south facing orientation
like the Villa Vals in order to absorb
more solar radiation.
DAYLIGHT CONSIDERATION
The design concept was the use of central courtyard opened to sky,
which was the main source of natural lightening and ventilation. The
southern side of the house is covered with large windows due to
capture passive solar energy gain. All of the important spaces were
arranged to the southern side so that to enjoy solar radiation. Only
staircases, bathroom and storage are situated in northern side which is
the best arrangement of the plan for cold climate. Triple pane windows
are used to protect the house against the coldness as well as provide
the natural daylighting and spectacular view of mountains.
BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
An excavation of 10 meter deep was taken on the hill side when Villa
Vals was built. With reinforced concrete wall construction, a total
volume of 15.80 meter width and 7.90 meter depth box was installed
for the main body of the building. One of the most common types of
earth-sheltered housing is the elevational design like Villa Vals in
which windows and openings are grouped on one side of the
structure.
The house is provided with numerous of ecological materials such as
cardboard (reused material) in interior walls and the ceiling of the
library, veneered plywood (reused material) for sliding doors, rustic
concrete and traditional timber (natural materials) for interior walls.
MODERATE CLIMATE - EARTHSHIP DAYLIGHT CONSIDERATION
BRIGHTON In Earthship Brighton, the northern
INTEGRATION INTO TOPOGRAPHY
The Earthship Brighton is located in Stanmer
Park in an inclined topography. The
significant feature of this earth sheltered
house is preserving the natural landscape.
Therefore, going to the hill together with
green roof leads to create more harmony
with landscape together with preservation of
local ecosystem as well as minimal
intervention. On the flat site, the earth
covered and piled up in northern side
completely and also for the roof which leads
to create a green roof for the house. This
green roof creates more harmony into
topography.
side of the house is completely buried
into the earth while the southern side
is covered with large windows and
greenhouse. The form of the building
is east to west so that all of the spaces
are arranged between south and
north. The majority of the south
façade consists of windows and has
also three aperture roof lights in living
room, kitchen and side room which
can provide natural light.In order to
decrease the need for artificial
lighting, sun pipes or solar pipes are
provided for reflecting the natural
light down into the internal spaces.
Sun pipe (sky tubes) is a clever little
gadget of highly reflective tube which
runs from the roof of the Earthship to
the ceiling for conducting the natural
light into the indoor spaces.
BUILDING MATERIALS AND
CONSTRUCTION
Earthship Brighton utilizes
the low impact materials for
their construction from
timber and stone as local
materials to cans, bottles
and car tires as reused,
recycled and waste materials
instead of common building
materials like steel. More
than 20 tons of reused and
recycled materials were
used, including 1,000 car
tires, 1,500 cardboard boxes,
35 reclaimed paving slabs, 2
tons of bottles, 90 reclaimed
granite blocks, five
reclaimed doors, 4 tons of
marble with granite and
150m of floorboarCar tires
are the basic component of
the materials for the wall
with a 1m of rammeearth
which is covered with a
natural clay, adobe and
cement.
COMPARISION WITH STANDARD HOUSING
FINANCIAL COST
A particular factor that strongly influences the cost of an
earth shelter is the amount of earth that covers it. The more
earth covering the structure, the greater the expense is
needed in having a structure capable of withstanding the
load . Another important cost factor that tends to be unique
to earth shelters is site excavation and backfilling.The
amount of waterproofing is also more costly. On the other
hand, earth shelters should have lower maintenance costs
since they are mostly covered with little exposed exterior.
WIND
The unique architecture of earth houses protects them
against severe windstorms. They cannot be torn away or
tipped over by strong winds. Structural engineering and,
above all, the lack of corners and exposed parts (roof),
eliminate vulnerable surfaces which would otherwise suffer
from storm damage.Furthermore, earth houses benefit from
improved stability due to the more natural shapes of arches.
LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
Another benefit of underground sheltering is the
efficient use of land. Many houses can sit below
grade without spoiling the habitat above ground.
Each site can contain both a house and a
lawn/garden. The soil-covered roofs help
incorporate the environment, protect the natural
scenery.
ROOF COVERING
Roof covering is done using excavation material
which allows for planting useful plants.
STRUCTURAL SURVIVABILITY
usage of the earth as a thermal mass, extra
protection from the natural elements, energy
savings, substantial privacy in comparison to
more conventional homes, efficient use of land
in urban settings, low maintenance
requirements, and the ability to take
advantage of passive solar building design.As a
result of the increased thermal mass of the
structure, the thermal lag of the earth, the
protection against unwanted air infiltration
and the combined use of passive solar
techniques, the need for extra heating and
cooling is minimal. Therefore, there is a drastic
reduction in energy consumption required for
the home compared to homes of typical
construction.
SOUND PROOF
Earth shelters may provide privacy from
neighbors, as well as soundproofing. The ground
provides acoustic protection against outside
noise. This can be a major benefit in urban areas
or near highways.