THE UNDERGROUND HOUSE - THE U-G-H - A PHOTO ESSAY

Twenty-five years ago my brother decided to build an underground house. He had done his homework, found an architect who specialized in such things and together he and his wife and the designer sat down and designed a house that would suit their life style and their pocket book.

The house is called THE UGH (Under Ground House).

A survey was done to see if there was enough of a hill for the house and then the big machines rolled in. The hill was moved and construction of the backbone of the house was started. Steel bars and cement formed the rooms, a concrete floor was laid, and huge slabs of cement were laid over the top for the roof by a crane that could be seen for miles.

The plumbers, electricians, stonemasons did their magic. Floor to ceiling sliders were in place at the south and east section of the house and normal windows lined the rest of the house.

An atrium was in the middle, open to the sky for fresh air and light and serves as a secret garden. The atrium was required to satisfy local fire laws. The two back bedrooms had to have windows to the outside world.

This home has four large bedrooms, two full baths, a great room that included a large kitchen, dinning room, and sunken living room with heat attracting brick for floors, and a den. The living room and den were divided by a full floor to ceiling fireplace made our of field rocks. It also had a very large shop where my brother built the cabinets, counters, and other finishing’s for the house. The laundry room and a back entrance that leads up to a 2-car garage completes the picture.

If you didn’t know what you were looking at, all you can see when you drive up the driveway is the garage and entryway.

Eventually the dirt was pushed back up over the house. The south and east walls are glass, the atrium inside is glass, the rest of the house on the outside is mow-able. The inside looks like any other home with some brick walls, some brick floors, the rest of the house has ceramic tile floors, and most of the walls are covered in sheet rock and papered or painted.

It’s in the boonies so it has well water and a septic system. Woods surround it so the house was heated by a woodstove hooked up to a forced air system. Just two years ago because they are getting older they put in a real furnace. Now there is no work involved with getting heat. The wood stove still gets used in conjunction with the furnace.

The house is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Trees shade the south and east sides in summer and allow the sun in to heat the floors in the winter. Ceiling fans help distribute hot and cool air through the large rooms. There is approximately 3000 square feet of living space.

To protect my brother’s privacy I can't tell you where it is other than in upstate NY. Keep in mind too these pictures were taken this past weekend so there are no flowers or leaves on the trees. The look changes with the seasons.

This last image is the view out the front door in Summer - This family loves their underground house.