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TYPE:
RESIDENTIAL
YEAR:
2017
STATUS:
COMPLETE
CONSTRUCTION
REINFORCED CONCRETE
Return to projects
Subterranean Eco House
TYPE:
RESIDENTIAL
YEAR:
2017
CONSTRUCTION:
REINFORCED CONCRETE
STATUS:
COMPLETE
The vision
Our clients wanted something extraordinary: a home that celebrated its rural setting, connected with nature, supported wildlife, and delivered genuine sustainability. They dreamed of a house that would sit lightly in the landscape, combining modern design with ecological responsibility.
The vision
The Subterranean Eco House evolved from a vision to create a home embedded within its landscape, an environmentally conscious dwelling that integrates seamlessly with its natural surroundings. For the clients, sustainability is a way of life; therefore the intention for the project was to intentionally celebrate the sustainable elements of the design. Another requirement for the clients is the need for growing vegetables outside.
The challenge
The scheme was developed to sit within the site’s existing landscape, while creating a three storey spatial layout tailored to our client’s needs. Careful consideration was also given to ventilation and sustainability strategies, ensuring the design meets the high performance standards set by Arkhi Zero. Bringing natural light into the space required the careful development of intuitive and technically considered strategies, without the use of conventional windows.
The result
The Subterranean Eco House is underpinned by a thorough sustainable design strategy. Heating is achieved through passive solar gain, removing the need for a traditional central heating system. Exposed thermal mass captures heat during the day and releases it gradually overnight, while a whole house mechanical ventilation system ensures a constant supply of fresh air with minimal heat loss, supporting both comfort and long term energy efficiency. The materials are limestone rubble for most external walls, glazing and timber cladding for the south facing walls and polished concrete floors.
Inspired by The Subterranean Eco House?
Every project starts with a conversation. If you’ve got a vision, big or small, we’d love to help you bring it to life.
More to explore
Subterranean Eco House
The challenge
The starting point? A derelict stable in the Staffordshire Moorlands, deep in the green belt, with strict planning rules and a council reluctant to approve anything contemporary. On paper, it was more “impossible” than “potential.”
The journey
We knew this project would take strategy and persistence. Together with our clients, we developed a design that placed ecology at its heart — a living roof, rainwater ponds, and spaces for wildlife — while making the case for modern sustainability in a protected landscape. We worked closely with consultants, built the argument for planners, and refined the scheme without ever losing sight of the vision.
The result
The Roost is now a pioneering eco-home that delivers on every part of the brief: soaring views, light-filled interiors, and sustainability built into its very fabric. It proves that even in the toughest planning environments, a bold vision and careful problem-solving can produce a home that’s modern, ecological, and deeply connected to place.
Inspired by The Subterranean Eco House?
Every project starts with a conversation. If you’ve got a vision, big or small, we’d love to help you bring it to life.
More to explore
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20 George Street, Alderley Edge, SK9 7EJ
20 George Street, Alderley Edge, SK9 7EJ
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