Last Updated on April 8, 2025 by teamobn
Underground living – Texas style – Monolithic Dome Structures Italy, Texas USA
Dig a hole 66 metres x 23 metres x 10 metres deep (200’x75’x30′), blow up your shell, start pumping concrete and insulation, fill it back up again and you have your typical underground dome home!
Visitors to Glenn Young’s Monolithic Dome home often have a problem finding his front door. That’s because Glenn and John St. Pé, co-owners of Dome Contractors, Inc., built Glenn’s Monolithic Dome home completely underground. “We’ve had people come out who didn’t know there was a house there and actually parked on top of it,” Glenn said.
And that’s surprising, since Glenn’s home is anything but small. It has 3000 square feet of living space within five, interconnected Monolithic Domes flanked by two EcoShells. Entrance tunnels lead into these EcoShells or foyers. A 15-foot-diameter EcoShell with a three-foot stem wall serves as a front foyer while a 12-foot-diameter EcoShell with a four-foot stem wall serves as the back one.
Although his home is windowless and buried, with the creative genius of Houston artist James Perez, Glenn found a spectacular way of bringing the outdoors in. Perez painted outdoor scenes on the walls and ceilings. These all-encompassing murals give each dome its own exotic, colorful, realistic environment. “Each dome has its own sky with clouds, and the outdoor scenes give the rooms more depth,” Glenn said.
The home is apparently for sale right now. If living underground appeals to you, you’ll find the sales brochure here.
Benefits of Living in a Dome Underground House
Living in a dome underground house isn’t just an intriguing architectural choice. It’s also a highly practical and sustainable lifestyle option. An underground dome combines modern building techniques, energy efficiency, and durability. You’re investing in comfort, environmental consciousness, and long-term savings when you choose a dome home beneath the surface. Let’s look at the main benefits that come with living underground in a dome-shaped home.
Energy Efficiency and Natural Temperature Regulation
One standout advantage of dome underground houses is exceptional energy efficiency. Earth acts as natural insulation, moderating temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Because the dome structure is entirely or partially buried, it maintains stable indoor temperatures effortlessly. In winter, your home retains heat, while in summer, it stays pleasantly cool.
You’ll significantly reduce your reliance on heating and cooling systems, leading to considerable energy savings and lower utility bills. A dome underground home typically uses 50 to 70 percent less energy compared to conventional homes, making it both economical and environmentally friendly.
Superior Durability and Protection
Underground dome structures provide unparalleled durability and safety. The rounded shape of the dome distributes structural stress evenly. Because of this, your home can withstand extreme weather conditions, including tornadoes, hurricanes, heavy snowfall, earthquakes, and even wildfires.
Dome underground houses are reinforced with concrete and steel, making them exceptionally resilient against natural disasters. Unlike traditional structures, an underground dome home faces minimal maintenance issues, meaning fewer worries and reduced long-term expenses.
Sustainability and Environmental Benefits
Choosing an underground dome home is a clear commitment to sustainability. Because the structure is mostly hidden beneath the surface, it minimizes land disturbance and preserves the natural landscape around you. Its reduced energy needs contribute directly to a smaller carbon footprint.
Additionally, dome homes often integrate eco-friendly technologies like rainwater harvesting, passive solar heating, and geothermal energy, further promoting environmental stewardship. For those concerned about the environment, this type of living represents a perfect blend of comfort and responsibility.
Enhanced Privacy and Security
Living underground offers a unique sense of privacy that conventional homes simply can’t match. With your home concealed beneath the earth, you’ll enjoy freedom from the prying eyes of neighbors or passersby. The absence of visible entry points increases security, minimizing the risk of burglary or unwanted intrusions. This natural layer of privacy and safety makes underground dome homes ideal for those who value peace, quiet, and personal space.
Quiet and Comfortable Living Spaces
The underground environment naturally dampens noise, providing a serene, quiet living atmosphere. Earth insulates not only against temperature but also sound, significantly reducing noise pollution. Whether you’re near a busy road, airport, or urban area, your home remains a peaceful sanctuary. Additionally, dome structures foster excellent air circulation when designed thoughtfully, ensuring indoor air quality remains fresh and comfortable despite limited windows.
Aesthetic Freedom and Unique Appeal
Dome underground houses offer extraordinary design opportunities. You’re not limited by traditional aesthetics or constraints typical of above-ground structures. From artistic murals simulating outdoor environments to innovative lighting and design choices, your underground dome home can become a canvas for creative expression. The uniqueness and unconventional nature of these homes often increase their market appeal, providing potential resale value beyond conventional property.
Choosing a dome underground house goes beyond mere novelty. You’re selecting a lifestyle filled with efficiency, durability, comfort, privacy, and a clear respect for nature. With benefits extending into nearly every aspect of daily life, underground dome living presents an exciting and rewarding way to build a sustainable future.
Design Inspirations: Making Underground Spaces Inviting
Designing an underground dome house is an exciting challenge. It calls for innovative ideas to transform windowless, subterranean spaces into vibrant, welcoming environments. Despite their unique location underground, dome homes offer unlimited potential to create attractive interiors. Thoughtful use of colors, lighting, artwork, and strategic decor choices can make underground spaces feel spacious, lively, and comfortable. Here’s how you can draw inspiration to turn your underground dome home into an inviting, cozy haven.
Bringing Nature Indoors with Murals
Without traditional windows, underground dome homes need creative solutions to bring nature inside. One highly effective method is using expansive murals. Artists can paint stunning natural landscapes, skies, forests, mountains, or oceans directly onto walls and ceilings.
These realistic scenes not only mimic outdoor spaces but also create visual depth, making rooms appear larger and more open. Glenn Young’s underground dome home, with its striking murals by James Perez, beautifully showcases how lifelike paintings enhance an indoor environment, transforming otherwise blank spaces into breathtaking works of art.
Innovative Lighting Techniques
Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a welcoming underground living space. Since natural sunlight is limited or absent, strategic artificial lighting becomes essential. Using warm, soft lights along with recessed ceiling fixtures can provide uniform illumination and eliminate dark corners.
LED lights, track lighting, and fiber optic installations replicate daylight effects, giving interiors an airy, cheerful atmosphere. You can also use adjustable brightness and color temperature controls to simulate the natural progression of daylight, promoting a healthy circadian rhythm and enhancing overall comfort.
Curved Furniture and Organic Shapes
The curved architecture of dome houses naturally suggests incorporating furniture and decor featuring organic shapes and smooth lines. Sofas, chairs, tables, and shelving units with rounded edges blend seamlessly into dome interiors, promoting harmony and visual continuity. Choosing curved or circular rugs, lamps, and mirrors further complements the rounded walls, preventing visual clutter. This unified approach creates an effortless flow throughout the home, adding elegance and warmth that flat or sharp-edged furnishings can’t achieve.
Color Choices for Spaciousness and Comfort
Color choices significantly influence how inviting underground dome homes feel. Light, neutral colors—like whites, creams, pastels, or gentle earth tones—visually expand the space, reflecting artificial light to brighten interiors effectively. Using bold, vibrant accents in select areas adds personality and visual interest without overwhelming the senses. Paint colors inspired by natural environments, such as sky blues, leaf greens, sandy beiges, or sunset hues, further enhance a connection to nature, making underground living areas feel fresh, uplifting, and welcoming.
Vertical and Layered Decor
Emphasizing vertical spaces is an effective strategy to open up underground rooms and avoid feelings of confinement. Incorporating tall shelves, decorative vertical panels, or hanging art installations draws the eye upward, creating a sense of greater height. Layering decor elements—such as textured fabrics, plants, art pieces, and decorative lighting—adds dimension, complexity, and visual intrigue. These combined elements contribute to a comfortable, multi-layered environment that feels both spacious and cozy.
Green Elements and Plant Life
Integrating greenery into your underground dome home breathes life into the space, making it fresh and inviting. While natural sunlight may be scarce, you can use low-light indoor plants, artificial plants, or green walls that require minimal maintenance. Plants add texture, color, and a sense of well-being, counteracting the artificiality of underground living. Vertical gardens, moss walls, and potted plants strategically placed throughout your home soften the visual impact of concrete and enhance air quality, contributing to a healthy indoor atmosphere.
By combining innovative lighting, nature-inspired murals, strategic furniture choices, thoughtful colors, vertical emphasis, and lush greenery, your underground dome home can transform from a functional shelter into a delightful, welcoming retreat. Designing underground spaces is an exercise in creativity, providing endless opportunities to craft your ideal, uniquely inviting home.
Dome Underground House Gallery
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Challenges of Underground Dome Home Construction
Building an underground dome home offers numerous benefits, but it’s not without challenges. Constructing a subterranean structure involves unique considerations compared to traditional above-ground buildings. Planning, engineering, and executing underground dome homes require addressing specific issues to ensure safety, longevity, and comfort. By understanding these challenges early, you’re better prepared to overcome them and enjoy the advantages that underground living offers.
Managing Moisture and Humidity
One significant challenge for underground dome homes is moisture control. Below-ground environments naturally tend to accumulate moisture, potentially causing mold growth, structural deterioration, or uncomfortable indoor humidity levels. Effective waterproofing measures, proper drainage, and moisture barriers must be carefully planned and executed during construction. Additionally, advanced ventilation systems or dehumidifiers are essential to maintain a dry, healthy living environment underground.
Ventilation and Air Quality
Another key challenge is maintaining adequate air quality. Because underground dome houses have limited or no windows, ventilation becomes a priority. Ensuring proper air circulation and oxygen levels requires sophisticated air-exchange systems, air purifiers, or advanced HVAC installations. Without carefully managed ventilation, underground homes risk poor air quality, which can negatively impact residents’ health and comfort.
High Initial Costs
Excavating, reinforcing, and waterproofing an underground dome structure typically involve higher initial construction expenses compared to traditional homes. Significant excavation work, specialized equipment, and materials such as concrete, steel reinforcement, and high-quality insulation contribute to these increased costs.
Although dome homes may save money in the long term due to lower energy expenses, homeowners need to consider the initial investment carefully. Budgeting thoroughly and planning for higher upfront costs is essential to avoid unexpected financial stress.
Structural and Engineering Considerations
Building an underground dome home demands meticulous structural engineering to ensure stability and safety. The earth surrounding the dome exerts constant pressure, which must be counterbalanced by carefully designed reinforcement and dome geometry. Any miscalculation could result in structural failure, cracks, or leaks, compromising safety and durability. It’s crucial to engage qualified, experienced engineers and contractors specializing in subterranean dome structures to mitigate these risks.
Permitting and Local Building Codes
Securing permits for underground dome homes can be complicated, as many local building codes and regulations haven’t fully adapted to subterranean or unconventional structures. Approval processes might require extra time, paperwork, inspections, and possibly resistance from local authorities unfamiliar with dome home construction.
Prospective homeowners should research building regulations thoroughly, work closely with local agencies, and be prepared to educate building officials about the unique aspects and safety features of underground dome homes.
Lighting and Psychological Challenges
Without windows or abundant natural daylight, residents might initially experience psychological discomfort or feelings of isolation. Underground environments may feel confining or disconnected from nature, affecting mood or mental health for some residents.
This makes thoughtful lighting strategies, use of murals, plants, and other visual elements crucial during design. Implementing lighting that simulates natural sunlight and incorporating attractive interior designs can help offset these psychological challenges, creating a comfortable and uplifting environment.
Accessibility and Emergency Exits
Ensuring easy accessibility and safety in case of emergencies is another concern unique to underground dome homes. Clearly marked, accessible emergency exits and ventilation routes are critical. Residents must be able to evacuate quickly and safely during emergencies, such as fires or earthquakes. Careful design, clear emergency plans, and robust safety measures must be integrated into construction from the beginning.
Despite these challenges, careful planning, expert guidance, and appropriate technological solutions significantly minimize risks associated with underground dome home construction. By anticipating and thoughtfully addressing these issues, homeowners can successfully build secure, comfortable, and sustainable subterranean homes that provide exceptional long-term benefits.
Conclusion
Choosing a dome underground house means embracing innovation, sustainability, and exceptional living comfort. Though the construction presents unique challenges, thoughtful planning can effectively overcome them. With creative interior design and careful moisture control, these homes become inviting, secure sanctuaries beneath the surface. Ultimately, underground dome living provides a rewarding balance of environmental responsibility, privacy, and long-term savings.
It’s not underground but it’s certainly green – The Ryan Residence
