Family builds twin underground homes in ancient mountain farm

[@pamelamartin9901]

My husband and I live in Iowa, USA. We built our underground home in 1980. We have lived here for 44 years. We love it. It is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

[@threeblindmice369]

How long did it take to build?

[@pamelamartin9901]

We broke ground in April 1980 and we moved in in October 1980. My husband and I had 50% sweat equity in it at time of signing for the mortgage.

[@tedburke8187]

@@pamelamartin9901 how did you waterproof it?

[@pamelamartin9901]

@@tedburke8187 first of all we did a soil test. That information was sent to IOWA State University. The engineering department told the concrete people what kind of a stress load the concrete walls would have to withstand in the climate we live in. Tha outside walls were done with a continuous pour . The outside walls are 12 inches thick with 16 inch center rebar. Econoforms ( an international company that makes pre stressed concrete forms) which is located in Des Moines, Iowa. We purchased the forms which make up the initial roof. They are free span and were set with a sixty ton crane. Then those as well as the whole house was enclosed with bituthene. A 12 inch concrete cap was poured on top. Then a thermal break was added to the roof. It was finished with 3 feet of earth. Grass grew the spring following our move in. A extensive drainage system was installed around the outside. I hope this helps. We don't have water problems.

[@dimaur3697]

is it bunker or like this in vidio ?

[@BowenOrg]

I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SHE'S AS "REAL AS IT GETS"... AND "SAYS IT LIKE IT IS"... AND ALWAYS WITH LOTS OF HUMOR AND A SMILE!!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!! : ) Amen Retired, Veteran

[@4115steve]

Please make more underground home videos. Society doesn't understand how much the world needs housing like this. South facing homes with large windows in the front and being buried on the roof and three aides allow people to live year round without relying on air conditioners or heaters. Homes like these will allow the world to not need fossil fuels.

[@choosejoy1464]

In the USA This is comparable to a walk out basement with out the upper story. I could easily live in one 🥰 it’s warm cozy with a feeling of safety. Love Earth homes

[@alexriddles492]

In Missouri, where I live they built quite a few of these during the energy crisis of the 1970's. Here we call them "earth contact homes". EDIT: After watching the rest of the video this is closer to an earthship than what we have here. What we have here is usually built with concrete walls and a shallow pitched roof like you would find on a ranch style house. But, like this example they are all windows on the south side for solar heat gain in the winter.

[@terrimatz7463]

I grew up in a walkout basement and never realized how future thinking my parents were!! 🧐 we have a pond and Creek in our backyard and I now live there today. We put an upstairs and an addition on the house but still seems cozy here in Michigan😁🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@dontcare3430]

One of the names is earth bermed. I live in one in Wisconsin. Very cozy. Heated only with wood.

[@kit2130]

Berm house

[@ebybeehoney]

- I love this idea from when I had a basement apartment (also in MO) but after a while I discovered a problem with black mold and the owner would do nothing. My health suffered a lot. I hope there's a way to prevent that problem.

[@boa1793]

The US needs these in “tornado alley.” The new houses are made so unstable for any bit of wind, let alone tornadoes.

[@MrRebar15]

*Kirsten Dirksen* Bravo well done, you never fail to show us amazing homes. Thank-you for taking the time to bring us along. God Bless.

[@domainedesperbasque8070]

Thank you so much for coming and staying with your family at Domaine d'Esperbasque. Thank you for the nice video you made. Best wishes for all.

[@c.erine78]

My goodness, I love it!! I can imagine spending time there is very peaceful. Thank you for taking us along!!

[@Noniinthebush]

I could sit and chat with this lady all day long and more! This is amazing I love it! Cheers from Australia 🙂

[@juliahelland6488]

Thank you Marianne and Rene for sharing your earth homes with us! 💯❣ Always love watching your tours Kristen.❣

[@freedomtowander]

That woman is so happy I bet it was fun talking to her for hours!

[@igitahimsa5871]

It's gorgeous! Thank you Kirsten, for another unique and wonderful find.. God Bless

[@bwuh]

Love that you bring your kids on many of these adventures!

[@leokorn1629]

i like that idea and i think that this should be the future of housing.

[@SonoraD.]

This lady is lovely.

[@betsyolsson-mackowski7682]

Really lovely! I especially enjoy the triple bunk tucked in the back wall and I noticed the frosted glass on the bedroom door to maintain privacy while still passing daylight through to the bunk area. Charming! Would love to know more about the black water management and the way water flows through the property. I also want to learn more about Marmots now!😉🐹

[@chezmoi42]

They are Punxsutawney Phil's cousins!

[@trakate]

Que genial idea ha tenido esta señora. Que bueno que la ley le permita edificar de esa manera sin ponerle ninguna traba legal El paisaje es de ensueño que tranquilidad se respira allí Felicitiaciones por todo el contenido de este canal ,merecedor de un premio especial por la calidad y variedad de cada video historia Muchos saludos desde ARGENTINA

[@ludovic9477]

La France est pleine de surprises dans le domaine architectural 👍🏻🇨🇵

[@jeffepstein6911]

Ma'am I just wanted to say of all the reasons of love your videos, the biggest one is the people who make their vision a reality. The unique characters that march to their own drum, but are obviously very intelligent and talented. It's a side of humanity we rarely see. Thank you for all your hard work. 🙏

[@velvetindigonight]

True

[@lisacolbert5987]

SO well done . My father had a construction company in our small town for many years and one of the first homes he and his business partner built was one very much like this one. It is on the edge of town and from the road you have no idea it is there. This home and the area around look very similar .

[@willbass2869]

Interesting. Any details like size and is it still lived in? I worry about water intrusion ruining the structural parts. I imagine homeowner's insurance is probably impossible to get since ins. companies want standard everything

[@lisacolbert5987]

@@willbass2869 Yes , I’ve wondered myself whether permitting , insurance , etc. have since become more of a headache. The man they built it for did a couple of terms as county commissioner and over the years has rallied to keep permitting for ‘alternative’ building methods accessible. But yes , I know firsthand from him (I’ve been curious as it’s been 40+ years) that they’ve had zero moisture or structural issues. And this is up on the Olympic Peninsula where we get plenty of rain. Too , we’ve had a couple of fairly strong earthquakes. I’d expected at least a few problems to pop up here and there over time , but no. I wish I could offer more in terms of building methods they used , materials , etc. but I was obsessed with wooden boat building back then and wasn’t paying much attention. I clearly recall that small-town consensus had most of their belongings - at the very least - destroyed by damp if not full-on deluge within a year. But yes , they still live in it and they still keep llamas 🦙 that tromp around on top of it.

[@lisacolbert5987]

I wish I could tell you more about any insurance issues they had or that have come up. Because I know you’re right about insurance companies wanting standard everything. I’ve never thought to ask him. But now I’m wondering if they’d let him build it at all ? As far as size … I’ve only been inside a few times and so , partly because the spaces aren’t square , I’d only be guessing at square footage but it I remember it always seemed much bigger inside than what I’d expected. Too , the whole front is mostly glass and looks out over a good-sized llama pasture and then lots of large cedar and fir trees surrounding but not blocking the Olympic Mountains. So it’s quite expansive and doesn’t feel at all cramped , dark or cave-like. But I’d guess they’ve got around 800 or so sq. ft. .

[@lizapassemard520]

Such a beautiful home! Thank you Kirsten! But especially thank you to Marianne and Rene for sharing your creations!

[@aaronfogelsanger2550]

Sweet house, saves so much energy Well done

[@miangelsai]

Excelent as always ..Gracias por mostrar esta casa y su simpatica propietaria .. Very handy person who enjoy doing things ... Thanks again . !!

[@lonewolf56308]

I've thought more than once of doing this with a few semi-trailers, Bunker style! I love this video and the people that actually do what I dream.

[@solartime8983]

In touch with Nature...+Grounded! "No Internet, No Phone, No TV...just Music & Books"🤓 PEACE❤

[@penguinchick6563]

I think this is my favorite home in the last few years of your videos! 👍❤

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

I want this to be more common in North America. I hate how so many houses are on the very peak of a hill, sticking out like a sore thumb. It would be so cool to look south and not see any houses because they are all like this. My winters are harsh so this makes sense for energy savings and many other reasons.

[@maryhart637]

Wonderful!! Love the houses and love the owner🌈

[@gerry343]

I love your films, Kirsten, so many interesting places for people to live.

[@alexanderpappas68]

All these cute homes and happy people make me smile. I like this channel!

[@Kriswixx]

This would be perfect for me. I would love to live in a place just like that. look at all that room!!

[@TomiLoveless]

Beautiful!!! I'm gonna make myself one of these. Well Done.

[@louisepiepenburg2252]

Really beautyfull, and the wonderful difusión you are doing taking your whole family with you. Your children will surely by inspired to be creative persons. ❤️ Thank you

[@hotsaucenchicken09]

Always great video work. Keep inspiring

[@Ursaminor31]

This is fantastic and wonderful. Thank you for all you do to share.

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

Not sure how you do it, but you find the most interesting people. Always look forward to your stories.

[@patrickroach-bv1gx]

You are my favorite video creators. You find great subjects.

[@lancedaniels]

Thanks for posting and sharing. Nice to see these structures.

[@Lwah0812]

I love this, I’ve been fascinated by homes like this ever since I Was a kid and read the Little House On the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

[@oliverburke]

LOVE her accent!!!

[@matty8920]

Dutch!

[@MAM-cy3yy]

Small and efficient. What more do you need? Well done.

[@smrk2452]

This looks like an Airbnb. You could make money off this if you wanted to rent out the second house. Thanks for making this video. I really enjoyed it!

[@mizfrenchtwist]

wonderful...........good on you all.....thank you , for sharing............

[@happykt]

Marianne is a joyful delight!!!

[@GraftingTactick]

So beautiful house and sustainable living. That house will last for a long time 🍃🌱

[@niallwildwoode7373]

I've a south facing bank looking over my 10th of an acre pond, and have been planning an earth bermed build on it for years. Winter home, Summer Airbnb. This vid is a good model to base it on ❤

[@Omidrezà60]

به به خوش بحالتون، دوست دارم واسه یک شب هم که شده اینطور جایی باشم😍😍😍🌱🌾

[@wirkingonit]

Another great episode and full of inspiration Thank you

[@applemayteves]

Love living in a very simple but efficient house.

[@Sj1bby]

I was thinking, the lady had a strong Dutch accent for a Frenchman. Seeing the names it looks like they came from the same province as I do: Friesland. Lovely small house. It love to live in something like this. But we don't have hills in this province 😅

[@nothing1843]

My first thought was she sounds kind of german

[@normanmerrill1241]

Lovely ….bohemian….nature…perfection

[@fdpcompdm]

If i could i would move in a heart beat. It's simple yet functional and cozy, just missing a wood stove for the fire lovers like me.

[@zed804]

I love these earth buried houses. I really want one.

[@zeez9053]

England approves 👍👍👍🇬🇧

[@rhonak7548]

Absolutely awesome home ❤ 💙

[@AreHan1991]

«No TV, no internet, just a book, and it was enough»

[@Noukz37]

What an awesome lady! I envy her son! 😀

[@disguisedadvocate]

15:05 little girl is like. “Look over there, Im eating.”😂

[@LavenderLori406]

Adorable! As usual!

[@theweatherisaokay4964]

It's so special, kind of living in the past, and so pleasing.

[@Sunshine-qk1cs]

😍😍😍 👍 idea. Very smart simple and practical. Love it.

[@mayking3133]

Wow, you save a lot by living here ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@LegumesEtFleurs]

Beautiful. Never thought that a house like these exist here in France. I know the Troglodytes (sp?) and we visited the place 2 or 3 years ago. It must be cool and comfy when the heat waves strike in summer. 😁

[@samjohnson236]

LOVE YOU'RE CHANNEL

[@markbigbadbear]

Dutch accent recognized. The houses look like fun. :)

[@Esther-1914]

How wonderful!💚💚💚

[@paulraymond890]

Hi Esther How are you today?🌹🌺

[@boa9535]

We need these in Tornado Alley in the US. I hope someone is trying to build underground homes there.

[@cindylong624]

those could be built above ground then waterproof,drainage around the base of the house.Then push gravel and dirt next to the 3 sides.Make the roof a metal roof to collect water and store in underground tanks

[@joayo367]

Beautiful home

[@matty8920]

Dutch accent for the win!

[@lifesso]

well she might be Dutch, but her accent is not..

[@franciezet8030]

@@lifesso yes ist is… we Dutch recognize it immediately 🥰

[@matty8920]

@@lifesso Sorry but it is super Dutch. :-)

[@Jeroenoman]

I can hear a little bit of a French twang but it's unmistakably Dutch.

[@domainedesperbasque8070]

From the north of Holland : Drente

[@auntnanny5420]

I just love how she used white inside the bedrooms. Did the kids enjoy the space?

[@Rolzhey]

Lol the camera swinging around to the three kids kinda just spacing out looking across the valley had me laughing

[@ADOTlied]

Now may be a good time to live underground, deep underground.

[@olerocker3470]

Tolkien would be proud!

[@illestj3990]

Shot at 4:30 is so cool!

[@solarheat9016]

Heating: direct gain solar with overhang for summer shading. Back up heat: electric resistance in wall (source: nuclear). Cooling: passive geothermal. Construction: I beams driven into ground.

[@willsalazarramirez5139]

CHICLAYO PERU 🇵🇪 💪 💪

[@johntexan4165]

When she was asked about the size, she said 35. I’m assuming this is square meters?

[@artula8465]

Like an „Earthship“!

[@tonya2646]

15:55 "No television, no Internet, only music and a book".

[@brendataylor8388]

I get this! I’m very happy in a small dark place🤷🏼‍♀️ COZY

[@sunspot42]

Good timing to have an underground home. Will it also double as a fallout shelter?

[@keralee]

No. Minimum 3' or more underground for that, per 1950's US govt brochures on how to diy a fallout shelter. I suspect deeper is better. A lot better. And it is carried on the air, which is problematic too. You have to have some way to cleanse incoming airflow, or produce oxygen atmo via immense grernhouses....btw suspect this is true reason xiden admin is seizing huge acreages of Iowa cornbelt for ludicrous "carbon dioxide sequestration" project...they claim will be pumping it underground. Ahem...corn sequesters co2 just fine as do all plants. The only logical reason to pump CO2 underground is to feed ginormous, massive greenhouses deep underground...which would produce O2 and food. Conclusion: The warmongering despicable govt is stealing our money to wreck our farmland and food supply to create giant underground cities. Not for us, either.

[@mwilson5449]

Too shallow. I'm actually surprised there's that much insulation from the dirt as Marianne was saying there was.

[@genzvideos]

Well done

[@wanderingIvy67]

I love her accent!

[@christinearmington]

This is a solution to the danger of forest fires 🔥. Protection by the soil and the hillside.

[@RuthiDemir]

Amazing 🤩

[@SirCharles246]

So cool!

[@englishcountrywalks4613]

Very cool 👍

[@myukrainiandream]

Hi Kirsten. I would like you show my cob house in Ukraine 🇺🇦 . Western part. Still safe. In this way you can also tell world about Russian bloody war against us!

[@kirstendirksen]

Send me a message at [e-mail]

[@myukrainiandream]

@@kirstendirksen I will! 💙💛

[@lisacolbert5987]

Thank you both ! And 💚💛🧡 from the U.S. .

[@paulalayland1]

Be safe!❤️❤️🇺🇦

[@Lwah0812]

Praying for all of Ukraine! ❤️

[@dimaur3697]

I want home like this

[@kevinsworld5088]

Looks like a Hobbit dwelling. Well done.

[@xuegongfan6994]

Great !

[@takeawalkwithme803]

A cosy dwellingplace!

[@Rolzhey]

I am curious how something like this could work out in a more extreme climate like eastern Montana, because France has pretty temperate weather compared to there, so I wonder how it would do with the high heat for two weeks and then extreme cold for two weeks 6 months later!

[@rosemarymcbride3419]

thats how i want to live

[@kenfrank3782]

Excuse me as I mow my roof … Actually I like this idea -. Would be great in tornado regions in the USA , or in the American west where it gets little rain and it’s hot. Ground cover provides extra warmth in cold weather and keeps it cooler during hot summers.

[@kenfrank3782]

Put solar panels on the roof and vertical wind mills on edge of property and your good to go !!!

[@jameskniskern2261]

Love this. I had wanted to build that way myself. We picked a different route, however.

[@saludicious]

It’s an earthship.

[@deborah9718]

Like this. Cool

[@harm679]

Is it cool inside in the summer?

[@donnamiller631]

I could live there.

[@lindascott2107]

Wow that is pretty cool