Subterranean Home Sale Blues
“There’s a curious truth in architecture that the worse the conditions of the project, the more beautiful the solution.”
So mused Kevin McCloud about this beleaguered project in Cheltenham when Grand Designs featured it back in January.
But I think Kev may have been having a bit of an off day. The house, built in defiance of 90 planning objections from the neighbours (90! what chance a cup of sugar?) wasn’t one of my favorite GD efforts.
Why? Well, let’s put it this way, if I had £350k to spend on my dream home I’m fairly sure I wouldn’t dig a big hole in my back garden and construct half of my living spaces in the new subterranean basement.
Don’t get me wrong – the house does have windows. It’s just that quite a few of them are in the roof. Or overlooking an underground internal courtyard.
This, I’ll grant you, is a very clever way to maximize the light … but I think I’d find it all a tad claustrophobic. I like to be able to look out on the blue yonder without having to lie on my back.
There are, I’m sure, plenty who’ll disagree with me - and if you’re one of them (or even if you’re not), listen up because the place could be yours for just £25.
Undaunted by the credit crunch, the couple behind the controversial project – which, in its defence, is massively eco-friendly and quite beautifully finished – have also come up with a suitably unconventional way to sell it.
Enter their prize draw for just £25 and you could win the whole kit and caboodle, including some pretty cool furniture, high-tech gadgetry and, for reasons even The Kev couldn’t quite figure out, three ovens.
The odds, apparently, are 46,000-1, which are certainly better than the lottery. So despite my reservations, I’ll definitely be having a flutter. And if I win, who knows, I might even have a change of heart and learn to love it too.
Buy a ticket for the prize draw at Win The Cheltenham House.
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Posted by Mike O'FlynnCategorised under Architecture & Design, Buying & Selling
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I have long been interested in underground houses but have a few problems with the feeling of being in a box in the ground, something I would like to put off as long as possible and the safety of them, say if there were a fire and the doorway to one of the rooms were blocked by fire. Is there any escape exits, also what about the effects of mold and dampness on my families health. Any help on these matters would be helpful in makeing a decision.
Thank You
Larry Yeager