Iceberg Homes

[Velvet Revolver]

I never heard this term before, and for space conscience homes it makes sense if you got the money. I wonder how much it costs to dig deep on an existing house so that no cave ins would happen.

Londoners can afford it, especially Belgravia which I strolled through a few years ago. I was amazed at the homes but pissed off because I landed there during peak tourist season.
 

Quote

 

Unlike in London, where iceberg homes can go three or four floors deep underground, the vast majority in the countryside dig down only one floor

For the “iceberg homes” of the capital are spreading into the countryside. Whereas previously it was largely the residents of Hampstead, Kensington and Chelsea putting up with their neighbours creating huge subterranean bunkers containing ballrooms, swimming pools, spas and cinemas, now homeowners across the country are opting to dig deep.

 

 

[Mug]

The thing about London is that it's spoiled by rich people. There are so many documentaries on it now, digging out basements of houses and these homes sell to the super rich for £20M+. The issue is that those Georgian and Victorian terraces are either Grade 1 or 2 listed so you can't build on top of them so you have to go below. In fact, Kensington council now has a ban on new basement planning applications because it was so popular.

About the rest of the country, I'm not sure if it actually makes sense because property isn't astronomically expensive outside the south east.

[Velvet Revolver]

There are many problems, one is the city counsels of the UK, allowing them to do it.

[dalekphalm]

On 2016-12-03 at 11:46 PM, Velvet Revolver said:

I never heard this term before, and for space conscience homes it makes sense if you got the money. I wonder how much it costs to dig deep on an existing house so that no cave ins would happen.

Londoners can afford it, especially Belgravia which I strolled through a few years ago. I was amazed at the homes but pissed off because I landed there during peak tourist season.
 

 

Errr, so they just add a floor under the ground?

 

In North America, we call that a "basement". Granted, basements usually don't go past one floor deep.

[Misanthrope]

I'm not a mole: I don't think I could get use to permanently live underground. Plus there's many considerations that would make the endevour expensive: Getting services down there is easy but you'd need a sewage pump, good intake and outtake vent holes and fans (unless you want to suffocate to death on your sleep) and cooking would complicate the no ventilation dilema even further.

 

Potential floods or cave ins would be a constant issue, digging would make construction costs much higher by default and that deep underground would be akin to a 4th floor apartment with no lift (unless you install one which is expensive) so that's a big no for someone with disabilities and a nightmare for someone having like a sprain ankle.

[Velvet Revolver]

1 hour ago, dalekphalm said:

Errr, so they just add a floor under the ground?

 

In North America, we call that a "basement". Granted, basements usually don't go past one floor deep.

Iceberg homes are 2 floors or more, 4 floors underground. Some take up the entire property, under the front lawn etc. They install pools in those "basement" floors, bowling alleys, gyms etc.

[Centurius]

1 hour ago, Misanthrope said:

I'm not a mole: I don't think I could get use to permanently live underground. Plus there's many considerations that would make the endevour expensive: Getting services down there is easy but you'd need a sewage pump, good intake and outtake vent holes and fans (unless you want to suffocate to death on your sleep) and cooking would complicate the no ventilation dilema even further.

 

Potential floods or cave ins would be a constant issue, digging would make construction costs much higher by default and that deep underground would be akin to a 4th floor apartment with no lift (unless you install one which is expensive) so that's a big no for someone with disabilities and a nightmare for someone having like a sprain ankle.

 

That's why they keep the underground area mostly for activities and staff.

[Velvet Revolver]

It makes sense to build underground because it stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. But it costs a lot if you are not a tree hugger or hippie type.

[Fungal]

7 hours ago, Centurius said:

 

That's why they keep the underground area mostly for activities and staff.

wow that's really awesome actually.. wish it was a thing here in the US

[Velvet Revolver]

3 hours ago, Fungal said:

wow that's really awesome actually.. wish it was a thing here in the US

Texas might have a few, because of their loose to non existant building codes, meaning you can put a roller coaster on your property. The aesthetically speaking.