Subterranean architecture is increasing in popularity around the world as architects and developers strive to overcome the challenges posed by land limitations and environmental concerns. Building structures underground can resolve space problems, unlocking a huge amount of potential additional space. It also allows the creation of buildings with minimal impact on their surroundings, thereby protecting the natural environment.
There has been a huge boom in subterranean projects in London, including many examples of lavish super-basements being added to residential properties. The increasing spatial limitations in London drove many people to look at new options for extending their homes rather than extending outwards. Digging down is a feasible option in many cases, and can produce some impressively unique examples of residential architecture.
Subterranean building may have been gaining more attention in recent years, but it is not a new technique. There are many stunning global examples from throughout history. The Basilica Cistern beneath Istanbul, Turkey was built in 532 AD, and is notable for its huge size and age, as well as the fact that it can hold an astonishing 80,000 cubic metres of water.
The US has a number of noteworthy subterranean buildings including homes, hotels, commercial properties and even jails. The Marin County Jail in California is a fantastic example, and has the honour of being the only public building designed by iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Space Centre Executive Park in Missouri offers 30 million square feet of underground office space, highlighting the potential of underground architecture.
One of the most impressive examples of subterranean building can be found in Cappadocia, Turkey. The landscape here is immensely diverse, featuring valleys and tall volcanic rock formations. Homes, tombs and temples can be found carved directly into rock throughout the region, and in some cases there are even entire underground villages and towns. The region is renowned as being home to the largest number of cave dwellers in the world.
The largest underground settlement in Cappadocia is Derinkuyu. It features eleven subterranean levels, has over 600 different entrances and features miles of tunnels. It is believed that there is space for around 20,000 people to sleep in the city with additional room for livestock, cooking, bathrooms and other essentials.
The scale of many of these subterranean projects shows exactly what can be achieved in this field of architecture. Building underground will remain a viable and attractive option for property owners around the world. As we are dedicated to the creation of sustainable and practical residential and commercial architecture in London and throughout the world, we have worked on numerous underground projects, making efficient use of the available space to optimise the results to our clients. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your project with our team.