Best Of 87+ Breathtaking Modern Earth House Design Voted By The Construction Association

In today's world of modernizing architecture, many people are looking to earth houses, or houses designed with the use of natural, locally and sustainably sourced materials. With the goal of decreasing their reliance on non-renewable resources and global concerns, modern earth house designs have become increasingly popular with homeowners. As this trend has grown, so too have the wide range of earth house designs available, encompassing a variety of shapes, sizes, and architectural styles.

The most popular modern earth house designs are those guided by their natural surroundings. Whether a house be nestled into a hillside, constructed with a structure made of native stones, or using a combination of site-specific elements, natural earth house designs embrace the beauty of their natural surroundings. With an increasing number of sustainable materials and eco-friendly building practices available, modern earth house designs break the mold, and provide an ideal setting for a family to live their daily lives in harmony with nature.

Earthship designs are a type of modern earth house that uses recycled materials to create self-sufficient dwellings. The walls are made of tires filled with earth, and usually embedded in concrete or rammed earth. Constructed with an exterior made of clay or any other type of insulation, the Earthship is built to withstand the elements and take advantage of energy efficiency. An Earthship also builds its own power supply via wind turbines, solar energy, and even greywater reuse systems, making it a popular choice with homeowners looking to reduce their environmental impact.

An Earth Berm house design uses the earth's natural surface to insulate and support the walls and the roof. The berm of the building is designed to encase the structure and use the earth as its temperature insulation, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Earth Berm houses also generally require minimal construction costs and are easy to manage.

A modern underground house design takes advantage of the earth to provide insulation and stability. By using a combination of natural elements and sustainable materials, these homes intentionally nest into the ground, so that their roof is lined with natural earth as insulation. This type of design is especially useful in extreme climates, as it helps to regulate temperature more effectively than a traditional above-ground dwelling.

This type of modern earth house design takes elements from traditional construction and blends it with a contemporary flair. These dwellings often emphasize the use of natural, locally-sourced materials to create a living space that promotes comfort, style, and holistic design. In addition, contemporary earth houses often choose to utilize modern technologies to enhance an eco-friendly lifestyle, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and smart thermostats.

A Geode House is a type of modern earth house design that resembles a dome, or igloo. They are often constructed using a combination of soil, bent poles, and a structural skin. The strength of the house is created by the tensile strength of the materials, as well as the natural insulation provided by the earth. This type of home is both spacious and energy efficient, and is designed to be able to withstand high winds and other extreme weather conditions.

Eco-friendly earth house designs embrace environmental practices that are both sustainable and efficient. Owners of this type of residence often seek to minimize their resources and overall environmental footprints. These houses generally prioritize the incorporation of renewable energy systems, like solar or wind energy, and can also be built with recycled materials.

Insulated earth houses use a combination of conventional insulation and natural earth to control the temperature inside the residence. These homes are designed to use the natural properties of soil to create a more energy efficient living space, while maintaining the cosmetic features of a traditional home. Additionally, insulated earth houses tend to cost less to maintain due to their high levels of energy efficiency.

Earth bag house designs use bags of soil and sand to create an efficient, eco-friendly living space. Often, designers view this type of architecture as a form of art, with the bags forming unique arches and other shapes to create the finished structure. With earth bags, eco-friendly materials are used in the construction of a durable and efficient dwelling.

Straw bale house designs incorporate simple materials like straw, clay, and sand to build a modern earth dwelling. The walls of the building are made of straw bales, which provide incredible amounts of insulation to the space and create a unique aesthetic to the house. Once the bales are sealed by a breathable layer of plaster, the straw bales are planted into the soil to become one with the environment.

A radiant earth house design takes advantage of a home's natural environment to both regulate and operate its heating and cooling systems. The air of the residence is kept at an even and comfortable temperature via a series of pipes beneath the house that are heated and cooled naturally using the earth's natural air temperature. In addition to being energy efficient, this type of design also helps to conserve energy resources.