The trees right up against the above-ground structures make me weep for defensible space. While the underground structures may be survivable in the event of a wildfire and the trees are beautiful I'd be happier seeing a property that feels more survivable in the types of fires we've been seeing in California.
Also, I don't know how much 'environmentalism' is the goal there, but most Americans' CO2 output on a personal level involves heating their homes and transportation, and building isolated housing where you have to drive a lot to get to anything doesn't help. You're better off with shared walls in a walkable city if you really want to lower your impact.
Still, that's a really beautiful part of the world and it looks well done.
Recovering America : A More Gentle Way to Build [0]
Also, Mike Oehler (1938—2016) and his “The $50 and Up Underground House Book”.
[0] https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/recovering-america--a-more-gen...
bix6•2mo ago