Wasn't allowed to build on garden. Dug underground villa instead
Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль
Brought up on James Bond, Chris Oakes saw the appeal of an underground lair, but his reasons for building a 4,000-square-foot mansion nearly entirely below ground were permit-related.
When he asked for permission to build a home on land he owned - the garden of a former mansion-turned-apartment building - a local inspector turned him down saying, appeal inspection said, "and it was quite key words,” explains Oakes, “you'll never get planning for any house here which takes away the view from the street of the main house. Conservation area, period house, you won't get it."
So Oakes went underground, building huge walk-on glass skylights and green-walled sunken patios that make the space feel full of natural daylight and humidity-free. There’s a car elevator to arrive like Bond, but there’s also a small glass “folly” building that acts as an entryway for those who enter on foot by staircase.
Huntsmere huntsmere?...
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/coul...
Пікірлер: 726
It is a pity that there were no photos from the construction process.
@lavondacarter7228
Жыл бұрын
EXACTLY RIGHT !
@robertpalmer3166
Жыл бұрын
It's a pity you didn't click on the very obvious Instagram link.
@joebidenisanutjob7511
Жыл бұрын
@@robertpalmer3166 to bad you don't realize that people who watch through ROKU tv can not see comments or descriptions! Never assume Skippy!
@joshrubio5285
Жыл бұрын
@@joebidenisanutjob7511 yeah, a pity some guys like him have to be a total wanker for absolutely no reason. I have my own theory that guys like Robert suffer from what I like to think of as a kinda Napoleon like complex, except it's not their height they got short-shafted with, explains why they are unexplainable dicks to complete strangers.
@abbiereynolds8016
Жыл бұрын
@@joebidenisanutjob7511 To bad you didn't realize that if someone can write a comment, then they're obviously on a device that they can click a link🤪
He took a problem and turned it into a solution!! I love it! Linda from MICHIGAN USA
He is so right about how important it is to have safety glass in homes with children! My niece had an accident at a friend's house with a glass door and now has a few big scars on her face that are very noticeable unfortunately. She was only 8 or 9 when it happened.
@zteaxon7787
Жыл бұрын
I have a big scar on my leg and smaller one on my face from running through triple pane untoughened glass as a child. Any glass that has potential for accidents should be toughened really. Glass that separates spaces between which there is movement. Doors, floor to ceiling windows...
@Apollondb
Жыл бұрын
You can remove almost the whole scars these days, so it's not that bad.
@michellezevenaar
Жыл бұрын
@@Apollondb it's on her face and a plastic surgery has already done their best but still it's a huge scar unfortunately.
@jujutrini8412
Жыл бұрын
Oh that is so sad. I know a few people who ran straight into panes of glass as children.
Kirsten you have the best content on youtube. Thank you Chris Oakes for sharing your very cool underground house!!
@kirstendirksen
Жыл бұрын
Thanks. And yes, thanks to Chris for inviting us to visit.
@winkystreegan6244
Жыл бұрын
Yes you find the most unique homes...
@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307
Жыл бұрын
@@kirstendirksen so what was the cost and when was it built?
The light wells are gorgeous, it feels like such a safe comforting enveloping green space with those living walls. Many city apartments have light wells that just face another building, so having all that greenery in the light well (and USABLE outdoor space like a courtyard or patio) is such a luxury.
@SaltyShaman
Жыл бұрын
Yes, and the kitchen 'living wall' could be salad veggies :D
Realizing you could actually watch the night sky in the rooms gives me goose bumps 😩🥺
When I first started getting interested in underground houses years ago, this is what I imagined. Quite a beautiful design!
As someone who lives in Coober Pedy, I can honestly say that this is the best , finished, dugout I've seen.
Loved the bit at the end where he says "it's a basement without a house ..." 😁😁😁 I just pictured a builder saying to the client that he run out of money and only completed the basement sorry about the house ! Lol
This is one of the reasons why I love this channel. I find the house incredible! We are drawing inspiration from it. Well done to the elegant architect and the amazing space that was created... and well done Kirsten / FairCompanies for spotting it.
@tzenophile
Жыл бұрын
Not to mention incredibly expensive. For the same money, in a nice but affordable location . . . The car elevator alone probably costs as much as a normal house.
@lailisima
Жыл бұрын
@@tzenophile I'm getting passed the things I cannot afford and think of the things I can recreate within my means. We have a "summer" house (45sqm), ground floor, all rock.. only one window, can't install a new one because it's a historical (old) site but we could squeeze sunlight into the space as they did.. albeit within my minuscule budget.
@tzenophile
Жыл бұрын
@@lailisima I live in a barn I converted myself; cost about 10k in total. Reused a lot of old stuff.
@lailisima
Жыл бұрын
@@tzenophile We need you to have your own channel, please!!
@tzenophile
Жыл бұрын
@@lailisima Thanks, but I have no time. I bought a 16-acre/6,5 hectare farm that I am converting to a garden- forest, ponds, fruit plantation, veg-beds, greenhouses, meadows. right now there are 400 hedge-plants waiting outside for me to plant, just arrived this morning. Fun, but too much fun for one lifetime. And I still need to finish my gym/workshop...
Necessity is the mother of invention. This one is a totally cool example 😊
@kezia8027
5 ай бұрын
What's the necessity? Building a giant mansion? He NEEDED to do that?
I love the idea of an underground home and I think what they've done here is great, I just wish they didn't style the interior to look like a hotel lobby.
@gabrieldegange6367
Жыл бұрын
Totally agree.. I feel like stone, natural wood and plants would have been so much better. But oh well I guess if I make millions, ill do it my way.. Still a very cool house.
@canyonhaverfield2201
Жыл бұрын
Not polite. Rethink your choice of words. Pretend you Josh & Gabriel,were guested to meet the owner for a filming. They graciously give their time to walk you thru & allow world wide distribution via your Utube channel. Can you imagine stating- 'too bad your interior design sucks! Kind of feels like a hotel lobby'. In these times of world wide struggles, unjust war, school children being murdered..let totally go towards polite, respectful, flattering 🎈
@littlebitofhope1489
Жыл бұрын
@@canyonhaverfield2201 And yet they put their home on display, and people have both a right to their opinions and to express them. They are not in the owner's home. They are in the comment section of a video looking at a home. Argue with their point, not their right to say it.
@canyonhaverfield2201
Жыл бұрын
@@littlebitofhope1489LBH- negative comments add nothing of value to the build review. Especially when the the comment carries nothing of value in regards to the presentation. My point is to go overboard with appreciation🎈 Casting trivial tidbits is of no value. Just remember..we are guests. These presentations aren't intended to be platforms for how you would built it.
@mm345-0
Жыл бұрын
@@canyonhaverfield2201 If you're concerned about negativity - perhaps you should keep yours to yourself.
I have been writing a story about living on Mars. This is an ideal solution for me. Also, I really love the channel. The houses you show are usually what I have been thinking about for the last 50 yrs. (Yes, I am old). We have built 3 geodesics, and a number of container homes over the years. Have a wonderful day.
@walterrutherford8321
Жыл бұрын
I helped my brother build a dome and it seemed pretty sturdy. I’ve always liked the idea of a small surface house with a much larger stealth home hidden underneath. The problem is the expense of building it strong and waterproof enough to hold tons of soil. The other complication is I live in an earthquake zone.
@paveladamek3502
Жыл бұрын
Oh yes, 100 construction workers would have to be sent to Mars to build something like this for a writer. :) This is the whole shitty paradox. People keep babbling about living on Mars and saving the humanity and whatnot, i.e. sending the best and brighest etc., but they fail to realise that establishing any "colony" will first require countless MANUAL LABORERS. Makes zero sense.
@abruemmer77
Жыл бұрын
@@paveladamek3502 Unless you send in robots and stop them from rebelling and declaring themselves independent.
If I lived there I would make the above ground bit smaller and have the appearance of a shed! Imagine the look on peoples faces as you walked them up to it telling them you will put the kettle on if they want to go and put their things in one of the bedrooms...
i would love to do this somewhere in an *Australian outback desert.* Covered in Solar, and designed to capture & store water underground. Perhaps built to integrate some existing mine-shafts (for the vast water storage).
@dominique62dw
Жыл бұрын
It's been done several times in AU. Several times in Arizona and other desert areas too
Kirsten you are so far out ahead of anyone on the net. Its simple. Show up. Keep showing up. My favorite was the italian condo bldg with the pots of trees auspended everywhere. This is a close 2nd. You are my saturday night live of utube. Thankyou uour husband and children and ALL your supporters and your tireless efforts
I bought a house and finished the basement. 3 of the 4 walls are underground. We have high windows, made of those wavey glass blocks you see at a dentist office. It brings so much light into the house we don't use any artificial lights until after sunset. Sure helps with the power bill.
@Tinyteacher1111
Жыл бұрын
No mold issues?
Really cool build, only slight annoyance for me is that pool table placed where there's not enough room to play pool.
Great, I loved the detail on light, then there was more on light and more on light then light was covered some more and finally we heard more about light.... I actually wanted more on the REST of the house design elements
I wouldn't want to live underground but if I had to this is certainly making the best of the situation. Like he said it is a basement without a house. Makes it seem less odd when put like that.
The sound insulation must be superb. It must be very quiet in that home, as ground tends to absorb noise very well. As an Autistic adult with extreme hypersensory perception, I certainly would love to live inside something like this, even if it is not as fancy :) Thank you for all the great ideas that you always share with us ♥
@river7732
Жыл бұрын
I was thinking the same thing - kinda a dream for a sensory sensitive ❤️
@Krazie-Ivan
Жыл бұрын
you might look into ICF perimeter wall construction ...of the MANY great benefits, being nearly soundproof is one. only 5-10% more than 2x6 sticks, & that percentage obviously is lower against the finished house cost. :)
@Autism_Forever
Жыл бұрын
@@Krazie-Ivan I looked. They seem like a cool material, especially types 3 and 4 that I found. Thanks so much for mentioning it here ♥ Did you ever stay in a house made out of this material? If yes, what was it like in there?
@Krazie-Ivan
Жыл бұрын
@@Autism_Forever ...my late father actually helped build one in Phx over 20yrs ago (the ICF block designs & all the supporting tech have gotten much better; FastFoot, ERV units, roof decking, etc), & i've designed a few small-ish dwellings to be close to PassivHaus w/o the expensive doors/windows. there's a feeling of security, esp if anywhere near disaster-prone areas, but also just in ownership (knowing it won't rot & pests can't get in, for example). i grew up where there were drive-bys in the late 80's/early 90's, so the solid wall puts that old shit at ease. the constantly-fresh air quality inside is hepa-filtered perfection, & far less dust collects. staying in a stick place afterwards, you notice even a slight breeze outside or changing materials temp due to sunrise, as the house creaks & pops & shudders.
@gabrielschroll3824
11 ай бұрын
Not to mention the temperature regulation. The heating and cooling bills must be absolutely miniscule.
I love it, so innovative and beautifully done. It is a basement without a house, but it is a basement with the yard on top of it not around the house, I like that.
This is fabulous. I love that the lightwells allow you to walk out on them. Skylights really provide a nice amount of light. Bedrooms are bright.
The owner seems a very kind and down-to-earth kind of guy and a lovely house. Makes me wonder, why not more houses are constructed this way. You can basically use your entire plot of land as a garden or green space for nature, while the house itself will also be very well isolated to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter.
@GuTzBorges
Жыл бұрын
ask how much money he spent in this house, there is your answer .
@JaeJae95
Жыл бұрын
Because building up is alot cheaper than building down.
@ezpz2624
Жыл бұрын
@@GuTzBorges down to earth.... DOWN TO EARTH?!?!??!?! wtf dude
@sadbear101
Жыл бұрын
Like he said at the end of the video, it’s just like building a basement, and not the house.
@onkarkitekt
5 ай бұрын
look up Gentle Architecture and Malcolm Wells 😎😎
I have always thought you needed to go into a hill for an underground house so this completely changes my perspective. Thank you for showing us this amazing home.
Well done Kirsten!!!...what a BEAUTIFUL HOME...and your filming, as ALWAYS is impeccable!!!...BRAVA TO YOU!!!
This is beautiful You could live like a king, and your garden would be your roof.. it wouldnt disturb nature much. Its just so nice
@dominique62dw
Жыл бұрын
Damp air is the only issue that would need to be addressed with an air exchanger to climatize & condition the air to not have too much moisture and also to constantly move the air around the rooms so no mildew or mold can grow.
You find the most different type of places and that is really great. Thank you
Outstanding concept. I've always wanted to do this. I love how he thought through how the home flows, how the light was carries through it and is considered. I think natural light in a home is critical over a house full of lights to compensate otherwise. Looking out onto green space is great, though I would make the garden up top a bigger project. I think whimsical carved hedges up top would be fun. Ultimate privacy. Love this. ❤ Just brilliant. 👏
I really dig this home...
Great space and thoughtful execution. The only egregious failure here IMHO, was the entrance point. They should've sourced the same stone the house was made of and built what appeared to be a period coach /guard house. That structure is a bit of an eyesore.
@DavidStruveDesigns
Жыл бұрын
They probably tried to. A _lot_ of these houses used stone that is no longer quarried or available to build new structures with. They had the same problem when doing the restoration work on the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) - sections of the stonework needed replacements, but the original stone has long since stopped being quarried so they had to go with the closest aproximation they could find. I expect they did the same with this project. If you look on the _outside_ of the entrance property it's _fairly_ close (though I admit the interior treatment could have been done a bit better), likely about as close as they could manage whilst not being overly expensive.
Brilliant! Thanks Kirsten for featuring this unique structure.
I love it. Well done to the designers / owners. I have seen plenty of normal above ground homes with less natural light
I positively adore this home. Wow.
Oh wow this is absolutely stunning!!!! Those skylights are AMAZING!! This is so close to my dream home- I’ve always wanted an underground bunker but this is a huge step above that!
So nice to see people figure out how to get around building department restrictions.
@give_peas_a_chance
Жыл бұрын
yes, it is !
Superb. While the interior design is not really to my taste, it's been really well laid out around the central core, the overhead windows work fantastically, and it's made for a smart formal garden overhead that is in sympathy with the main Victorian house. As the owner/designer notes, the high ceiling too helps make the space feel airy not bunkerish. Bravo.
I'd love all that comfort and design above the ground level, with a little bit of actual view, and natural light coming in from the sides. As it is, it's an interesting compromise; I'll give it that!
That's magnificent - the circular room in the centre is something we need far more of, I appreciate it is difficult to do though.
Really curious to see how the architect created the water membrane and draining around the house. Any ideas/plans?
@staszekgolab9319
Жыл бұрын
They laid down black plastic from hardware store before pouring concrete and installed drain tile with pump. Same as on every house with basement.
@onkarkitekt
5 ай бұрын
It usually has layers of tanking, a membrane, insulation(outside) and another membrane@@staszekgolab9319
@wnose
5 ай бұрын
12:10 they used welded steel sheets as the outer shell then poured concrete in to form the space.
I love this! I want an underground hose like this for one main reason, sound mitigation! I've had it up to here with loud vehicles and barking dogs, I bet living underground would help that a a lot!
Kirsten Thank you for making us discover all this wonderful architectures!! We can travel the world, visit people's house and know how they are built, just by sitting here! I can't thank you enough!!
Kirsten, your videos never disappoint. Keep ‘em coming!
The owner was so passionate. Really enjoyed this :)
Thank you 😊 I have been a civil engineer for 25 years now. I graduated and worked in the USA 🇺🇸, UAE 🇦🇪 And Iraq 🇮🇶. The way this house 🏡 should have been constructed is to put the “garden well” in the middle of the house 🏡. That would have improved the lighting 100%. In addition to where the “garden well“. They call this a “light well“ ? In some countries were the space to build is limited. The other thing that I saw in some homes , is to have special hidden mirrors that will direct the sun light into the house. One more thing. I would have raised the skylights, where they would look like a garden shed or even pyramid shaped glass. The house thought is as you Brits say; Quite lovely 😊 Thank you 😊
Another Great architectural master piece ! Amazing experience in great detail . Can't get enough of your in depth content , questions you ask are interesting and the camera angles are spot on !
Good presentation of possibilities in the face of restrictions. Happy for the follow-up questions discussed concerning the decisions about design and space. Thanks, Kirsten and family.
The house is amazing... -the garden above though, could be both far more impressive and far more in-keeping with the Manor House overlooking it. Incredible scope for something truly magical.
@c.cooper6000
Жыл бұрын
That era of home wouldn't have grand gardens in the entrance. It would be about symmetry and simplicity
@italiantraditionalcatholic2390
Жыл бұрын
"Built by a wealthy landowner "..it's perfectly OK for liberals to have and own "wealth"
@ralphm6901
Жыл бұрын
If I was told I couldn't build because it would spoil someone else's view, I'd be planting some big bushes and trees instead,...
@GuyIncognito764
Жыл бұрын
haha, welcome to England.
Talks about the light for half an hour and has 30 lightbulbs per room turned on
I always liked the idea of building under ground level, so many benefits like constant temperature
I actually like this design. I didn't feel underground.
The lighting really is nice down there
I covet your home so much! Absolutely glorious ‼️ You should be very proud of yourself. You have created a masterpiece.
You keep coming up with new and unusual spaces. How do you find them?
Wow, Wow, Simply Stunning! Thank You!
At 5:33 and not only am I in love with this house, but finally realized who the owner sounds like, Jeremy Irons! Love the house! Love the lighting, the elegant cozy feeling of it and the garden as well! Also, his voice!
Very practical- insulation r-value would be amazing!
This incredible home is absolutely gorgeous!
A great example of an Earth Sheltered House - Malcolm Wells would be proud👍🏆😎
Crazy how its just sitting empty there for 3 months. I can only imagine what his main house looks like if he choose not to live here lol
@patmanrick
Жыл бұрын
Sounds like he's a developer
I absolutely love this concept of a basement without a house. The skylights in every room( with🌳🌤️), the car lift 🚗 right out of a James Bond 🕵️movie and the spiral staircase as the back door. And the 200-year-old castle 🏰 as your next door neighbor. This home is otherworldly💫 , medieval 🏰 and ultra-modern all at the same time! I love it! 💕🥰✨🛸💫🕵️🚗🌳🌤️🌳💕🤗💕
@Nphen
Жыл бұрын
Amazed at this property for all the same reasons you are! I looked at the Instagram in the show notes and there are other cool brick homes. There are homes in Palmer Woods in Detroit that could look just like this, having the space for this size build in the front yard, and having the garden blend in just perfectly so you wouldn't even know there's an underground home.
@TheSometimeAfter
Жыл бұрын
This comment gave me brain AIDS
This is the COOLEST house I have ever seen!
0:55 I 100% agree with City Planning here. Why would you buy an historic building and then build a modern house in front of it. This guy sounds disappointed he wasn't allowed to destroy the view.
👍what a fantastic project, done to a great standard, Absolutely Love it
This guy is a serious genius. Met barriers and reacted perfectly to change
O.M.G.! a different slice of life. thank you for this video.
I quite like this new feeling this unique home gave me. One of my favorite houses
It good to see you in the UK , fantastic dwelling and video
This is probably the most amazing idea of a house I have ever Seen.
Thanks for posting and sharing. Remarkable domicile.
Once again you have found an incredible and unique house.
Stunning! Brilliant! Gorgeous!
Beautiful unique house and the garden.
This is the best underground house I've seen.
Love that and I want one, looks amazing on the surface !!!
Really smart. It will be very energy efficient, because temperature underground is always constant. We should be building all houses like this.
Love it! Love your channel. ❤
Thats Amazing !!! I would so live there !!
Awesome place. I have always dreamed of having an underground house. Cool to see one finished.
I would have included an elevator to get down from the atrium area. I appreciate that there are two points where you can open the doors and still get fresh air.
@valerielove9837
Жыл бұрын
Caroline Kelly. The car you put in an elevator. ( like) So you get in that way. It showed it in the video
@CK1000ism
Жыл бұрын
@@valerielove9837 True, I was thinking for when people visit unless the garage can have multiple cars.
@valerielove9837
Жыл бұрын
@@CK1000ism I font know how many cats can fit down there. Did not show.
@jamesbizs
Жыл бұрын
@@valerielove9837 now obviously I’m not there. But I bet I could fit 100 cats down there. Easily.
interior looks great
This guy is stacked
this house is just perfect they saved a lot on roof tiles xD
I find this concept a forward way of thinking. We can never tell what/how things would be in time to come. Safety is a hugh factor, also survival from disasters. Underground gardens for self sustanance
Amazing house👍i am loving it 👏👏👏👏👏👏💕
Seeing my plans come to reality... Very nice.
Absolutely amazing.
What a magnificent place!
Wonderful creative home
The open areas are, even as limiting as they are, still a lot better than looking at the building next door.
This is an amazing concept and design
That was stunning.... I love that house... The owner even looks like Ian Flemming....
This is beautiful and amazing
Absolutely stunning 😍
absolutely fantastic one of a kind
Any way we can see some pictures of how the structure was built during the process? It would be fascinating to see what method they implemented to construct the roofing and bracing.
@AdityaWaghmare
Жыл бұрын
Check the description, there’s an instagram link Edit: Ok nvm, doesn’t have construction images
Impressed by the mind-boggling work done on this project,it takes a lot to make these underground houses look simple and luxurious but not any tech geek base like thing.
This home is brilliant!
Interesting project and clever way to preserve the historic setting, but it still seems quite dark in the living spaces. The dark walls and floors are a curious choice - light walls and a light floor would have bounced the light around a lot more (although at the cost of it appearing less formal, which was apparently their aesthetic). I wonder if they considered mirroring the skylight walls?
Would have loved to have seen the garage👍