The Morlocks in H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine did not make living underground seem fun. For one thing, their skin was sort of grey from lack of sunlight. But there are a lot of benefits to underground homes. Building houses underground lets residents of Coober Pedy, Australia live comfortably when the Fahrenheit temperatures up above reach into the 100s. Underground homes hold up equally well in snowy climes, and fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder will remember her dugout house on the banks of Plum Creek in Minnesota. The earth helps insulate the house and protect it from wind.
That eco-friendliness is just one reason someone might consider building an abode underground. If the house is in an area with lots of wildlife, digging in could help keep more of the landscape intact. Also, cities such as Singapore — where there are lots of people and little room — are looking into ways to increase capacity by building below the surface.
If we’ve sold you on the benefits of living underground, may we also suggest you take inspiration for your home from Huntsmere and NC Homes? Together, the two firms designed a proposed underground house that has the best of both the above- and underworld. The potential site would be on the grounds of a 19th Century house in England, below a landscaped garden. With three bedrooms and a circular shape, everything centers around a dome that lets in natural light. A garden “folly” (a building typically constructed for no aesthetics instead of function) would hide the stairs down to the house. The best part, though, is the slide to the subterranean swimming pool.
Though the area’s council approved the plan in 2009, it’s not clear whether construction has begun. However, NC Homes has been commissioned for another underground house near Shrewsbury, where you “would stand absolutely no chance of getting planning permission for a traditional, above-ground home,” according to David Giles, who’s handling the sale.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.