Exploring The Ultimate Underground House In New Zealand: A Luxurious Concrete Hideaway Near Tekapo

There’s no street address, only a set of coordinates to navigate the journey from Tekapo into an area of remote, untouched beauty, where the main landmark is the peak of Mount John. Reaching as far as the eye can see are the distinctive folds and flats of Mackenzie Country.
The mystery of this extraordinary place intensifies as you draw nearer; the house was designed to blend seamlessly into the landscape, so much so that it’s almost invisible to the naked eye from land and air - and, in fact, from most angles, even when closely approaching the site.
Largely underground, the 145 square metre abode is dug into a gently sloping hill. Surrounded by a vast landscape of tussock dotted with the odd farm fence, it’s a place that’s about as remote as they come in New Zealand. There are no neighbours, and there is no other visible evidence of a built environment.
“It’s a simple landscape. There are some flat areas and some hills. You might see a few sheep grazing but that’s about it,” architect Richard Dalman of Dalman Architects says of the site.
In a gesture to the remote simplicity of this glacial land, a response of equal clarity was devised for a project of innate and intricate complexity.
Architecture: Dalman Architects
Build: Wilson Building
#architecture #bunker #design #housetour #homedesign #exteriordesign #architecturedesign #tekapo #underground #concretehouse #rurallife #dreamhouse #build #interiordesign #interior #dreamhome

[@burningmanmike]

If it were my home, I'd spray all the concrete surfaces with a liquid with a high iron content to give it more of a rust or brown tint. The grey concrete is too industrial and manmade-like.
The brown would allow the home to blend in with its surroundings better.

[@scankhunt4206]

stone covering the concrete walls would look nicer. more natural

[@DalmanArchitects]

Such an amazing project!

[@homemagazinenz]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@Errol.C-nz]

@@homemagazinenz would love to know the wood fire maker .. love the concept & robust look & feel being hugged by the hill side .. no mention of the roof considerations

[@DalmanArchitects]

@@Errol.C-nz The Stovax Riva Studio 3 Rural Freestanding Wood Fireplace

[@askvor]

A beautiful earth ship style house in the most beautiful scenery! And no neighbours anywhere close. Absolutely love it!

[@BigFoot-w4d]

What happens in a medical emergency?

[@willtekata1763]

I like it.

[@tAkg-bk3qt]

so beautiful, would love to stay when i am older.

[@mycoolcar]

This is really cool. Great shots of the home.

[@classicdevikin]

Beautiful. The South Island is freezing so it nice to hear the house is warm

[@cj8172]

Only freezing in winter.

[@MargaritaNZ2024]

wow ❤❤❤

[@sergiosaunier]

Exquisite!

[@BigFoot-w4d]

Why is many of NZ’s landscapes so bare and looks devoid of life?

[@cj8172]

It's just that area, other parts of NZ look totally different

[@morrisanderson818]

You can go,20 or so klms up the road,and it will be absolutely different,just mother nature, doing her thing

[@homemagazinenz]

Absolutely, it's a stunning part of the country

[@homemagazinenz]

It's a very unique and special part of the country!