Partially built into hills or peeking out from sand dunes, these underground homes seamlessly blend in with their surroundings. The energy-efficient marvels are truly at one with nature and are some of the most impressive subterranean projects in the world. Let's take a look at these remarkable 'iceberg' homes hiding just below the surface.

This historic building has been converted into a villa described by its architects C.F. Møller as ‘invisible’ in the way it integrates into its surroundings. Approaching this building you wouldn’t anticipate the modern work of art you were about to stumble across…

A green roof on top of the villa acts as the first terrace, while a lower terrace and garden includes two water features and a swimming pool. A smaller adjacent pool collects rainwater and is filled with aquatic flora. 

The interiors are made up of smoked and varnished wood panels, while polished concrete flooring can be found both inside and outside the property. This blurs the boundaries between the two spaces.

This beautiful Tennessee hideaway could easily be mistaken for a mound of grass given how tucked away it is. Named The Sassafras Dome Earth Home, it is truly unique...

An immaculate white design shows off the home’s unique dome shape but high ceilings prevent the place from feeling claustrophobic. Light furnishings and driftwood furniture give this pondside pad a beachy feel.

Natural materials make up most of the interiors and wide triangular windows create beautiful paintings of nature on the walls.

Perched on top of a rock cliff, the underground house looks over an old quarry pond. Outside there’s a gas fire pit for cosy nights under the stars.

Those wanting to spend the night in style at this secluded Sassafras spot in Johnson City can find the property listed on Airbnb. Availability is limited, but previous visitors have given the place an impressive 4.99 stars out of five.

Jordi Hidalgo Tané, an architecture studio in Spain, extended this small stone building with a subterranean annexe. Accessed by a glass corridor, the secret space still has some incredible views overlooking the beautiful landscape of the Navarra mountains. 

Often hidden from view, the annexe was built underground so as not to disrupt the surrounding natural environment and has been cleverly inserted into the slope of the hillside.

Following the contours of the hill, the extension sits on top of a concrete base and boasts a green roof which has an overhanging lip to provide shelter for the outside terrace. Complete with a fully-integrated outdoor oven, it's the ultimate space to relax surrounded by nature. 

Accessed via a sliding door, the living space boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that run along its length and has panoramic views over the landscape. Inside, a thin strip of skylights provides plenty of light to the main living area, which features an open-plan kitchen and dining area. 

At the end of the living area, the floor ascends to match the level of the original stone building and leads through to the bedroom area. With exposed concrete and stone walls, hints of black steel and wooden floors, the subterranean home is connected to the original building by a glass corridor. 

Tranquillity surrounds these two beautiful seaside dwellings – along with the odd sheep. The Brochs of Coigach are based on the old stone roundhouses of the Iron Age period, and are soaked in history while boasting beautiful modern fittings.

The houses may be tucked away in the shrubbery, but the views stretch right across the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The living room is the heart of each hygge, with windows displaying everything from meandering sea eagles to the brazen mountains in the distance.

Should you be able to tear your eyes away from the outdoors there’s also a roomy office space for remote working with a view.

While gnarled trees border the glorious stonework, there’s still plenty of room for natural light to pour into each of the unique abode's rooms.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that this property in the salubrious London neighbourhood of Hampstead Heath was the world's most expensive parking space but, behind the smart wooden fence, there's a stunning luxury home set into the ground. That's not to say it isn't pricey – this three-bedroom beauty recently sold for almost £4.5 million ($5.7m).

This ingenious house is designed on the 'iceberg principle', where only the very top shows, belying a vast volume of space hidden out of sight. With three bedrooms and 3,400 square feet of interior space set around a sunken courtyard, you can enjoy alfresco living in perfect privacy.

The home also boasts an array of luxurious extras, including a sleek home cinema, a wine cellar and even a plant room. Our favourite feature, however, has to be the subterranean property's family TV room, complete with built-in screen, recessed lighting and white leather seating.

Situated on the upper level, the modern master suite includes a dressing area and ensuite bathroom, as well as expansive sliding glass doors that lead out onto the terrace. What more could you want?

The Dune House was designed and built in 1975 by modernist architect, William Morgan. Made up of two separate properties, the dwellings are nestled under the earth and have been built to follow the natural shape of an oceanfront sand dune. 

Previously on the market for $1.9 million (£1.5m), one lucky buyer snapped up both properties, which housed a total of two bedrooms and two bathrooms spread over 1,630 square feet of stylish living space. 

Inside, a snug kitchen is tucked away at the back of this two-storey main living space, framed by a showstopping spiral staircase. Glass doors lead outside to the ocean-fronted garden, drawing plenty of light into the rotund interior, as well as framing breathtaking vistas of the tranquil sea.

Recently updated, the Hobbit-style homes are far from traditional family residences, with their curved walls and unusual angles. Initially built by Morgan as rental properties, they were embedded in the earth so as not to block the view of the ocean from Morgan's own house, which was just next door. 

The mass of sand that lies over the top of the homes helps to moderate the interior temperature all year round. The structure itself is made from Gunite, a sprayed concrete that is usually used for swimming pools, so very little temperature control is needed inside to keep the dwellings comfortable in both the summer and winter. 

The magical Earth House Estate Lättenstrasse on the outskirts of Zurich is like something out of a Tolkien novel. Designed by visionary earth architect Peter Vetsch, there are now over 90 of these houses in Switzerland and further afield.

Completed in 2008, the unusual housing estate in the city of Dietikon consists of nine cosy earth-covered homes grouped around an artificial lake. The complex even features a handy underground car park too.

Super-sustainable, the snug concrete homes are well-insulated, making them cool in summer and warm in winter, which eliminates the need for expensive air-conditioning and heating. And as a bonus, residents can grow their own vegetables on the roof.

Inside, the enchanting eco homes are surprisingly spacious. The interiors eschew boring straight lines for curvaceous Gaudí-esque ceilings, walls and windows, adding to the rustic, organic vibe.

Strategically placed skylights let in the sunshine, bathing the interiors in natural light. The homes range in size – going up to a family-friendly seven-bedroom model – and are made from natural earth and recycled glass, which is then sprayed with concrete. 

In 2009, developer Huntsmere unveiled plans to build this swish underground mansion just outside Altrincham in Cheshire. Currently in the middle of construction, the hidden home is tucked away beneath a manicured garden.

The below-ground home, which has won several top design awards even before its completion, has a total of three huge bedrooms, a stylish family living room and dining area, and a contemporary, streamlined kitchen. 

The billionaire bunker, which has won several top design awards despite remaining in the planning stages and more recently the construction stages, has a total of three huge bedrooms, a sweeping living room and dining area, and a breakfast kitchen. 

The fabulous chute slide connecting the master bedroom to the resort-style swimming pool is the home's pièce de résistance. The pool area also packs in plenty, with a Jacuzzi, bar and state-of-the-art gym.

As well as its luxury amenities, Perdu is kitted out with all manner of eco-friendly house features, from rainwater harvesting to a hi-tech heat recovery system. Covered in earth, the home will also be well-insulated by the ground above, keeping the heat in during the winter and ensuring the living spaces are cool in the summer. 

Somewhere between a curving road and a rocky cliff edge on the South Korean island of Geoje, in Gyeongsangnam-do province, the ground appears to have been cut by a laser into sharp geometric shapes. These triangular openings are the first sign that something unexpected lies below the surface...

The Jipyoung Guesthouse – which translates as 'horizon earth' – was built for a local homeowner to house visitors in an environment that celebrates the natural landscape. BCHO Architects, whose previous works Earth House and Tilted Roof House also play with subterranean design, came up with a split-level plot of north and south modules buried into the ground.

The house is made of reinforced concrete, which was eroded with water blasting to create a rough exterior where plant life can grow. Canyon-like corridors connect the north section, which includes a guesthouse and a dining room, to the south section, which accommodates a dining room, living room, bathroom and outdoor terrace.

The house was completed in 2018 and covers nearly 4,900 square feet, offering ample room for large groups. A grass level connects the two sites at the surface, providing a green spot for children to play or for visitors to kick back and take in the tremendous views. 

Just like the rest of the house, the shared kitchen space embraces minimalism with concrete seating and surfaces, plus a bi-folding glazed wall that leads out to another deck overlooking the sea.

Designed for the post-pandemic world, this home was envisioned by Sergey Makhno Architects. Built like a bunker, the concrete home is much more than a basic fortress with a cosy interior that's a perfect hideout should there be a global disaster. 

Located in a clearing of trees at the base of Ukraine's Carpathian Mountains, the luxury bunker even boasts a helipad to allow residents to easily access the home. With two above-ground sections, the exterior is made from concrete, which was chosen for its reliability and attractive look. 

Accessed by a spiral staircase, the subterranean home sits 49 feet underground, and has been designed to be self-sufficient should there be a world apocalypse. The underground layer is surrounded by an evacuation ring which can be accessed from almost every room should there be a need to escape the home. 

With a series of living spaces, the home has been designed to accommodate up to three families and includes illusions of nature and outdoors with floor-to-ceiling digital screens and faux ivy in one of the bedrooms. 

The property also includes a professional-grade kitchen, a garden room dedicated to growing fresh produce as well as a medical room, a planted room for walking pets and a home gym so residents can keep up their fitness levels. Further underground, the main level is dedicated to water treatment and generator systems, with a well to supply water. 

From a distance, this unique home in rural Bethel Springs, Tennessee, looks just like a mound of earth. Yet step closer and you'll discover it is in fact a one-of-a-kind residence that has plenty of character.

The compact Hobbit home features an eye-catching rotund facade and a grass roof that needs to be regularly mowed – which is perhaps the strangest thing about this abode...

The property was built in 2010 and spans 1,980 square feet. While the exterior makes the home appear cramped and dark, the inside is actually incredibly inviting, thanks to its high ceilings, ample windows and light colour palette throughout. Formed from concrete, the house features domed walls and ceilings that reach as high as 14 feet.

The open-plan interior offers a living room, kitchen, dining space, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Far from being dingy and claustrophobic, the home's rooms are spacious and filled with natural light, thanks to unique glazing solutions, like this curving skylight. There are also four entrances, which each draw additional light inside.

What's more, the house sits on 38 acres of land, complete with three zip lines, multiple outbuildings, a boat dock and a fishing pond. There's even a hunting room and a standalone apartment that could be rented out, making this the ultimate rural retreat. In January 2021, the pad sold for $425,000 (£313k).

Despite its modest exteriors, the Wonder Haus has ample space for entertaining, with classic interiors and a balcony that overlooks the dining area.

Hexagonal tiles pave their way throughout this property, including the two bedrooms which can accommodate up to six people. Both rooms come with astonishing mountain views and cute but simple decor.

This one’s such a steal that streaming giant Netflix gave the earthen home the ‘World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rental’ accolade. It is currently listed on property rental site Airbnb.

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