Earth bermed buildings
Earth bermed buildings, often called earth shelters or earth sheltered buildings are a design approach that connects a building more significantly to the ground and landscape around it than simply sitting upon it. This typology is normally built slightly below ground or at ground level with an earth burm around that covers most of the external walls and potentially also the roof, creating a sunken or earth sheltered appearance.
Depending on the detail design approach, the building will, to differing degrees benefit from an earth coupling effect, where by the thermal mass, insulative and protective qualities of the surrounding earth benefit the thermal performance of the building. Below around three metres earth tends to have a relatively constant ground temperature, which means in the summer it is cooler than the outside temperature and in winter it is warmer than the outside temperature, this effect lessens gradually as the depth decreases. An earth coupled building does not insulate between the internal space and the earth and as such benefits from the decreased fluctuation of the earths temperature, it will however have insulation and normally high internal mass or glazing on any walls exposed externally.
One well known example of an earth bermed housing scheme is the Hockerton Housing Project, which is a linear cluster of five self-sufficient houses built in Nottinghamshire in 1997 by Brenda Vale. Theses houses are earth coupled and as such require zero to minimal heating and have lower-than-normal energy consumption, which is supplied by onsite renewable energy generation from two 6 kW turbines and 7.6 kW solar panels.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Angstloch.
- Basement v cellar.
- Basement waterproofing.
- Bund.
- CarTube.
- Catacomb.
- Excavation.
- Earth to air heat exchangers.
- Geothermal energy.
- Geothermal pile foundations.
- Ground energy options
- Ground preconditioning of supply air.
- Ground source heat pumps.
- Gabion.
- Global undergrounds - exploring cities within.
- Oubliette.
- Planning (Subterranean Development) Bill.
- Substructure.
- Stad Ship Tunnel.
- The Lowline.
- Thermal labyrinths.
- Tunnels.
- Underground.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.