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This Wild $1.3M North Carolina Home Is Buried Beneath the Earth

The bunker-like dwelling has reinforced concrete walls—tempered with midcentury-inspired interiors and a grassy rooftop with a massive skylight.

Location: 46 Dortch Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina

Price: $1,275,000

Year Built: 1978

Architect: Richard A. Webster

Footprint: 1,364 square feet (2 bedrooms, 2 baths)

Lot Size: 0.32 Acres

From the Agent: “Designed by local architect Richard A. Webster and commissioned by Dr. & Mrs. Lloyd Remington in the 1970s, this earth shelter emerges from a hillside in Asheville’s Five Points neighborhood—minutes from downtown, Asheville Botanical Gardens, and eclectic restaurants. The swanky ‘hobbitat’ showcases principles of promoting a sustainable lifestyle. A ‘solar attic’ extends the entire home’s length, providing natural light throughout. Fluted concrete walls help regulate temperatures. Inside, there’s a moody midcentury aesthetic. With chic color and texture play, and modern finishes and conveniences, this room home passes the vibe check.”

More than 200 tons of concrete were used in constructing the walls.

More than 200 tons of concrete were used in constructing the walls.

Ryan Theed

Ryan Theed

The 48 foot solar attic (AKA skylight) provides natural light throughout the home.

The 48 foot solar attic (AKA skylight) provides natural light throughout the home.

Ryan Theed

See the full story on Dwell.com: This Wild $1.3M North Carolina Home Is Buried Beneath the Earth
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There’s No Front Door at This Family Home Outside Barcelona

The brick residence has several entries placed around the perimeter, and is heated only via a woodburning stove and the sun.

The flat roof and low-lying, horizontal form is discretely nestled below the treetops, adding an additional layer of privacy.

In moving from an apartment in bustling Barcelona to Matadepera, a quiet village roughly 45 minutes away by car, one could assume you’d easily find more privacy. But that wasn’t so for Gloria, Jordi, and their two children, who built their first home on a lot shared with in-laws.

Located in Matadepera, Spain, this 1,539-square-foot house for a family of four is composed of nine modules for a flexible yet private living space.

Located in Matadepera, Spain, this 1,539-square-foot house for a family of four is composed of nine interconnected boxes that support a flexible lifestyle.

Photo by José Hevia

To design a home that felt independent without being closed off, they turned to Alventosa Morell Arquitectes—close friends and experienced collaborators. “The challenge was to find a balance between maintaining the privacy of the home and the physical and emotional connection with the other nearby family homes,” says Xavier Morell Jané, one of the studio’s cofounders.

The energy efficient design relies on a wood-burning stove for chilly days, otherwise sunlight, and operable windows and doors take care of most of the heating and cooling.

The central living space has a raised ceiling with operable clerestories to bring in breezes. The room’s woodburning stove, and the sun, provide all the heat for the home. “I love when people come over in the middle of winter and find out there is no extra heating,” says Jordi.

Photo by José Hevia

Lofty <i>Volta catalan</i> ceilings run throughout the house.

Lofty volta catalan ceilings run throughout the house.

Photo by José Hevia

See the full story on Dwell.com: There’s No Front Door at This Family Home Outside Barcelona
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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House May Close—and Everything Else You Need to Know About This Week

Home builders are desperate to attract buyers, how creating more courtyards could keep families in cities, condo owners on billionaires’ row sue developers for $165 million, and more.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in Los Angeles may close due to city budget cuts.

  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House may soon close to the public, as L.A.’s proposed budget cuts slash staffing and put its UNESCO World Heritage status at risk. (The Los Angeles Times)

  • As high mortgage rates and tariffs stall what should be a busy spring home-buying season, home builders are throwing everything—including the kitchen sink—at buyers: discounts, design upgrades, mortgage-rate buydowns, and more. (The Wall Street Journal)

  • To keep families from leaving cities, architects are reviving an age-old solution: the courtyard. Here’s how shared green spaces—once staples of city life from Brooklyn to Santa Monica—are being reimagined to make urban living work for families. (Bloomberg)

Brunson Terrace, an apartment building in Santa Monica designed by Brooks + Scarpa, features a courtyard at its center that supports family life.

Brunson Terrace, an apartment building in Santa Monica designed by Brooks + Scarpa, features a courtyard at its center meant to support family life.

Photo courtesy of Brooks + Scarpa

  • Cracks are showing in the crown jewel of billionaires’ row, where condo owners at 432 Park Avenue are suing developers for more than $165 million. The suit claims developers hid nearly 1,900 facade defects, some deemed “life safety” risks. (The New York Times)

  • Prefab ADUs promised a turnkey path to affordable housing, but several builders are making promises they can’t keep (or never intended to), leaving buyers thousands of dollars short. (Dwell)

Top image by Maggie Shannon