Life in an underground tube?

Question

If you line a shaft 8' X 6' and 20' deep with concrete you could conceivably build a 960 square foot apartment in the ground. You could be quite comfortable without heating and cooling. You could spelunk from top to bottom and back. The draw backs of course would be only one exit for fire safety so smokers could only smoke at the top level in the kitchen or outside on the trap door. Seems like there could be another problem too I'm not sure. Would it be environmentally good and good to live in?

Answer 1

Other problems include no way to drain the water from sinks, toilets and so on, since the sewer pipes are not that deep underground in most cases. And no windows, which is depressing to most people and requires using electric lights even in the day time which is a waste of electricity. And the shape is wrong. Why make it so narrow and tall? It doesn't have to be that shape to be under ground. People could make above ground homes that shape too, but they don't. Because it isn't a good shape for a home that size.

Oh, and pickledchang is right. You misplaced a decimal. If you make it two 10 foot high stories it is only 96 square feet of floor space, not 960.

Answer 2

that would only be a 48 square foot apartment, with a 20 foot ceiling. not a very comfy amount of space if you ask me. it would also have to be sealed perfectly or it would fill with water.

Answer 3

You would have a very difficult time using natural light.

Answer 4

Perfact get away for the recluse, or the cockroach. no thanks, I'd rather live in a tree house. Enviromentally good,... how does the toilet facility work?

Answer 5

If you don't get claustrophobic! I would be really claustrophobic. You'll probably have to consult your town to see if it's okay.