Start a new life as a Hobbit in this green dome home

An example of a NaturaDome construction. Photo: AFP

Fans of The Hobbit book or movies will love living in a NaturaDome house. That's because while this original, half-buried house reveals a semi-circular entrance, the rest of the construction is topped by a kind of green, landscaped layer that blends seamlessly into the surrounding environment.

Besides the aesthetic aspect of this architectural choice, it also proves advantageous for insulation. The house does not need to be heated in winter because the earth insulates it from the cold. And in summer, it stays cool thanks to evapotranspiration – the organic upper canopy breathes by itself.

This house was dreamed up by Benoit Darre. In 2014, this former construction industry chief created this ecological house, which promises low energy consumption and is inexpensive to build. His NaturaDream company offers an entry-level house at €1,385 (RM6,827) per sq m, which is less than conventional constructions.