Seven underground home design features that are not what you'd expect

Basement Basketball Court by Canny Design
Author: Joanna Tovia

Extending or adding another storey are obvious ways to add extra space at home, but innovative architects and designers are looking beneath the surface for other ways to help homeowners gain some room to move. And we’re not just talking about basements.

Underground cool rooms, swimming pools, bunkers and even basketball courts are some of the astonishing additions being built underground. Take a look at these inspiring designs from across the globe – they could open up a world of possibilities at your house.

1. Basketball court
When you have four active, sports-loving boys aged 13 and under living with you, a basketball court is likely to get plenty of use. Few homeowners can spare the space in their backyard for such an addition, but having space underground is a whole other story. It wasn’t cheap to excavate enough space beneath the backyard of this Melbourne Federation home – the basketball court has six-metre-high ceilings – but is a much-valued addition.

Learn more about this project

2. Toy storage
Recessing some play areas into a raised floor, which double as a place for kids to stash their toys, is a novel approach in this Melbourne home.

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3. Cellar
Most wine buffs and lovers of entertaining dream of being able to duck into their own wine cellar to select the next bottle to share with their friends, but space constraints often make it an unattainable dream. Not in this house.

Architects extended the basement as part of this London home renovation, adding a climate-controlled wine cellar beneath the new kitchen, access through a handy hatch cut into the kitchen floor.

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4. Bookshelf
In this unconventional apartment in Thessaloniki, Greece, the living room features an in-floor bookshelf. If you’re wondering whether you have to step over the books to get through the doorway, don’t – that’s an artwork on the wall, not a door.

Shop for bookcases on Houzz

5. Bunker
When a family of four living in the US Virgin Islands asked their architect to build them a compact new home, there was a catch – it had to be six metres underground. Taking a minimalist approach, Robeson Design opted for sliding doors and custom-designed furniture that could be extended or retracted to create convertible living spaces.

The homeowners also have the flexibility of being on the grid or off, with traditional electricity and battery-operated generators as well as solar-powered panels. This family is prepared for anything!

Take a look around

6. Fridge
In Arnhem in the Netherlands, an innovative designer created this polyester cellar, for urban permaculture enthusiasts who grow and harvest their own fruits and vegetables.

The waterproof, transportable Groundfridge was designed to be buried in the urban or suburban backyard, and can store the same amount of produce as 20 traditional fridges – with little to no use of electricity.

7. Bathroom
An odd-shaped block drove the design of this new house in Melbourne. The master bedroom, ensuite and walk-in dressing room are all located in the basement, along witha triple garage, laundry, lift and lounge area. Going underground gave the master suite the privacy it needed to feel like a sanctuary.

Learn more about this house

8. Getaway
This holiday retreat dug into the alpine slopes of Vals, Switzerland, has taken underground living all the way.

Speak to an architect in your area to make your vision a reality