Dugout (shelter)

A cave dwelling is an artificial or at least artificially enhanced erosion, which is used for residential purposes. She is mostly self-supporting, which means it is not additionally introduced the support structure for ceiling support is used, but only used the the soil or bedrock inherent strength. Their purpose, they differ from those used for religious purposes cave temples and rock-hewn churches.

Caves are created on slopes to avoid filling up the apartment in the rain and fluctuating groundwater levels.

It is also referred to as " house without a roof " or speaks of subterranean or subtractive architecture because you removed mainly rock.

Demarcation

Erdhaus ( Earth sheltered dwelling ) are often called in America constructed of steel and concrete houses in which more or less thick layers of earth are placed on the roof and / or a portion of the exterior walls. The living environment is partially in a cave dwelling. The architect Peter Vetsch builds such houses, especially in Switzerland. Outwardly, they are the design of the traditional cave houses very close.

Properties

Construction

The stability of the structure depends on the rock in which the cave is dug, and the dimensions of the rooms. The UNDERGROUND design opens up the possibility of the caves to enlarge if necessary.

Living environment

Throughout the year reign largely balanced, comfortable temperatures that fluctuate around the average annual ambient air temperature of the respective area. The deeper reaches the cave in the earth, the lower the annual temperature fluctuations.

Between day and night, there is virtually no temperature fluctuations due to the large thermal storage mass of the upcoming Earth. Due to the heat storage effect, the maximum temperatures are felt in about three feet of water for up to three months delay in the interior, ie until October, and minimum temperatures in April. This changes when reducing the depth or severe ventilation.

The humidity is usually due to the constant temperatures and the buffer function of the surrounding rock around 50 % to 70% for living rooms yet comfortable range. It is somewhat higher than in conventional homes with 40 % to 60 %.

Usually, so no need for additional insulation, heating or even air conditioning systems in residential caves to create a comfortable living environment.

Sustainability

In the preparation of the construction material cost is low. In operation, the energy consumption for heating or cooling is comparatively small; in southern latitudes is the energy consumed in large wall and ceiling thickness close to zero.

Water resistance

The density against moisture results depending on soil type and thickness of the cave ceiling and with the rainfall. In the areas in the south of Spain and Zaragoza fall amounts to 400 mm (= 400 l/m2 and year). However, less annual rainfall appears to be important, as the amount of individual peak rainfall events. Also waterproofing of concrete or other waterproof materials to be used Chance in poor soils and low ceiling thickness. For example, the use of pond liner to imagine or seals that are used in the green roof. Their use is, however, among experts controversial because impeded by the air-tightness of the material and the subsequent drying by means of diffusion / evaporation of the cavity ceiling in the air above or prevented. Better experiences were made in to permeable layers with the deposition of compacted clay.

Radon concentration in the air

Depending on the natural radioactivity of the soil may lead to accumulation of radon gas as it is also known from cellars by the rise of radon from the soil. Radon does not accumulate in normal ventilation. If in doubt, you can make measurements of radon contamination in the air or before, for example, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, consult maps of the competent radiation protection authorities.

Darkness

The lack of natural light is a problem in Erdwohnungen in which spaces are dug into the ground one after the other in several rows. If the premises are parallel to the facade, each room can be equipped with daylight openings. To provide even rooms of the cave a few meters depth with natural light, special light tubes or " skylights " are offered for some time, which can transport up to eight meters deep without noticeable loss the light. At the end of a lamp similar device is attached, which has an adjustable, glare-free luminosity.

Optional can be done with this system, a ventilation. Other possibilities are to increase the window of the façade, and the incorporation of windows or other transparent elements (glass brick or block) between inner and outer spaces.

Ventilation

Low-lying areas can be supplied by means of passive and active ventilation with sufficient fresh air. The passive ventilation uses temperature differences between indoor and outdoor air; e.g. one based on the most remote from the entrance side, a ventilation shaft. In addition, controllable fans for ventilation can be installed today.

Dissemination of caves

Or yet again inhabited, excavated caves can be found in

  • Germany Kallmunz, the "house without a roof "
  • France (including in the Dordogne and in the department of Cher on the banks of the Loire, on the island of Corsica in Pianottoli -Caldarello )
  • Spain (Andalusia Guadix, Baza, Granada, Almeria), Valencia and surroundings, province of Alicante ( Crevillente, Rojales ), Aragon (Zaragoza, valley of Jalon ) around Madrid ( Fuentidueña de Tajo, Tielmes ), Castile ( Albacete), Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, eg Artenara, Anaga Mountains on Tenerife ), Balearic Islands Mallorca ( SaCova in Felanitx, Cala Figuera ), Ibiza,
  • Italy (Matera, Sardinia / Sulki )
  • Greece ( Santorini )
  • Turkey ( Cappadocia, Goreme ), see also cave architecture in Cappadocia
  • Iran ( Kandovan, Maymand )
  • Morocco ( Bhalil in Sefrou, Imouzzer - Kandar and Ifrane in the Middle Atlas zaouia d' )
  • Libya ( Nalut ) ( dwellings of the Berbers ),
  • Tunisia ( Matmata, Chenini )
  • China ( Loess Plateau, Shanxi region ( Zhongyang ) )
  • Australia ( Coober Pedy, White Cliffs )
  • USA (St. Louis)
  • Mexico ( in the Tarahumara ).
  • Argentina (Los Riscos ) project under construction

Only as a museum it can be seen in

  • Germany ( Long Stone ( Harz foothills ), Heppenheim, Peter Cave ( near Beuron ) )
  • Switzerland ( Wildenmannlisloch, Kesslerloch, Dieterswil )
  • France (La Madeleine )
  • England ( Kinver )
  • Netherlands ( Meerssen, Valkenburg )
  • Hungary,
  • Spain ( Punta de n 'Amer, Condado de Treviño, Ciutadella de Menorca ( Cala Blanca ) )
  • Italy ( Palazzolo Acreide Balzi Rossi, Massacra Castel Sant'Elia )
  • Greece (island of Crete Matala )
  • Ukraine (Kiev, Inkerman, Cufut Qale )
  • Georgia ( Uplistsiche, Vardzia Wanis Kwabebi )
  • Turkey ( Midyat, Karain )
  • Czech Republic ( Valečov )
  • Jordan (Petra )
  • USA ( Gila Cliff Dwellings, Mesa Verde, Montezuma Castle, Walnut Canyon )

In some places, cave dwellings are rented out to tourists.

Caves in the Roman literature

  • Cyrano de Bergerac, Trip to the Moon, 1650 ( ISBN 3-8218-0732-6 )
  • Herbert George Wells, The Future in America, 1911 (ISBN 0-548-85971- X)
  • Jules Verne, Black India, 1877 (ISBN 3-8224-1024-1 )
  • Patrick Süskind, Perfume, 1985 ( ISBN 3-257-22800-7 )
  • J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
  • J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Pictures

Kandovan in Iran

Hôtel Sididriss in Matmata in Tunisia

Cave dwelling in Rochemenier (France)

Caves on Tenerife

Shanxi Province in the People's Republic of China

Caves on Purullena, Spain

Monolithic church Earth house Thermal comfort Almería Artenara, Las Palmas Macizo de Anaga Kandovan, Osku Meymand, Kerman Berber people Matmata, Tunisia Zhongyang County White Cliffs, New South Wales Tarahumara people Abri de la Madeleine Valkenburg aan de Geul Massafra Matala, Crete Uplistsikhe Walnut Canyon National Monument Perfume (novel)
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