Comparison
Underground or conventional house?
Both can reach the top energy class. The differences are in summer heat, running costs, upkeep and how long the structure lasts. Here they are side by side.
| Talpa underground house | Conventional new house | |
|---|---|---|
| Price to build | Turnkey from €3,250 per m², excluding VAT, on today’s price list | Depends on the builder, region and finish. Compare turnkey quotes for the same floor area. |
| Energy class | A0 | Since 2021, new homes in the EU have had to be nearly zero-energy (in Slovakia: class A0). |
| Energy costs | 20–70 € a month on the houses we have built | Depends on size, insulation and how much cooling the summer needs. |
| Summer heat | No air conditioning: soil and concrete hold the indoor temperature steady. | Shading, night ventilation or air conditioning in a heatwave. |
| Heating | Around 90 heating days a year. | A full heating season. |
| Indoor humidity | Measured at 45–65% all year round in occupied houses. | Depends on ventilation and use. |
| Structure | Monolithic watertight concrete. Hairline cracks seal themselves. | Masonry or timber frame, with a separate roof and facade. |
| Design life | Shell designed for more than 100 years. | Building structures are commonly designed for 50 years (EN 1990). |
| Roof and facade | The roof is soil and plants; most walls sit in the ground. | The roof covering and facade need renewing during the life of the house. |
| Changing the layout later | No load-bearing interior walls: the whole floor plan can be redesigned. | Load-bearing interior walls often limit later changes. |
| Noise | The earth cover deadens noise from outside. | Depends on walls and windows. |
| Plot | Ideal on a slope; on a flat plot the house gets its own hill. Daylight for the living rooms is checked first. | Any buildable plot. |
| Permit and mortgage | Standard building permit and standard mortgage. Valuations may come in low. | Standard building permit and mortgage. |
Talpa figures come from our price list and from the pages of houses we have built. The conventional column describes common practice, not a particular builder.
Which is right for you
An underground house, if
- Hot summers are part of the reason you are building.
- You want low running costs for decades, not only a low price on the day.
- Your plot slopes, has a view, or needs privacy from the neighbours.
- You want a house that lasts and can be reconfigured later.
A conventional house, if
- The lowest price on the day you sign matters most.
- You want a pitched roof and a house that stands above the ground.
- Your plot cannot give the living rooms daylight from one side.