Hidden House by 123DV

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Hidden House 123DV

Project: Hidden House
Designed by 123DV
Website: www.123dv.nl
123DV architects' team shares with us their design for a splendid zero emission residential project simply named the Hidden House. Find more information after the break:

Hidden House 123DV

From the Architects:

Ecological concept 

Generating its own energy 

The aim of the ecological concept is to achieve a zero emission house which can generate its own energy needs: 

– It generates its own electricity from sun energy by the use of solar panels
– It collects earth heat or cold from the ground and stores it in the ground for additional heating or cooling
– It collects its own water with an own dug underground well
– It collects rainwater and reuses it for flushing the toilets 

Reducing energy needs 

In order to reduce the required energy for heating or cooling we propose a house which makes more use of the thermal earth warmth.

An underground house can make use of the constant earth temperature of 15  degrees Celsius and therefore need less energy for heating or cooling to reach the required interior temperature of around 19 degrees Celsius. 

A house above the ground can absorb the extra warmth or cold in summer or cold in winter.

A combination of both principles could lead to a more energy saving house.

The extra warmth or cold can be mixed with air of the underground house to achieve the required temperature. 

A combination of an “underground-” and “above the ground“ house would lead to a section where you have underground rooms (more dark and cool) and above the ground rooms (more light, different temperature).      

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How can sustainability trigger architecture and life?

An eco house contributes to the environment. Does it also contribute to the quality of the daily life? 

Back to basic: experiences of nature 

As a child it was a great experience going up and down the slide. As adults we are conditioned to go up and down the stairs. Where is the joy of moving?

As a child it was a great experience to build underground shacks. There we would sit tight to each other, in contact with the earth, in the dark, in our own world, safe from the outside.

Why as grown up people do we want bigger spaces and let technique give us protection, such as alarm systems.

For children, playing in the rain could be an exciting thing. For adults we usually don't like getting wet in the rain, but we do enjoy rain showers.     

Maybe designing elements with more joy can bring more quality of the daily life.

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Designing experiences 

Daily life cycle 

The spaces described in the “underground-” and “above the ground“ house match perfectly with the daily life cycle.

The more darker and sheltered spaces for sleeping can be located in the “underground” house: dark and sheltered from the outside world.

The more light area for living can be located in the “above the ground“ house: more in contact with light and surroundings.

The design consist of four stories ranging from dark to light. 


Reintroducing the bedstead in the “underground” house could strengthen the experience of intimate space in the dark, protected from the outside world. 

The glide 

The four stories in the eco “underground-” and “above the ground“ house are connected by a set of stairs.

By introducing also a glide, travelling down to the underground house could be more an experience. It also is a time saving element were traveling might become a joyful experience.

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Rain shower

An open gap in the roof could function as a rain shower when it rains, where the strength of water flows depend on nature. Going to the shower could be an adventure where you can get cleansed by natural rain.

Toilet lounge

Visiting the toilet is mostly an individual boring ritual.

By clustering more toilets to meet each other in the toilet could lead to a social event and maybe more quality time. 

Design of the eco house 

This eco house is a design which contributes to the environment. The design generates its own energy.

This home also requires less energy for heating or cooling compared to a traditional house.

The design is also a speculation to give a different view of a living environment to bring back more basic experiences with nature. It is also an attempt to introduce opportunities for new social interactions, in order to gain more quality in daily life. 

Hidden House 123DV

ECO from a different angle…


