Solution to the housing shortage: bury houses!

For years, the Netherlands has been struggling with a persistent problem: a housing shortage. The government therefore wants to make it legal to live in holiday homes. A nice band-aid solution, but in this column I fantasise about a more radical solution: underground skyscrapers. Realistic, or pure science fiction?

In the village where I live, in the Achterhoek region, there are no high-rise flats. Instead, there are detached houses, terraced houses, and bungalows, surrounded by farms and meadows. A skyscraper would feel completely out of place here.

But if you look at the big cities, it's a different story. At 215 metres, De Zalmhaven in Rotterdam is the tallest residential tower in the Netherlands and the Benelux. The building has 61 floors and houses 452 apartments plus commercial spaces and a car park. And Rotterdam is continuing to build. There are currently 32 high-rise projects in development.

Although high-rise residential towers save space, they are not suitable for every location. In villages or historic city centres, they detract from the character. Soil conditions also play a role: in parts of the Netherlands with soft peat soils, such as parts of North Holland or Friesland, it is technically and financially challenging to build high.

But while we argue above ground and endlessly debate every square metre, the subsoil lies quietly beneath us. What if... we went underground instead? How deep can you build before it becomes impractical? And would you end up living in a cold bunker, or could you turn it into something special?

The Earthscraper in Mexico

First, let's take a look at other countries. One of the most daring underground housing projects ever is the concept The Earthscraper in Mexico City. This inverted skyscraper would go down no less than 300 metres, spread over 65 underground floors. Above ground: a glass square that allows daylight to flood in. The tower was to house offices, homes, a museum, and even shops – all beneath the historic Zócalo square, without affecting the cityscape. The estimated cost was around $800 million.

In practice, there is no upside-down residential tower hundreds of metres deep. And with good reason. Deep underground, we have to contend with extreme pressure, moisture,e and heat. Every extra metre means heavier structures, more ventilation, better insulation, and more advanced safety and escape systems. Deep in the earth's crust, there is also earth radiation from natural radioactive substances such as radon. Good ventilation and sealing are therefore crucial. That makes it complex.

So, it will not happen by itself. But perhaps one day we will have to. Because, as everyone knows, land in the Netherlands is scarce and fiercely contested.

Dam Square: an option?

Can we build an Earthscraper in Amsterdam? It doesn't look like it. Directly beneath the square is the Noord/Zuidlijn metro station (Rokin and Damrak), which was built in the 2000s with immense technical challenges. An expensive joke: €3.1 billion. Beneath and alongside it: a maze of old foundations, cables, pipes, sewers and archaeological layers full of historical remains from centuries of urban development. Amsterdam is also built on peat and piles, which means that the soil is soft and water-permeable. So let's leave Amsterdam for what it is for now.

The city of light: suitable for innovative construction

A city that might be suitable for our underground tower is Eindhoven. The city has relatively modern infrastructure and a more stable sandy soil than, for example, the peat-rich west of the Netherlands, which makes it technically easier to dig deep into the ground. The city profiles itself as a breeding ground for innovation and technology – an underground residential tower would therefore fit perfectly with this image.

The psychology of underground living

We are going for Eindhoven! But even if it is technically feasible, would people want to live underground? Our brains are evolutionarily programmed to seek out the horizon, light, and air. In an underground home, you miss windows with a view, the rhythm of daylight, and the feeling of connection with your surroundings.

Psychologists warn that prolonged stays in an environment without natural light or views can lead to gloominess, disorientation or even a disrupted day-night rhythm. But just as we once thought that working in an open-plan office would be disastrous – and yet we do it en masse – this may also be a matter of getting used to it and designing it properly. With daylight simulation and vibrant green spaces, it may be possible to keep the brain happy.

Everything has been thought of in the underground tower in Eindhoven. First of all, it is surprisingly light. Daylight penetrates deep into the building thanks to vertical shafts with mirrors that reflect the light downwards. There are also special lamps on every floor that produce vitamin D, good for your health and your mood. Every few floors, you will find an open, green space: vertical gardens full of plants, trees, and places to rest. Thanks to artificial photosynthesis, they grow without sunlight, fed by smart irrigation systems. Walls with digital windows show soothing virtual landscapes, while scent diffusers subtly emit the smell of the forest. Better than above ground in the city!

The price has dropped significantly

Even if it were technically possible, and you weren't totally psychologically averse to it, I wonder if people would be eager to live or work underground. I prefer to enjoy the view of a meadow, like here in the Achterhoek. Perhaps they could make underground living more attractive by significantly reducing the price of “earth homes”. Who knows, I might even swap the Achterhoek for Eindhoven after all.