In Armington, Illinois, a small rural town in Tazewell County, sits a house that breaks almost every rule of ordinary home design: it is built into the earth itself. This earth-sheltered home is partially underground rather than standing free above ground, a design meant to keep indoor temperatures steady all year round and cut heating and cooling bills. With five bedrooms, three bathrooms and about 2,300 square feet of living space, it is far roomier than its grassy, hillside exterior suggests.
Despite being below grade, the inside is described as bright, with plenty of natural light — a surprise for a home tucked into the ground. The stone-lined rooms, arched openings and round windows give it the feel of a cave dwelling crossed with a modern home, and the thick earth around it acts as natural insulation against both summer heat and winter cold.
The writer pitches it as affordable living with low utility costs, in a quiet small-town setting. For a large family, or anyone wanting an energy-efficient home away from the usual suburban look, the appeal is obvious: the land itself does much of the work that furnaces and air conditioners normally do.
One caution, though: the listing-style title attached to the story hints at a price, but the article itself never states one. So while the house, its size and its energy-saving design are all described in detail, any price figure would be a guess — and this retelling makes no such claim. What is certain is the idea: a home that lets the earth itself keep it comfortable.