We are explorers. In addition to venturing into space, I've come to believe we should be building down into the Earth and developing underground cities. Here are some reasons why.
Conversation
1. The most desirable cities have become very expensive. Building down opens up more inexpensive real estate.
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2. Climate control and efficiency. Go underground just 30 feet and the temperature is a constant 60 degrees F regardless of the surface temperature. Earth is a natural insulator. Building down also reduces human impact on the surface environment and ecosystems.
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3. Disaster resilience. Underground facilities are resistant to climate change, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and even nuclear incidents. Air handling systems will detect and filter pathogens. There's a reason that bunkers are built underground.
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4. Architectural creativity -- building underground allows for novel 3D construction opportunities. It's also quiet. Earth is a great sound insulator.
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5. Clean energy and transportation systems. Underground, everything will be electric. Solar panels on the surface and geothermal generators will power these communities and cities.
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6. Research and development opportunities in sustainability and off-world colonies. Farming, waste processing, and manufacturing technologies will all need to be reimagined as we build down. These advancements will pay dividends for LEO space stations or even the moon and Mars.
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7. The biological engineering required to grow food and build circular systems will be firewalled from the natural world.
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I also love this work…
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It's been a fascinating day of conversations about underground spaces and how they make people feel. Thanks to everyone that commented, liked, and retweeted. I read and appreciated every comment, even if I didn't get every reference.
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Over 400,000 views on this thread and some amazing comments! Thanks for all the reads, RT's, likes, and feedback. The idea of being underground is either attractive or repulsive, with very little middle ground. I'm keen to explore more real-world spaces!
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