Thursday, September 07, 2006

Vanishing trick for Ireland's second homes

Removing blots from the landscape could become far easier thanks to an improbable vanishing act conjured up by a team of Irish architects: their houses simply disappear into the ground.

Tackling "bungalow blight" is a priority in an increasingly wealthy country desperate to preserve its tourist industry but littered with more and more second homes. The single-storey dwellings being developed by two County Donegal architects, Antoin and Tarla MacGabhann, could provide the solution, satisfying rural planners and environmental campaigners, as well as those who admire ever-changing coastal views.

The radical plans for the ultimate in eco-friendly, holiday homes will be unveiled at the Venice Biennale architecture exhibition this weekend, demonstrating how seaside bungalows can be lowered down and remain out of sight when not in use. Sheep might even be able to graze on their submerged, grass-topped roofs.

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