A Building's Relationship with the Ground: Things an Architect Should Know

One of the most basic design questions is the building’s orientation to the ground plane.

On the Earth
The most basic relationship a building can have is to sit on the earth. Here the first floor of the building is aligned with the ground plane.

In the Earth
In this relationship, the first floor of the building is sunk into the ground plane.

Under the Earth
Buildings can be fully under the earth. These can be earth berm houses, or green roofs.


Above the Earth
Perhaps the most famous modern example of above the earth is Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye.

On a Platform
Buildings placed on platforms elevate them from the mundane earth to a higher realm. The most famous example is the Parthenon on the Acropolis.

Roof Plane Above the Earth
Perhaps the most iconic example is Philip Johnson’s Glass house.