Photo Courtesy of Dale Antiel, Inc.
The River Falls, Wisconsin, house, designed in 1972 by architect Mike McGuire, is literally built into the forest soil, which provides natural insulation in the winter and acts as a cooling system in the summer. The hideaway fit for a hobbit sits on 3.5 acres of land and is completely surrounded by trees, moss, bushes, earth and leaves.
But the earth-covered property only looks tiny. At 2,236 square feet, the forest hideaway leads to two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and two bathrooms — all supported by arching steel culverts as a base.
Photo Courtesy of Dale Antiel, Inc.
Everything about the house fits with the natural, off-the-grid style — numerous skylights open up to views of the forest while room-length wooden benches and brick fireplaces add to the overall atmosphere.
That said, the hideaway is also equipped with all the comforts of modern life. The property has a laundry room, a detached garage, an underground pipe system and a mechanical area for controlling the house’s heat and water.
Photo Courtesy of Dale Antiel, Inc.
Dale Antiel of Edina Realty is the agent overseeing the sale. He advised agents who are selling unusual properties such as this one to “get all the publicity that [you] can” — whether by enlisting the help of other agents or taking the time to delve deeper into features for viewers.
“I think the new owner will be a creative thinker with an adventurous artistic side,” Antiel told Inman.
