Regional alterations to Oehler-style construction

I've read the Oehler books, seen the videos, and tried to gather as much info about the post-shoring-poly building style, and there seems to be a factor I haven't seen too much about so I am wondering if anyone has compiled a list of complications and their mitigating factors.

Most of the Oehler style buildings are in places with a longer cold season than hot, and at or near 20" of annual precipitation. What modifications to the overall design of such a structure would be called for when put in where the climate is radically different? How would one be able to maintain the longevity of the structure if it were to be built into the hillside of a subtropical region that gets 60-100 inches of annual precip? How does one want to alter the design if installing in high desert where there are radical temperature changes daily that could cause rapid condensation buildup part of the year?

I began thinking about these things after I started looking at property near the Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas. I know I want an Earth-sheltered or at least partially underground dwelling, with Oehler's style seeming to be the easiest to one-man-army, but I can't help but think that having an impermeable envelope somewhere that humid is a bad idea, so any musings are appreciated!

this may be astart https://permies.com/t/73881/Oehler-Structure-progress

While this is all theoretical for me since I don’t have land yet, I am in north Texas and have been dreaming of building my own underground house for many years. My inclination right now, is to do a combination of an Oehler-style and a John Hait passive annual solar. Instead of the post and shoring I am leaning towards ferrocement, to minimize long term maintenance issues with termites and posts rotting. I figure I will need to run a dehumidifier of some kind, and would run pex tubing in floor and/or ceiling to be able to run radiant heat and cooling as a backup to the passive mass if needed.

If the exterior walls are well insulated, and/or have a good thickness of earth sheltering, I would think there shouldn’t be issues with condensation even with wide daily temperature swings.

It probably would be better to have an inpermeable envelope with an ERV or HRV fresh air system and a dehumidifier, unless you were planning to be so off grid you’re not running any electric at all.

Andrew, are there any such homes built in your area?

John C Daley wrote:Andrew, are there any such homes built in your area?

I know there are a few underground/earth sheltered homes in the area around me; I use to live just a couple miles from this one, and know of at least 2 others.

As for Oehler-style, Passive Annual Solar, underground Ferrocement, or any combination thereof, if there are any around me, I don't know of them.

The Monolithic Dome Institute headquarters is less than an hour from me, they build above-ground domes out of shotcrete, I believe I've read that while they don't feel the need for their domes to be buried, they structurally could be. And if I'm remembering correctly (without re watching the above video) the shell for the underground home in the above youtube may have been built by them.

Few houses in this area of Texas have basements, whether due to shallow rock shelves underground, high water table, high clay content in the soil, or for other reasons, I am thinking less of digging into the ground, and more building at/slightly under ground level, and covering with a thin layer of soil.

I understand now.
Soil is heavy so you need to be sure any such load can be carried.
Undergrounding by covering with soul is OK  I believe, its saving the excavation work.
Its interesting that basements are rare, I wonder if it is more a lack of knowing about them and a cultural thing?