What Happened to the Dream of Underground Cities?

Motherboard ^ | June 9, 2016 | Ernie Smith

[blueplum]

when I gas a gopher, I look for holes that the smoke comes out of besides the one I dropped the bomb into, and seal those holes. I imagine a primitive underground city can be smoked the same way. And then there’s lack of Vit D. And humidity from all those people breathing. It would be a rodent haven, including bats. So it probably wouldn’t be very good temporary protection from invaders, and the surrounding agriculture/animal herds would give the location away.

So, I’d have to guess that ancient underground cities could have been religious event/festival temporary upscale housing for an annual crowd - to accommodate the more well-to-do without expanding the walls or taxing the resources of a nearby city.

[SunkenCiv]

In the 1960s, Shatner got more action than Wilt Chamberlain.

[mountainlion]

D.U.M.B. Deep Underground Military Bunkers. No one knows how many there are but every time you hear complaints about unknown noise in an area it is probably the drilling machine.

[KSCITYBOY]

LOL

[DakotaGator]

Indeed. When man lives underground he makes it as comfortable as possible. In many cases that is quite comfortable. Dugouts are often used.

But man goes underground to escape something, generally fellow man or the elements...sometimes both. The resulting underground quarters are fascinating.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fieldmarshaldj.

[antidisestablishment]

Underground cities became discouraged once the SJWs realized all the residents turned white.

[BroJoeK]

"It was the revival of a concept that goes back thousands of years. Why didn't it stick?"

Living underground becomes increasingly attractive when:

1. Energy prices rise to the point where heating & cooling expenses become prohibitive.

2. Threats of war, especially nuclear war seem more urgent.

3. People begin feeling Hobbit-like in a dangerous world.

Speaking of Hobbits, they lived underground, but still enjoyed a great view, fresh air & gardens.

[grayeagle]

Have you ever been to Tokyo? The ‘Metro’ has many levels and stores, markets, condo buildings have entrances in subways below their street level entrances. People not only can live underground some do.

[Chickensoup]

I understood a while back that Finland is plowing some of its North Sea oil monies into expanding their cities underground.

[Chickensoup]

http://grist.org/urbanism/2011-02-23-check-out-helsinkis-underground-shadow-city/