My plans have been in two possible directions.
1 - build a house where 80% is underground and the remaining 20% is above ground (basically a two story structure with the second story above ground level).
2 - a buried structure built around a central sunken, lanscaped courtyard. Almost all the windows face the courtyard.
#1 is more like my idea. I want all the underground portion hidden, with the mobile on top. Access hidden inside the mobile or with 2ndary access available but hidden elsewhere. I’ve just figured that the shipping container idea is about the least cost method of doing it since they are already pre-built to withstand the stresses of ocean and truck transport. Modular so to speak- dig the hole, drop the container in and you’ve got most of the “construction” work done.
Running power and water wouldn’t be much problem as both are already underground now to the mobile. Heating/cooling bills drastically minimized as the earth doesn’t vary in temp much.
Lots of ideas, not much of anything planned yet. Last quote I got, quite a few years ago, was about $2800 for a 40 footer. Figured I could build it for that much. Now they may be down in a reasonable range if there’s going to be a surplus of them. Getting one trucked out into the boondocks will I’m at would probably cost more than the container.
Like I said, I’m collecting ideas right now.