Living in homes partially submerged under the earth will no longer be the sole privilege of hobbits and rabbits, thanks to the efforts of one far-sighted Midland businessman. John Talbot, founder of Midland-based Earth Homes, is passionate about the designs of Swiss architect Peter Vetsch, a master of the partially subterranean curvilinear home. "The plan is to bring the designs to England and a certain extent the rest of the world," says John. He has already secured 18 commissions for the homes which use 80 per cent less energy than their traditional equivalent yet currently cost about the same to build at around £700 per square metre. "They make a very low impact on the visual environment, allowing you to retain much of the habitat. They are also rather elegant and beautiful." Although further innovations are promised, the current construction method is based on the successful approach pioneered in Switzerland. It involves spraying concrete on to a reinforced wire mesh - a similar approach to that of Birmingham's innovative Selfridges buildings. And unlike traditional concrete, which softens with time, this construction method produces gunite which hardens over time - leading to the extremely long life expected lifespan of the building. To get this far John has formed close links with a building contractor and his managing director, Mark Hingley, has a wealth of experience in the construction industry. Although funds are in place for steady organic growth, John says he has been surprised by the level of interest in the approach and is now after an investor to speed expansion. On top of the individual orders local authorities have also contacted him, investigating potential commissions from housing to schools. "We are moving quite fast now," he admits, breathlessly. "Our focus is on building a show home for later this year. "We are currently taking our clients to Switzerland to see the homes there and although they are very hospitable, they don't like opening their homes all the time. "We now want to take the company forward and take full advantage of the opportunities available. "We are hoping to raise £1.2 million from the right investor - we would like a hands-on financial guru." | 
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