Ohio Pyramid House

	Figure A
	Figure B

Local entrepreneur Harry Wilks never thought of building an underground home until he saw a ridge that inspired him to start digging and create a subterranean with a giant blue pyramid-shaped skylight (figure A). He decided he could dig straight into the hill on one side of the ridge and come out the other side to build this luxurious home. The home is surrounded by acres of manicured forests and modern art (figure B) in Hamilton, Ohio.

Figure C

At the center of this 6,500-plus square-foot home is a 2,500-square-foot living room with ample space to entertain 80 guests (figure C). One of the main obstacles Wilks' faced was that of a lack of sunlight. He decided to install a huge skylight above the living room in the shape of a light-catching glass pyramid. Wilks concluded that a pyramid-design would catch the maximum amount of light and that the self-supporting pyramid would hold itself up without the aid of posts. He opted for slightly tinted mirrored glass for privacy as opposed to the glare reflected from standard glass.

	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

This underground structure includes an office and three bedrooms (figure D). Each bedroom suite peeks out from beneath the hill and features a dressing area and palatial bathroom trimmed in marble, beveled mirrored walls, a luxurious bath and a curved shower (figure E). One bedroom leads to an outdoor swimming pool (figure F).

	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J

Wilks' decorated the home with his collection of historic artifacts from Rome, Egypt and Greece (figure G). One of his favorite artifacts is the sarcophagus mummy purchased at an auction house nearly three decades ago (figure H). An ancient Roman mosaic statue stands guard by the fireplace (figure I). Other features include an indoor waterfall (figure J), diamond-patterned inlaid wooden floors and solid stone marble columns that provide stability and support.

In the future, Wilks plans to convert his underground home into a public museum. At 76-years of age, he feels fortunate to have been able to build this lovely home. With over 200 acres of landscaped grounds the Pyramid House is a sight to behold, and Wilks hopes it will be a legacy that lasts a millennium.

Resources
book on building homes underground
The Natural House Catalog by David Pearson
Fireside, 1996
Order this title from Amazon.com.

book on building homes underground
The Earth Sheltered House by Malcolm Wells
Chelsea Green Publishing, 1998
Order this title from Amazon.com.

book on building homes underground
Complete Book of Underground Houses: How to Build a Low-cost Home by Robert Roy
Sterling Publications, 1994
Order this title from Amazon.com.

book on building homes underground
Underground Homes by Louis Wampler
Firebird Press, 1980
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Guests
Harry Wilks
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum
222 High St.
Suite 201
Hamilton, Ohio 45011
Phone: 513-868-8336
Website: www.pyramidhill.org
Also in this Episode

Special Presentation : Episode SUB-S
•	Illinois Cave Home
•	Texas Dome Home
•	Kansas Missile Site
•	Ohio Pyramid House
•	California Sphere House
•	Idaho Mountain Hideaway
•	Stover House in Illinois