Over the weekend, The Hobbit , Peter Jackson’s much-anticipated prequel adaptation of the most epic story about a heroic hole-builder ever written, landed in theaters and set box office records. According to the world’s communal encyclopedia, most of Tolkien’s humble hobbits lived in “hobbit-holes” or Smials, traditional underground homes found in hillsides, downs, and banks identified by charming little round doors and windows. Proof that the Shire’s simple, bucolic way of life isn’t just fantasy, we’ve rounded up some of the best real-life hobbit homes on the planet. From underground earth house estates in Switzerland to a grand tree house in Oregon fit for Frodo, click through to check out the very best of hobbit havens.
Estate Lättenstrasse by Peter Vetsch – Dietikon, Switzerland
Image credit: Vetsch Architektur
Dolder House by Peter Vetsch – Widen, Switzerland
Image credit: Vetsch Architektur
Pallavincini House by Peter Vetsch – Arni, Switzerland
Image credit: Vetsch Architektur
Eco House Bolton by Make Architecture – Bolton, England
Image credit: milimet design
Malator by Future Systems – Pembrokeshire, Wales
Image credit: Hamish; Journal 1005
Marshall House by Denton Corker Marshall – Phillip Island, Australia
Image credit: me-magazine
The Dune House by William Morgan – Atlantic Beach, Florida
Image credit: William Morgan Architects
Mountain House by SeARCH and Christian Muller Architects – Vals, Switzerland
Image credit: trendir
The Wilkinson Residence by Robert Harvey Oshatz – Portland, Oregon
Image credit: Robert Harvey Oshatz Architecture
Wooden Wonders
Image credit: Wooden Wonders