[custom_adv] Sometimes you may want to deviate from the expected and stay somewhere that is a unique surprise. Set in Vals, Switzerland, Villa Vals is a house completely immersed in the mountainside, with only the central patio able to be seen above ground. [custom_adv] Located incredibly close to Vals' world famous thermal baths, the dwelling is the height of privacy and gorgeous views. Surrounded by green meadows (or snowy hilltops depending on the season), this 1,700-square-foot villa will probably come as a surprise to some but we'll be shocked if you don't immediately want to move in. [custom_adv] Usually when people think of luxury villas they think of pampering, relaxation, and maybe a flashy architectural appearance. Maybe they're in the heart of a famous city or off on a tropical island with sandy beaches, but the idea is usually the same. [custom_adv] In a location as picturesque as Vals, Switzerland, it’s difficult to imagine any new construction that wouldn’t impose on the beautiful landscape. So, when the rare opportunity was granted to construct a new dwelling just a stone’s throw away from the famed Vals thermal baths, it was of paramount importance to not disturb the tranquil site. [custom_adv] Designed by the architects of SeArch and Christian Müller, this underground house exemplifies the notion that thoughtfully constructed buildings can live in harmony with their surrounding environs. [custom_adv] Situated in the Swiss village of Vals, the house is almost undetectable, nestled right into the mountain as it is. Set below ground, the concrete structure features a wide oval opening that one arrives at via a set of stones steps embedded in the steep incline. [custom_adv] At the top of the stairs, a central patio is surrounded by a wide-spanning façade formed of large window openings, which provide luminous reflections of the Alpine vista on the opposite side of the narrow valley.