Hotel design is going underground. Last year we reported on a London project to build a subterranean five-star hotel underneath a golf course. Striving to preserve the Green Belt countryside, the hotel isn't compromising on luxurious amenities: like a spa underneath a green roof. Now we're hearing reports about a new, unobtrusive project in the Italian Alps designed by Italian architect Matteo Thun. Built into the side of a mountain slope, the eco-friendly hotel will be crafted from local materials with a green roof to regulate the inside temperatures year-round. Best part of all? These "hobbit houses" will still boast stellar views of the surrounding mountainscape.

Image via Treehugger