It isn't so easy. Oymyakon is on permafrost. The heat from the building melts the permafrost and destabilizes the building. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per

It isn't so easy. Oymyakon is on permafrost. The heat from the building melts the permafrost and destabilizes the building. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permafrost#Construction_on_permafrost http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permafrost#Construction_on_perm... for some pictures and info. Eg, "Modern buildings in permafrost zones may be built on piles to avoid permafrost-thaw foundation failure from the heat of the building." and shows the building above the ground. That's what documents like http://www.uaf.edu/files/ces/publications-db/catalog/eeh/HCM-00754.pdf http://www.uaf.edu/files/ces/publications-db/catalog/eeh/HCM... say: > Make every attempt to keep the soil beneath the building frozen and the permafrost stable. The strategy for alleviating the engineering risks of building on permafrost sites is to build the structure on piles or an elevated foundation, taking special care to insulate the ground and prevent thawing.