This is wonderful – however I feel a bit sad that is a museum rather than an active place people live. So many examples of wonderful architecture in California, but they are museums, and around them are built sub par structures.
Fwiw, there is an established community of people experimenting with underground homes in the western United states. These are places where folks actually live and the curious can rent for a short term. https://earthship.com/
Earthships are not underground. They have one wall that's stacks of old tires, with an above-ground dirt mound against that wall, and sometimes dirt on top of some of the roof (but mostly not).
Not just California - The Alamo in San Antonio is surrounded by cheap tourist stores.
It was run by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas for years and they did a great job but didn't have any influence over the zoning around the Mission. It is now run by the Alamo Trust and they have a plan and the ability to restore the plaza area around it.
