In recent years, more and more people have been refurbishing bunkers into lavish escape centers and even repurposing them as living spaces. Sales of the mentioned spaces have risen 700% since 2015, and 300% since Trump's election. Air raid shelters, missile silos, nuclear shelters, and military bunkers are included in the spaces that are being used. Many of these structures had already existed from the Cold War and had been unused, abandoned shelters. Rather than erase these from our past, many architects have decided to transform them into luxury spaces worldwide, were the rich can chose to go should there be any sort of nuclear, biological, or total war "apocalypse." They are equipped to last about a year on their own should an event occur, and can often times house many people at once. They have things like pools, TVs, luxury beds, and electricity, claiming that for a stay as lengthy as a year requires more than four walls of concrete. Not all of these structures, however, are for the elite. In Beijing the bunkers under the city are now being used as spaces for low income citizens. They have been dubbed, "the rat tribe," though in reality these spaces have better conditions and are closer to the city than traditional above ground housing would be for them.
All in all, I think this is an especially superfluous yet interesting topic, as, in my opinion, the bunkers have no need to be as spacious and luxurious as they are. I do however think that constructing more living spaces underground in urban areas could solve the overcrowding issues in places like China and India. It is also very interesting how these spaces are often leftover from the Cold War, when the US and USSR were in a lengthy face-off over atomic bombs. This caused many people worldwide to build bunkers and shelters, oftentimes in their backyards, in order to survive the possibility of an all out nuclear war. Drills were conducted at school, work, etc more consistently than fire drills, and the entire population was constantly on alert. This time period has long since passed, but the bunkers still exist, reminding us of the fear that atomic bombs invoke, which will hopefully avoid another crisis.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/20/luxury/doomsday-luxury-bunkers/index.html
This is so crazy! But very interesting how people are preparing.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea so many people were so serious about preparing for a potential conflict such as a nuclear attack. I'm sure it gives these people are feeling of security, however how necessary is it really? A bunker with a pool.. that's just crazy!!! Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's really intriguing, the lengths people will go through and how far ahead they will think for potential "apocalypse"
ReplyDeleteThis is so strange to me that people spend their time and money on things like extravagant bunkers. It seems like a waste, but I guess it gives them a sense of security.
ReplyDeleteWow! People are preparing for the worst...thats kind of scary that people think that this might happen. Praying to never will. - Skyler Tepedino
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