Billionaire Bunkers: The World's Most Exclusive Safe Houses
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Cold War bunkers once used as command centers and storage facilities are being converted into survival condos and high-end hangouts.
A Swedish nuclear bunker for sale in 2018, c. 107,000 sq.ft
LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman has told the New Yorker that at least 50% of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest have ‘apocalypse insurance’ - either an underground bunker or a contingency plan in case of disaster. "Saying you're buying a house in New Zealand is kind of a wink, wink, say no more.”
So what are the one-percenters considering?
Peter Thiel's Mountain Hideaway
Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel's dream home is part bunker, part mountain retreat. If Thiel gets his way, his home will be partially embedded into New Zealand's Mt. Alpha. So far, it is just an artistic drawing however. While NZ was happy to grant Thiel residency after he spent 12 days in the country, the local planning departments aren't quite so easy to win over. Thiel's undulating retreat would have "too great a negative impact" on the landscape, counsellors decided. Thield even ditched plans for a 'meditation pod' but that wasn't enough to sway the locals. His ideal home consists of a series of stand-alone buildings, including a lodge for visitor accommodation for up to 24 guests, an accommodation pod for the owner, lodge management buildings, landscape treatment, and water features. The only way forward for Thiel may be in court.
The Oppidum, a refurbished nuclear shelter, is set across more than 300,000 feet
The Oppidum, a former nuclear shelter
The Oppidum was once a nuclear shelter near Prague, a top-secret project between the USSR and Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) started in the 1980s. It is now being billed as the world’s largest underground safe house and updated with a swimming pool, helipad, and defense system.
The Oppidum shelter is built above and below ground so residents can descend into the bunker and seal it with a blast door in less than a minute. Once the threat passes, they can resume life above ground.
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Cold War bunkers once used as command centers and storage facilities are being converted into survival condos and high-end hangouts.
A Swedish nuclear bunker for sale in 2018, c. 107,000 sq.ft
LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman has told the New Yorker that at least 50% of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest have ‘apocalypse insurance’ - either an underground bunker or a contingency plan in case of disaster. "Saying you're buying a house in New Zealand is kind of a wink, wink, say no more.”
So what are the one-percenters considering?
Peter Thiel's Mountain Hideaway
Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel's dream home is part bunker, part mountain retreat. If Thiel gets his way, his home will be partially embedded into New Zealand's Mt. Alpha. So far, it is just an artistic drawing however. While NZ was happy to grant Thiel residency after he spent 12 days in the country, the local planning departments aren't quite so easy to win over. Thiel's undulating retreat would have "too great a negative impact" on the landscape, counsellors decided. Thield even ditched plans for a 'meditation pod' but that wasn't enough to sway the locals. His ideal home consists of a series of stand-alone buildings, including a lodge for visitor accommodation for up to 24 guests, an accommodation pod for the owner, lodge management buildings, landscape treatment, and water features. The only way forward for Thiel may be in court.
The Oppidum, a refurbished nuclear shelter, is set across more than 300,000 feet
The Oppidum, a former nuclear shelter
The Oppidum was once a nuclear shelter near Prague, a top-secret project between the USSR and Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) started in the 1980s. It is now being billed as the world’s largest underground safe house and updated with a swimming pool, helipad, and defense system.
The Oppidum shelter is built above and below ground so residents can descend into the bunker and seal it with a blast door in less than a minute. Once the threat passes, they can resume life above ground.
Vivos is converting a German munitions storage facility into a community shelter
Vivos, a former German munitions storage facility
Vivos’ community shelter was once a Cold War-era munitions storage facility built by the Soviets under a 400-foot tall German mountain. The shelter now has more than 200,000 square feet of living space and is being sold as individual residences that can be customized with a private pool, theater, and gym, according to The Los Angeles Times. The complex includes 43,000 square feet of above-ground space and three miles of tunnels. Private apartments start at $2.2m.
Vivos xPoint in South Dakota
Vivos xPoint in South Dakota
Vivos xPoint is located just south of Edgemont, South Dakota. The now-retired Black Hills Army Base was built by the Army Corps of Engineers as a fortress to store munitions from 1942 to 1967. Vivos now owns the property and the bunkers. It’s advertising the site as: Strategically and centrally located in one of the safest areas of North America, at a high and dry altitude of 3,800+/- feet, well inland from all large bodies of water; and, 100+/- miles from the nearest known military nuclear targets.
Vivos xPoint bunkers need to be outfitted
Interiors of the Vivos bunker must be outfitted by the owners at an estimated cost of $25,000 to $200,000 each.
LED screens can give the illusion of skylights underground
California-based Vivos has already installed a 300-person bunker in New Zealand,Bloomberg reports.
The Survival Condo in Kansas has military-level security surrounded by 9-foot thick walls
Kansas survival condos
Survival Condo has rebuilt an Atlas missile silo in Kansas into luxury condos equipped with stainless steel appliances, LED lighting, and full home automation systems.
The Survival Condos were built by the US Army Corps of Engineers for the Atlas F missile
Survival Condo owners will share a pool, rock climbing wall, theater, and dog park. Penthouse units, about 3600 sq. ft. on two levels, start at $4.5m. Half-floor units, approximately 920 sq. ft. on one level, start at $1.5m.
Poland's Safe House Bunkers
Poland’s Safe House may be an alternative for those who don’t want to shelter underground. The two-story residence has moving components that turn the house into a doorless, windowless fortress.
The Aristocrat floor plan includes a bowling alley, gun range, and swimming pool
The Aristocrat Bunker
Gary Lynch, general manager of Texas-based Rising S Bunkers, offers various models including The Aristocrat - priced at $8.35m - with a gym, sauna, swimming pool, hot tub, billiards room, greenhouse, and garage.
The Nottingham War Rooms offer 4,777 meters over four levels
Historic British military bunker on four levels
This Grade II-listed military bunker in Nottingham, England was designed to house the British government in the event of a nuclear attack and constructed to survive radioactive fallout. The structure lies mostly below the ground and is fondly known by locals as 'The Kremlin'. Imagine what you could do with a bit of imagination! Unfortunately, it was sold so you'll need to keep hunting.
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