Tag Archives: bunker

This WWII Bunker In Hamburg Was Converted Into Hotel & Restaurant Space With A Rooftop Park

Posted on by

Named the St. Pauli Bunker, this mammoth building was constructed during WWII to protect the Hamburg residents from the Allied bombing raids. The imposing structure was once a representation of the Nazi ideology, but it has now been transformed into a unique-looking green hotel and restaurant space, and a big park and “mountain path”.

Designer: Matzen Immobilien KG

The St. Pauli Bunker was originally called the Flakturm IV and was constructed by forced laborers in 1942. The building had an official capacity of 18,000 people, but it protected and offered shelter to almost 25,0000 Hamburg residents. When the war ended, the Allies wanted to blow up the building but didn’t because it was unsafe on account of the bunker’s thick walls and central location. In the postwar years, the building was used as an art and cultural hub, and a music venue and events center. In addition, a massive extension has now been included which weighs as much as 60 AirBus A380s and is offered support by 16  steel pillars. This extension consists of five floors and elevates the bunker’s height from 35 m to 58 m above ground. The new extension includes a hotel, restaurant, cafe, and social spaces.

“The public recreational space combines a number of ecological, cultural, and historical aspects,” said the press release. “This is because, in addition to the spectacular urban garden, there are spaces for district culture, exhibition areas, urban gardening facilities, accommodation for scholarship holders and artists, a modern three-field hall for school sports and cultural events, and a hotel. In addition, the historic site has for the first time a memorial and information center: in the former control center and at other locations in the existing building, an initiative commemorating the victims of the Nazi regime and World War II.”

The interior includes almost 23,000 trees and plants, forming a lovely rooftop park that measures around 1 hectare. The park can be entered free-of-charge for visitors, although to reach it you need to climb 335 steps or walk on a 560-m “mountain path” around the exterior, which allows visitors to enjoy the views of the city.

The post This WWII Bunker In Hamburg Was Converted Into Hotel & Restaurant Space With A Rooftop Park first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Cybunker is the off-the-grid garage+bunker the Tesla Cybertruck deserves

Posted on by

I’ll admit, even though I’m not a Cybertruck evangelist, it’s really fun to see the movement it’s created, spawning funny memes, and pretty interesting products. The Cybunker by Lars Büro is certainly one of the latter.

Designed for the Cybertruck patron, Tesla enthusiast, and lover of all-things-electric, the Cybunker is literally styled on the polarizing polygonal design of the pickup truck which launched a month ago. Made to work off the grid, the bunker comes with a roof of solar panels that power its interiors, even providing juice to the two cars that can fit into its garage, accessible by the two folding gates that open just like the Cybertruck’s ‘vault’. The 1800 sq.ft. possesses the ability to double up as an apartment, shelter, storage, or space for commercial activities. Under it lies its infrastructural ‘motherboard’ which houses all of the unit’s utilities and computer systems, as well as the battery bank that stores all the energy generated by the roof.

“Whether sited on the most remote location, or as a man cave in a suburban lot, Cybunker guarantees a versatile and futureproof system that can be deployed to withstand the toughest demands”, say the designers at Lars Büro. The Cybertruck, much like its inspiration, exists in its conceptual stage, although the designers are accepting any inquiries. If the Cybunker does make it to production, be prepared to pay a lot more than $100 for a preorder!

Designer: Lars Büro

Microsoft: Surface was developed in an ‘underground bunker’ at first, we can play the secrecy game too

Posted on by

Microsoft Surface was developed in an 'underground bunker,' we hope they've seen sunlight

We commonly associate extreme secrecy around a product design with Apple, but it now looks to be in vogue with all the major technology companies: just days after Samsung revealed the Galaxy S III's secret sauce, Microsoft has explained to TechRadar that it developed its surprise new Surface tablets under a similarly tight watch. A special wing of Microsoft's hardware unit initially worked in an "underground bunker," according to the division's Stevie Bathiche, before moving to a more conventional building with an 'airlock' door -- the company was just that concerned that Bob from Accounts Receivable might spoil the whole thing. As we all know by now, that level of secrecy proved effective almost until the last minute and let Microsoft design to its heart's content; we still don't know if other PC builders were aware. The practice is a sharp break from Microsoft's tendency to telegraph its strategy well in advance, and it emphasizes just how much importance Redmond places on its self-developed Windows 8 hardware.

Microsoft: Surface was developed in an 'underground bunker' at first, we can play the secrecy game too originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTechRadar  | Email this | Comments