Bunker living

A former air-raid shelter in Munich, Germany is not typically the first building typology you would pick to convert to high end residential. It takes a special type of client and some imagination to envisage what’s possible. This was exactly the vision of a the German property developer who clearly liked a challenge.

Monolithic in stature, the concrete high rise’s top floors have been transformed into a luxe penthouse. Tim Sittmann-Haury from architecture firm Raumstation’s was charged with conversion. Sittmann-Haury has cut large openings into the steel-reinforced concrete, creating light-filled alcoves within the six-foot-thick walls, and replaced the existing roof with a glass penthouse, giving 110 metres square of living space spread across three stories.

A palette of muted shades and opulent textiles fill the penthouse with each of the three floors paying homage to their favourite eras. The bedroom, bath, and extra-large dressing area have a Roaring Twenties vibe; the music room above is all Hollywood Regency melodrama, while the penthouse boasts a Swinging Sixties style. The mix is a fitting tribute to both the building’s past life which is saddled with a grim past and its bright future.

Story by Nic-Kaiko Follow him on Instagram kaiko_design