A WWII-era concrete bunker that once protected Britain from the Luftwaffe has been transformed into a remarkable holiday home in southern England. Corstorphine & Wright worked with engineer Symmetrys to preserve the bunker’s character while adding comfortable interior spaces, including ‘bomb blast’ glass openings to provide stunning views of the coastline.
The launcher bunker was commissioned in early 1941 and is part of Great Britain chain home The Radar System, the world’s first network of early warning radars, played a vital role in the Battle of Britain. The bunker was finally decommissioned in 1956.
Aside from huge new glass sections (designed to be reminiscent of some kind of bomb-damaged remnant) instead of clean windows, the exterior of the shelter looks largely the same as before, covered in greenery that obscures its Efforts to insulate and waterproof. The soft touch continues inside, with rough exposed concrete walls left unfinished to preserve the utilitarian aesthetic.
Its interior measures 60 square meters (645 square feet), most of which is taken up by a large living room with a focus on the view. A wood-burning stove has been installed for warmth in the living room. Elsewhere, the holiday home has a bathroom, two bedrooms and a dining room.
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“The design of the bunker is completely unique and there is no standard detailing to deal with a building like this,” explains architect Jonny Plant, director of Corstorphine & Wright. “The most challenging part of the design was preserving the original details of the interior concrete while insulating and waterproofing it. Ultimately, the only option was to fully expose the bunker structure, insulate and waterproof the building from the outside, effectively wrap it with insulation and waterproofing, then soil and replant .
“Forming the large ‘bomb blast’ opening in the south façade was also a major challenge. In forming the opening we wanted to draw on the history of the bunker and decided to form a blast opening for the new glazing rather than a simple cut out.”
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Transmitter shelters currently available for rent Good for short stay. Prices vary depending on the time of year, but roughly speaking, we were quoted £904 (nearly $1,200) for a two-night stay in March 2024.
source: Kostorphine and Wright
