'I bought a £100k abandoned bunker – take a look 10 years on'

Step inside a converted military bunker

During the Cold War, impenetrable bunkers were constructed worldwide, with armed forces and The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) protecting nations against possible attack. Decommissioned decades ago, many of these highly secure shelters were abandoned and forgotten, but luckily a few have been rescued by savvy home renovators.

Enter Tristan Tiedtke, who bought a dilapidated military bunker in Germany and set about transforming it into an awesome home.

Read on to discover how Tristan tackled this remarkable renovation...

Origins of an idea

So, where did Tristan's journey begin? Well, in 2014 he began working as a history teacher in the German town of Kevelaer, close to the Dutch border.

“I’m originally from Mülheim an der Ruhr, which is about an hour away, and I didn’t want to drive two hours every day,” Tristan explains. “I was searching for a flat or a small house in Kevelaer and found two renovated bunkers. I visited them and fell in love with the idea of living in a bunker.”

Finding the perfect fit

However, the two shelters Tristan viewed were already converted and didn't quite suit his needs, so he decided to find an abandoned bunker that he could renovate and put his own stamp on. “Eventually, my father spotted a vacant bunker on the homepage of a local realty website, so I viewed it and decided to put in an offer,” Tristan says.

Tristan paid €100,000 (£83k/$111k) for the earthen shelter in 2014, which would be around €129,000 (£108k/$144k) today. The property lies within an old military ammunition depot in Twisteden, close to Kevelaer, where 325 similar structures can be found.

Germany and the Cold War

The bunker compound was built by NATO in the 1980s, during the Cold War, in preparation for a possible third world war. “The idea was to store everything NATO needed for war in Germany," Tristan explains. According to DW News, there are around 2,000 Cold War-era bunkers dotted across the country.

Military ammunitions depot

While the Cold War was predominately a power battle between the United States and the Soviet Union, West Germany was the "front line" of the Cold War in Europe. Also known as the Federal Republic of Germany, for the next four decades the region hosted NATO troops, whose job it was to deter hostility from the east.

Throughout the Cold War, Germany had the densest concentration of military forces and the highest frequency of military exercises in all of western Europe. The bunker compound that was established in Twisteden became a base for NATO and its essential resources, so they were ready to strike should the Soviet Union make its move.

Put to other uses

Luckily, the Cold War didn't come to battle and it ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. After this, the German government had no use for the bunker complex and sold it to a group of investors. "They were granted permission to use the bunkers for different purposes," Tristan says. “At first, the plan was to turn them into stables for racehorses."

Some of the bunkers were turned into homes and others were simply utilised as storage spaces. “Today, some are used to store cars and boats. One bunker has even been turned into a skate park. It has a halfpipe, where the owner skates.”

This image shows the condition of Tristan's bunker when he purchased it in 2014.

Getting to work

When Tristan got the keys, Bunker 35 was essentially in its original state. However, the former owner had attempted to carry out some work. “The previous owner had tried to renovate the bunker, but ran out of money very quickly,” Tristan explains. “They stripped the bunker of its original insulation, leaving the steel and concrete structure exposed inside.”

They had also marked out where the windows would go, cutting into the concrete (seen in the previous image). They ran out of finances to actually remove the cut-outs and install the glass though, so this was one of Tristan's first jobs.

Tackling the interior

Inside, the former owner had installed a series of brick stud walls, to divide the floorplan into distinct rooms. This image shows the condition of the interior when Tristan first began the renovation.

His priority was to render the building habitable, so the idea was to tackle essential jobs first and then work on other aspects, such as the garden, exterior paintwork and roof later on.

Hiring the workforce

For the conversion, Tristan hired contractors to help him with the majority of the work, admitting that he is "really bad" at DIY. "I employed multiple companies to do the work, but I created the renovation plan myself and stuck strictly to it during the work."

Taking on a project management role, Tristan oversaw every stage of the scheme. One of the first jobs was to remove the recently installed stud walls to open up the interior space, add some internal foil insulation and replaster the walls and ceilings.

Six months of hard work

Luckily, the former owners had already connected the bunker to the local water and power supply, which made Tristan's task a little easier.

Amazingly, the first part of the renovation was achieved in just six months. “I renovated so that I could live in the bunker,” Tristan says. During this period, Tristan created an open-plan living area, with a kitchen, lounge, office and dining zone. Two bedrooms and a bathroom were also added.

Affordable renovation

Tristan spent roughly €150,000, or £124,900 ($167k), on the first stage of the bunker renovation. Since then, more work has been carried out.

"I think now I've invested around €250,000 in the bunker," he tells us. That's approximately £208,100 ($278k).

Finishing touches

Once he'd moved in, Tristan was able to finish other important jobs. “I tackled the façade and worked on the garden. Even now, it’s not 100% finished," he tells us.

For the exterior, scaffolding was installed and Tristan's contractors applied fresh render to the walls, to ensure the bunker was watertight. It was then finished with a fresh coat of paint.

Fixing the roof

The roof of the bunker was also redone. Since buildings can lose a lot of heat through their roofs, good insulation is essential. Insulation boards were installed, with any air gaps filled with expanding insulating foam.

Waterproofing measures

MEM insulating paint was then applied to the roof. The protective coating, based on a bitumen emulsion, protects concrete surfaces from moisture ingress.

After this, Tristan installed a green roof, to replicate the surrounding bunkers and to allow it to better blend in. So, are you ready to take a look at the finished home?

The end result

Following a lot of hard work, Tristan's amazing bunker was move-in ready. From the outside, the structure retains its angular shape, with sharply sloping walls.

The original steel blast door, which would have securely protected NATO's important ammunition, has been left in place, while an all-glass entrance draws plenty of light into the newly refurbished interior.

Modern interior

Stepping inside, the once dilapidated bunker is now bright, fresh and modern. Measuring approximately 1,399 square feet (130sqm), the single-storey space benefits from an open-plan living area, complete with a lounge, dining zone, office and kitchen.

Added extras

The main living zone boasts a 13-foot (4m) barrel ceiling and a few exposed structural beams, which add to the character of the converted home.

As well as all the usual spaces, the bunker also comes equipped with a pool table, a bar, a piano and a coffee station.

Industrial influence

As for décor, Tristan has kept the interior modern and simple, with a sophisticated monochrome colour palette of white, grey and charcoal shades. "I always liked industrial-style lofts," he explains. "I’m from a very industrial part of Germany and this is probably the reason why I decorated the space in this way."

As a history enthusiast, Tristan also chose to add a few unique items to his shelves, including Roman soldier helmets.

A bit of history

The office nook is one of the most characterful parts of the bunker – and for good reason. "I already owned the old desk and didn’t want to get rid of it," Tristan says.

"That's the reason why there's a clear style distinction between this part of the bunker and the rest of the interior. But for me, as a history teacher, I love the contrast."

Kitchen close up

The bunker also benefits from a bright and practical kitchen. Tristan chose classic white cabinets and concrete countertops to reflect the exterior materials of the bunker.

There's an integrated induction hob, as well as an island breakfast bar, which is perfect for mid-week meals. A large Bunker 35 sign decorates one wall, too.

Bright bedrooms

Both of the bedrooms in the bunker are well-sized and light-filled, thanks to French doors that connect them to the garden outside. Again, a fresh monochrome colour palette was chosen, with chic black furnishings and crisp white walls.

The historic bunker can accommodate up to six people at a time.

Modern bathroom

There's also a modern bathroom, with a handmade vanity unit and a spacious walk-in shower. Neutral porcelain tiles add to the calming, laid-back theme of the bunker.

Exterior elements

Of course, Tristan also gave the exterior a makeover. A set of French doors connect to a newly laid patio, where Tristan can dine, relax or even host. There's also a sheltered sitting area with a definite bunker theme and cool DIY pallet furniture.

Tristan is thrilled with his home and lives in the bunker the majority of the time, but when he can, he also rents it out via Airbnb.

“For me, it’s perfect because I’m in Kevelaer mostly for work,” Tristan tells us. “During weekends and school holidays, I don’t need to be there, so I'm able to rent it out to holidaymakers.”

Lessons and advice

For Tristan, the process of renovating a bunker was filled with ups and downs. "During the project, I learned that renovating is really stressful, but very rewarding in the end," he says. "When you see the final result, it's all worthwhile. People come to the bunker and they fall in love with it."

As for advice he has for anyone looking to undertake a similar scheme, Tristan has some wise words: "Follow the dreams of your imagination. It’s possible, even when other people might tell you it's not."

Not quite finished

As previously mentioned, Tristan's work is far from done and he has more plans to further renovate the bunker.

"The next step will be to add solar panels to the roof," he tells us. "Then I think I will try to make it more attractive for my guests. I'd also like to add a pool and sauna."

What's next for Tristan?

What's more, after picking up the renovating bug, Tristan is currently working on another project. “I recently bought an 18th-century house in Kevelaer and I’m in the process of restoring it," he says. "I plan to open it as an Airbnb, because the process of owning and operating a holiday home is really fun. I love it!”

Tristan is also hoping to purchase and renovate another bunker on the complex – although, at the moment, few are for sale within his budget. “I would love to create a hobbit hole, inspired by The Lord of the Rings." We don't know about you, but we can't wait to see what Tristan does next!