Inside the restored WWII bunker transformed into a glamorous Airbnb

This former transmitter bunker is now a chic holiday home

Once condemned by architects as ‘oppressive’ and ‘windowless’, this abandoned Second World War bunker is now a stylish holiday home with beautiful coastal views. The previously earth-sheltered property now features a substantial blast opening window which floods the revamped concrete structure with natural light, and its once dank interiors are now expertly appointed with plush furnishings. Let's take a look inside...

Found derelict

The Grade II-listed bunker is nestled in the Dorset countryside, and was once part of the RAF Ringstead radar station, one of a number of similar structures in the surrounding area. Today, however, the site has been reimagined as a charming two-bed flat, complete with kitchen, living room, dining area, and bathroom.

Maintaining the essence

Architect Johnny Plant told the BBC that, when the property was first discovered, "it was a derelict bunker, pretty much buried, very damp and very dark.” It took an extensive amount of labour to bring the abandoned shell up to snuff as a holiday let. “We've stripped it all back, waterproofed it and insulated it,” Plant explained.

Plenty of amenities

It was also important to Plant to maintain the integrity and “essence” of the structure throughout the renovation. "We had to create this opening to look out to the bay but, rather than putting a standard set of doors in, we thought we'd create this blast opening into the wall which plays into the story of it being a bunker,” he told the BBC.

Plan your next trip!

Now, holiday makers can find the newly kitted-out bunker on Airbnb with a seven-night minimum stay. Equipped with amenities including a Smart TV and a wood-burning stove, the cosy bunker makes a perfect coastal retreat with fabulous views. Ready to plan your next getaway here? You’d better move fast, as the popular home is already booked out until November 2023!

READ MORE: Subterranean spaces that went from drab to fab

Once former military spaces and fortified bomb shelters, these bunkers have been given a new lease of life. Transformed into jaw-dropping homes, they provide both luxury living spaces and total peace of mind. From wine cellars and heated swimming pools to private vaults for your prized possessions, safety and comfort await in these clandestine residences. Click or scroll to explore the coolest bunker conversions around the world...

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas

Positioned in an affluent neighbourhood of Las Vegas, Nevada, this home is hiding a big secret. Currently on the market with Berkshire Hathaway for a cool $5.9 million (£4.7m), the property offers plenty of bang for your buck, because in addition to a large ground-level residence, there's also a second home hidden deep below the ground. Click or scroll on to find out more. The seemingly normal home sale includes both the subterranean structure and the street-level property, offering five bedrooms and six bathrooms in total. Inside, the underground home is a sight to behold...

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas

Located some 26 feet below ground is this surreal subterranean space, which was built in 1978 for Avon Cosmetics executive, Girard B. Henderson, in response to mounting Cold War tensions. The brilliant bunker comes with every luxury amenity necessary to see out a global disaster, including a swimming pool, fake grass and even mood lighting rigged up to simulate daylight, dusk, night and dawn. Its incredible vintage interior includes a bar kitted out with neon signs and mid-century modern stools, a candyfloss-pink kitchen, a dining room with a silk wallpaper ceiling and bathrooms decorated with ornamental columns.

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas

Yet the garden might just win the award for most unusual space. It features a guest house, a spa, waterfalls, fake trees, a BBQ hidden inside a rock, walls of murals, a dancefloor complete with a disco ball and pole and even a painted cityscape with twinkling lights so that you’ll never miss the real world. How weird and wonderful is that?

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas

However, in spite of all of its 70s glitz and glamour, this property has been on the market since 2019 and is remarkably still seeking a buyer. Indeed, the home’s list price has been dramatically dropped by almost $12 million (£9.5m) from an original ask of $18 million (£14.3m) due to the lack of interest. While some offers have been made, the seller remains committed to the property’s "unique value" and refuses to consider any lower bids.

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas

Speaking of the current owner, the property is currently held not by a person, but by the Statis Foundation, a company which advocates for cryogenics, or the practice of freezing humans and organs in an effort to advance science, Insider reports. The Foundation reportedly bought the property back in 2015 for $1.2 million (£950k), and has since been unable to offload the unusual home.

Titan II nuclear missile complex, Arkansas, USA

Over the years, we've seen many abandoned nuclear missile bunkers crop up for sale across the world, but it's very rare that we stumble upon one that has been rescued. So this Titan II nuclear missile complex in Vilonia, Arkansas, is somewhat of an anomaly.

Titan II nuclear missile complex, Arkansas, USA

An important part of America's history, these Cold War bunkers were created in the 1960s and were built to withstand nuclear attacks. Many of the underground stations were occupied for decades, with military personnel stationed inside around the clock. In fact, there are said to be a number of similar bunkers across Arizona, Arkansas and Kansas, but this one has been lovingly transformed from a forgotten outpost into an amazing underground home.

Titan II nuclear missile complex, Arkansas, USA

We love that whoever restored the bunker retained much of its original design details, including the impenetrable steel front door and the amazing tunnel-like entrance. The missile complex measures 3,500 square feet, which would have been big enough to accommodate all of the personnel who worked in this covert government facility.

Titan II nuclear missile complex, Arkansas, USA

Today, lucky guests can stay inside the original underground Launch Control Centre, which now boasts a luxury master bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, a movie theatre, a dining space and a living room.

Titan II nuclear missile complex, Arkansas, USA

The bunker's numerous floors are all connected by metal spiral staircases, while exposed steel beams and concrete elements add to its authenticity. Yet while some of the rooms retain their authentic Cold War aesthetic, others have been transformed into modern, deluxe spaces. The bathroom, for example, has had a high-tech makeover and features a bathtub and twin vanities and showers.

The Bunker, Cornwall, UK

Aptly named, The Bunker can be found in the idyllic coastal village of Sennen in Cornwall, UK. Formerly a Second World War operations bunker, this amazing conversion project proves that with a little imagination, even a submerged shelter can be transformed into a bright and beautiful home.

The Bunker, Cornwall, UK

Thanks to a thorough renovation, the bunker is now an unusual holiday home that features a light-filled, open-plan living room, a kitchen, a utility zone, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The bright, beautiful retreat is now a world away from its past life.

The Bunker, Cornwall, UK

Despite being located under a mound of earth, the semi-subterranean spread doesn’t feel dark or dingy. In fact, the designer came up with clever ways of drawing extra sunlight inside, including installing tiny circular rooflights into the ceiling of the bunker, one of which can be found in the main bedroom. It even comes with its very own curtain for bedtime!

The Bunker, Cornwall, UK

The converted property also benefits from all the latest technology and home comforts, including central heating, electricity, Wi-Fi, hot running water, a Bluetooth speaker system, a smart TV and plenty of appliances for cooking up a storm.

The Bunker, Cornwall, UK

There's even a piano and a games room with a ping pong table, plus an interior ventilation system to keep fresh air circulating within the house. Outside, there's a lovely exterior garden where lucky holidaymakers can enjoy the Cornish sun.

Authentic German bunker, Brittany, France

From properties that will protect you from a coming apocalypse to relics from perhaps the most turbulent moment of the modern era. This incredible authentic German bunker is a remarkable piece of history you can visit and stay in.

Authentic German bunker, Brittany, France

The Second World War bunker is nestled close to the beach in the French commune of Saint-Pabu, Brittany, and was likely created due to its coastal location, which would have placed it in a key position for the German forces during their occupation of France.

Authentic German bunker, Brittany, France

The structure was built in 1944 and known as Bunker-L479. It was a command post that offered 24 rooms over two floors. Today, having been comprehensively redesigned and renovated, it features two large living rooms, a kitchen, a bar, a dining space and enough beds for up to eight guests.

Authentic German bunker, Brittany, France

Located below ground, the property has no windows and maintains a simple, stripped-back aesthetic, with whitewashed walls and soft furnishings. The bunker's concrete floors and corrugated metal ceilings are pared-back and minimalist, in keeping with the utilitarian building's former life.

Authentic German bunker, Brittany, France

The incredible radar station may have been reclaimed and renovated, but there are plenty of authentic fixtures and finishes still in place. In fact, this bunk room looks as if it hasn't been touched since the 1940s, and resembles a set out of a war movie.

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas, USA

Once you take a look inside, you may be sad to learn that all 12 units in this converted missile silo sold out within months of being built. This somewhat spacious condominium complex not only boasts its own cinema, swimming pool and gym, but each luxury shelter has its own computer screen "windows" to help you feel connected to the outside world, thanks to engineer and property developer, Larry Hall.

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas, USA

Entirely secure, lying 15 storeys below the ground, this blast-proof Kansas bunker was built in 1960 to house the Atlas series of nuclear missiles. Upon entry, you’ll find the front door is fashioned from eight tonnes of armoured steel, the 9.5-foot thick walls are made from hardened concrete and the site is protected by armed guards. This amazing photo shows the early construction stages of this mammoth renovation.

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas, USA

12 apartments reside across seven of the 15 floors, with basic suites featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms each. After something a little more upmarket? One of the plush full-floor condo units with 1,820 square feet of luxury living space is currently on the market for a cool $3 million (£2.4m).

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas, USA

Any resident of the missile bunker needn't worry about boredom, because this place has all the amenities you could ask for. There's a huge, fully equipped fitness centre, and even an indoor dog park for your pooch to play fetch! And there's more...

Apocalypse-proof missile silo, Kansas, USA

The zombie-proof complex also boasts a massive indoor swimming pool, a shooting range, luxurious communal kitchens, a community movie theatre, a library and a rock climbing wall. There's even a hydroponic vegetable farm, an aquaculture setup that can be used to breed fish, and, of course, a huge area for storing canned goods. Built to withstand a 10-kiloton nuclear warhead, detonated within a half-mile radius, this is the ultimate billionaire bunker!

Top secret billionaire bunker, Undisclosed location, Czechia

Hidden away in an undisclosed spot, The Oppidum combines state-of-the-art security with true luxury and top-notch facilities. It was built between 1984 and 1994 as a joint project between the former Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia (now Czechia and Slovakia), and only those invited inside are given the exact location of the bunker.

Top secret billionaire bunker, Undisclosed location, Czechia

The name originates from the Latin "op-pedum", meaning "enclosed space", used to describe fortresses that were constructed in Europe as early as the Iron Age. The entire complex is operated from an underground control centre, with access to communication networks both within The Oppidum and the outside world. Described as "the largest billionaire bunker in the world", this place may just beat all others when it comes to VIP extras...

Top secret billionaire bunker, Undisclosed location, Czechia

Once inside the secure enclosure, you’ll find one large 6,750-square-foot apartment and six 1,720-square-foot apartments, each with 13-foot-high ceilings. Residents can survive in their properties for up to 10 years, through both natural and manmade disasters, and even long-term power outages, thanks to formidable stocks of non-perishable food, water purification equipment, medical supplies and surgical facilities. In this bunker, you’ll even find private vaults in which to store precious jewels and artworks.

Top secret billionaire bunker, Undisclosed location, Czechia

There's also reportedly a conference and communications room within the facility. Designed for just one buyer, the bunker is the perfect place for a billionaire to house family, close friends and staff in the event of a major global catastrophe.

Top secret billionaire bunker, Undisclosed location, Czechia

After keeping fit with a few lengths in the swimming pool, you'll also be able to enjoy a huge wellness spa, a cinema, a library and a wine vault, capable of storing thousands of bottles. In fact, there’s enough to keep you entertained for the impending end days and beyond.

Vivos Indiana, Indiana, USA

Nestled underground in the wilds of the American Midwest, Vivos Indiana is a vast subterranean shelter that can accommodate up to 80 people. Situated within a converted Cold War-era bunker complex, it's strong enough to withstand a 20-megaton nuclear explosion.

Vivos underground shelters, USA

This is just one of many secure Vivos structures around the globe. A grand total of 575 converted military bunkers await in the Black Hills of South Dakota. These renovated structures can house 10 to 24 residents across 2,200 square feet. The units cost just $55,000 (£36k) each and can be fully furnished by Vivos for an additional fee, which makes these affordable bunkers well within reach for many.

Vivos underground shelters, USA

The impressive Indiana facility, pictured here, can accommodate its residents for up to a year, with no need to venture up to the surface. Big on amenities, the shelter has a huge chef-style kitchen, a cinema, an open-plan lounge and plenty more to keep its occupants entertained indefinitely.

Vivos underground shelters, USA

Vivos Europa One is the company's 76-acre flagship compound in Germany. It was carved from bedrock by the Soviets under a 400-foot mountain during the Cold War. The now-renovated space includes gymnasiums, theatres, bars and pools with over 228,000 square feet of living areas. Private luxury apartments are priced at $2.1 million (€2m/£1.7m).

Vivos underground shelters, USA

Thousands of people have reportedly applied to reside in Vivos's range of underground shelters, and there are a number of complexes still said to be under development. Each converted bunker site will provide access to underground water sources, sewage systems and enough food and medical supplies to last the apparent impending apocalypse.

Converted Cold War cave, Arkansas, USA

While it might not be on the market, you can still experience a slice of underground living in this former nuclear bunker, which was skillfully converted into a cave home. Beckham Creek Cave Lodge sits naturally within the Ozark mountains in Arkansas, near the Buffalo National River and features all the high-end luxuries of a hotel.

Converted Cold War cave, Arkansas, USA

The dwelling was originally carved out of a deep cavern in 1989 by businessman John Hays, who wanted to create his own bomb shelter. Set within 260 acres, it has since been transformed into a luxury holiday home following a million-dollar renovation that involved adding geothermal heating and supplying the property with water via the natural spring found beneath its floors.

Converted Cold War cave, Arkansas, USA

Although the 6,000-square-foot property sits 35 feet below the ground, it still boasts a 75-inch flat-screen TV and WiFi throughout. The site hosts four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen and a natural rock formation waterfall in the living room. Once used as a wedding location, it’s easy to see why this could be the perfect romantic getaway.

Converted Cold War cave, Arkansas, USA

If the stunning stalactite ceilings aren’t enough entertainment, the pad also has a private cinema room and various lofts and balconies. To pass the long evenings, there's a firepit outside for entertaining in the cooler months.

Converted Cold War cave, Arkansas, USA

In 2018, the property was listed for sale for just under $2.8 million (£2.2m), and while it's since no longer on the market, it is available to rent out. But, after finding popularity on the Netflix series The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, you may find yourself sitting on a waiting list to stay in this cavernous dream house.

Reference links to original sources may not appear in this version – to view the piece in full, please see www.loveproperty.com