A bunker as a holiday retreat

Swedish firm Skälsö has turned an old bunker on the island of Gotland into a light-filled holiday retreat. A repurposing project that confirms the great talent of Skälsö centred on respectful engagement with nature.



Bungenäs n. 8 is the name of the project by Skälsö Arkitekter, the studio which continues its work in the north part of the island of Gotland, Sweden, in Bungenäs, site of an old limestone quarry and former military area.





This is the location of the bunker, converted into a light-filled holiday retreat with very special charm. The architects excavated the southern, sea-facing side of the bunker dug into the earth, then cut out the thick concrete wall and replaced it with floor to ceiling glass doors.





This opened up a kind of forecourt in front as well as enabling the construction to engage with nature and by adding limestone walls jutting out of the bunker, they've extended the living area onto a kind of outside patio.


The architects from Skälsö made only minimal changes to the interior of the bunker, keeping the rough concrete walls and ceilings, which they just washed off. The furniture was also repurposed from military surplus, giving everything a very no-frills post-industrial charm. The only concession to contemporary taste is the kitchen that is in any case a wink at the stark aesthetic of the Cold War.



Bungenäs No. 8 by Skälsö Arkitekter joins the long list of converted military buildings that are conquering so many of us. A basic operation that has injected light and new lifeblood into a modern, all-but-forgotten archaeological find on the island of Gotland.

Christiane Bürklein

Project: Skälsö Arkitekter
Location: Gotland, Sweden
Year: 2014
Kitchen design: Skälsö Arkitekter con miniki
Images: courtesy of zinnobergruen gmbh
Other articles: http://www.floornature.com/blog/littorinahavet-a-new-project-by-skandaumllsandouml-arkitekter-9979/, http://www.floornature.com/blog/skandaumllsandouml-arkitekter-the-lime-barn--9611/