Decades after World War II and the Cold War, the world is agonizing over nuclear threats from North Korea.
The country recently tested its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile to date, which leader Kim Jong Un claims can reach the United States. North Korea's foreign ministry also said on Wednesday that war on the Korean peninsula is "inevitable."
These warnings may be one reason why some people — from Tokyo to Australia to the US— are showing an interest in purchasing bunkers designed to preserve life in the event of a nuclear explosion.
Many 20th century bunkers have, however, been repurposed since nuclear threats seemed to have waned in recent decades. Architects have turned old bunkers into all sorts of creative spaces, including farms, nightclubs, and apartments.
Take a look at these transformations below.
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A luxury apartment building in Germany
Built in the early 1940s, this above-ground bunker in Siegen, Germany had a long and narrow layout. It was meant to protect civilians in the event of air raids, according to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
Architects from local firm Modulbuero transformed it into a luxury apartment complex in 2016. The minimalist units feature all the fixings of modern homes: bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, huge windows, storage, and balconies with sliding glass doors.
A theater and co-working space in Germany
Now called Medienbunker, this former shelter was a WWII anti-aircraft tower in Hamburg, Germany.
In 2000, a film production company called PYP turned it into a theater and co-working space for companies that focus on the arts.
The building hosts graphic design and dance classes, a radio station, and a music hall. Independent filmmakers also regularly screen their works there.
An event space, restaurant, and museum in Russia
Completed in 1956, Bunker-42 stretches 75,000 square feet and lies 213 feet underground in Moscow. When it was a bunker, the complex could feed up to 3,000 people for 90 days in the event of a nuclear blast.
The bunker was decommissioned after 30 years, and in 2006, it was turned into a space that functions as a Cold War museum, karaoke bar, restaurant, wedding venue, and conference space under the same name.
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