10 Apocalypse Homes To Retreat Into In a Time Of Crisis

Talking about apocalypse homes can be a bit grim in certain contexts but there are a lot of positive and interesting elements worth highlighting here so that’s what we’re going to focus on today. Also, think of this as more of a broad subject.

Zombie-proof houses

With the current Coronavirus pandemic, having a safe place where you can retreat for a while is very useful.

We encourage everyone to stay inside their homes as much as possible in order to protect not only themselves but also everyone else. With that in mind, our selection of projects includes structures that are either very secluded, prioritize safety or include various survival-oriented features.

Zombie-proof houses for surviving an apocalypse

The Safe House in Poland

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

As you can tell by the name, the top priority for this project was to offer maximum security and there are a few different ways in which that is achieved. The house is located in a small village near Warsaw which is populated mostly with old wooden barns and other rustic structures.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

Given the context, this cuboid-shaped house looks rather peculiar. It was designed this way in order to make it as safe as possible. Parts of the exterior walls can move and that’s how the house becomes connected to the garden.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

As the walls move, a courtyard is formed and this serves as a safety zone where one has to wait before being let inside the house. This configuration also allows children to safely play in the garden without being able to get out in the street. All these walls can be retracted in which case the entire house is closed, becoming a safe zone. The Safe House was a project completed by architecture studio Robert Konieczny – KWK Promes.

A fortress house in England

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

This house is a fortress and not just metaphorically. It used to be a defense tower built in the 19th century along the British coastline and it’s been converted into a home by architecture and design studios Piercy & Company and  Billings Jackson Design.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The original brick walls and a lot of the other elements have been preserved and became part of the new design. Inside, the decor is eclectic, featuring a selection of contemporary furnishings and accessories placed against a historic backdrop.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The tower maintains its sturdy and defensive position creating a protective shell around the internal spaces. At the top, the architects created an open-plan space with an undulating plywood roof that seems to be floating in mid-air and windows that offer 360-degree views over the entire surrounding area.

A missile silo house in New York

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

This right here is the real deal, the type of house that you usually see in movies with secret underground bunkers and all sorts of features meant to keep one safe in case of a disaster…or a zombie apocalypse.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The house is located in the Adirondack State Park in New York and sits on top of a cold-war missile silo. It has two main parts.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

There’s the section built above the ground which is a 2,000 sq ft house with a very homely design and there’s also an underground section with 2,300 sq ft of space. This area can be accessed via the keypad entry to the basement. It has a living and dining area and two-bedroom suites with bathrooms. There’s also a tunnel that leads to being missile silo and the property even has its own runway. Found on BuzzFeed.

Casa Mirador in Chile

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The main advantage that this house has is its secluded location. Casa Mirador is perched on the rugged cliffs along the coastline in Chile and that gives it a panoramic view over the entire surrounding area.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

It was designed by studio Gubbins Arquitectos who found inspiration in the iconic Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

It has a simple and geometric shape and was made by casting concrete in wooden formwork and leaving the board marks exposed in order to give it a more rugged appearance. It has cantilevered balconies and skylights and all its living spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms are clustered on the upper floor.

Anti-social house in Australia

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

This is a house that was intentionally designed to be anti-social. It serves as a private retreat in Melbourne, Australia and was designed by studio ITN Architects.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The street-facing facade only has two windows both of which are set up high and don’t allow any views of the interior spaces. The main entrance is on the first floor and the only way to reach it is via a 6 meter bridge.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The house itself is built with lots of simple materials which give it a cozy, rustic cabin-like vibe. The staircase hall has a 6.5 meter tall window at the rear of the house which frames a nice view, ultimately giving this house a nicely balanced look.

Isolated bunker house in Mexico

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

This is a project completed by studio Elías Rizo Arquitectos and consists of a modern house located in Tapalpa, Mexico. It’s not just any house but an isolated and also stylish fortress.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

It was designed to blend in with the landscape and to actually be physically integrated into the topography.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The exterior is built using lots of local stone and has a rugged and fortified look. The interior, on the other hand, is warm and welcoming, being primarily designed with stone and timber. A lot of emphases was placed on texture as this is meant to look and feel like a stronghold but also like home.

Contemporary farmstead in Lithuania

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The traditional farmstead design has been reimagined by architecture studio arches and the result was this beautiful contemporary retreat in Vilnius, Lithuania. It’s a secluded house surrounded only by trees and lush greenery.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

This gives it plenty of privacy and also makes it a secure place away from everything and everyone. The architects were careful to minimize the impact of the house on the site and the surroundings.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The landscape around the house is very beautiful, with lots of planted grass and also a fence surrounding the entire property. The roof of the house is especially interesting, being irregular and mimicking the traditional pitch roof in some areas.

Bunker extension in a London house’s garden

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

This is not a house but rather an annex. It’s something that Rise Design Studio built in the garden of a London house.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The structure was meant to serve as a small studio, a place where one could work or relax. Given the current situation, this could serve as a perfect private quarantine space, sort of like a bunker-style home with only the main necessities but also with a cozy and comfortable interior.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The exterior of the structure is covered in weathered steel and the interior is predominantly covered in wood. The roof has a geometric, pyramid-style shape. There’s access to a patio, the garden and the main house from here.

A house within a house in Switzerland

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

Although it looks like one large structure this is actually a collection of four separate structures, four apartments each with a unique floor plan. It was designed by studio Tormen Architekten AG.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature
Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

All four apartments can be accessed via a central volume which contains the main staircase. They have different floors for all the private rooms and the common areas so they remain separate and each apartment also has access to spacious terraces and garden areas which allows them to feel very close to their surroundings and nature in general.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

The exterior of the building is dark grey and in contrast, the apartments have bright interiors with white walls, warm wooden flooring, and large windows. We should also mention that this is a fairly isolated area.

Remote cabin on stilts

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

Cabins make pretty nice retreats because they’re usually isolated from civilization. This one was designed by architecture studio Olson Kundig and is located in Beaver, United States.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

It’s a small cabin with a very cool design. It’s raised above the ground on a platform that sits on metal stilts and that prevents it from any flood damage given that this is a damp and wet climate.

Sol Duc Cabin steel Olson Kundig middle of nature

There’s a huge wooden shutter that can open up and connect the interior spaces to a small terrace while also giving it lots of natural light. At the same time, the shutter can completely close off the cabin keeping it safe and secure and preventing anyone from getting inside when the owners are away.