What Can Be Done with Albania's 750,000 Cold War-Era Bunkers?

During the reign of Communist dictator Enver Hoxha (r. 1944-1985), Albania built 750,000 bunkers. That's 1 bunker for every 4 citizens. They're still around and are something of a nuisance. Wired's Pete Brook reports:

Today, Albanian authorities are at a loss for what to do. The reinforced concrete domes are as difficult to repurpose as they are to destroy. Tourists are fascinated by the bunkers strewn like confetti across scenery, but for locals they’re a largely uninteresting, if obstructive, part of the landscape.

They're eyesores and obstruct new construction. Still, some Albanians have tried to find some value from the old concrete and iron slabs. Expatica's Briseida Mema writes:

Some Albanians have tried to remove them on their own, but their efforts usually end in vain, leaving them resigned to living with the structures they refer to as "mushrooms.”

Some have converted them into sheds, toilets or even "zero-star hotels" for lovers, as they sometimes call the bunkers. 

What would you do with a bunker in your backyard?

Wired Link and Expatica Link -via Smart News | Photo: ilmotorediricerca


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Those scream "giant passive cooler" to me. Those are root cellars not bunkers! Classic weapons (spawn of) into plowshares situation. Unplug your refrigerators Albania wooo!
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