What do you do with a Soviet bunker 22 stories underground?
Turn it into a luxury leisure complex, equipped with a hotel, shops and a spa. At least that’s what Nikolai Temerev, the general director of a company that purchased a 1950s nuclear blast-proof bunker in the heart of Moscow last year, plans to do. The Tagansky bunker was built under Stalin and was used to ...
Turn it into a luxury leisure complex, equipped with a hotel, shops and a spa.
At least that's what Nikolai Temerev, the general director of a company that purchased a 1950s nuclear blast-proof bunker in the heart of Moscow last year, plans to do. The Tagansky bunker was built under Stalin and was used to house the communications headquarters of the Soviet leadership and top military officials. With stores of food and medicine, as many as 3,000 people could live and work in the underground network for 90 days without assistance from the "outside world" thanks to its air recycling system and diesel generators.
Temerev's got a powerful ally in Yury Luzhkov, Moscow's mayor. Luzhkov wants to develop as much as a quarter of underground Moscow over the next ten years, up from the 8 percent that is currently being used. Temerev explains why:
Turn it into a luxury leisure complex, equipped with a hotel, shops and a spa.
At least that’s what Nikolai Temerev, the general director of a company that purchased a 1950s nuclear blast-proof bunker in the heart of Moscow last year, plans to do. The Tagansky bunker was built under Stalin and was used to house the communications headquarters of the Soviet leadership and top military officials. With stores of food and medicine, as many as 3,000 people could live and work in the underground network for 90 days without assistance from the “outside world” thanks to its air recycling system and diesel generators.
Temerev’s got a powerful ally in Yury Luzhkov, Moscow’s mayor. Luzhkov wants to develop as much as a quarter of underground Moscow over the next ten years, up from the 8 percent that is currently being used. Temerev explains why:
There are big problems in this city—transport problems, communications problems. And these need to be resolved …. Either we can build upwards—like, say, in Japan, where they have all these overpasses. But that would mean covering the landscape with triple-level roads. The other option is to build underground. And in that way you don’t change the face of Moscow, which is of historical importance to the city and to the Russian people.”
And of course, who wants to be disturbed by a nuclear explosion when they’re having a facial?
More from Foreign Policy
Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.
It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.
Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.
Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
