Many entrepreneurs saw these abandoned bunkers as an opportunity and converted them into hostels. In the 90's the government also started letting out the rooms to make a profit as well, as the saw how this was working for the entrepreneurs. This was a much cheaper alternative to the over priced and crowded alternative of living above the ground in Beijing. These underground rooms have become incredibly popular, especially with migrants, and many people are choosing this living alternative over a room above ground. This is not an ideal way of living, and in 2010 officials announced a crack down on health and safety in Beijing, however this failed so the underground rooms are still holding on.
This is the story of an aspiring theatre performer living in these underground rooms:
I think it is really interesting how this network of underground bunkers is now home to hundreds and thousands of people, all living their own separate lives in such close proximity. it reminds me kind of like an underground dolls house when you open it up, and can see all the separate rooms all linked together but individual to the person who occupies them, however wouldn't be the same if there was one room missing. This could lead to some really interesting imagery, of a group of people all coexisting underground, with a small box room to call home.
The rooms are extremely basic and functional, but it is interesting to see how people have made them their own, and done the best with what they have. I think it would be interesting to design your own underground bunker, given the same space constrictions, to see what a person with limitless money could do with the space to extract the room from it's underground location.
Here are some examples of these underground rooms:
Story: MoviePilot
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