A remarkable four-year renovation project that converted a World War II German military bunker into a luxurious three-bedroom house in St Pierre du Bois, Guernsey, has been nominated for an international architectural award. The ambitious transformation represents what architects believe is the first German bunker conversion of its kind in the British Isles.
The original personnel bunker was constructed by German occupying forces during World War II and served as housing for 12 soldiers throughout the war. Owner Jason Mitchell purchased the historic structure with a friend in 2017, taking advantage of a recent policy change designed to encourage development of redundant buildings as part of efforts to address Guernsey's housing shortage.
Mitchell's renovation carefully preserved many original features, including authentic door hinges and valves that tell the story of the bunker's wartime past. One of the most innovative aspects of the conversion involved creating tube skylights that penetrate through the bunker's massive 2-meter (6 feet 6 inches) thick concrete ceiling to bring natural light into the underground spaces. The original bunker structure now forms the central core of the modern home.
"It's quite amazing really, it's not until you go back inside and see everything that you've done you realize the work that has gone into it," Mitchell said, reflecting on the challenging transformation process. The project presented numerous technical obstacles that required creative solutions throughout the four-year construction period.
The renovation process involved removing an enormous amount of concrete to create livable spaces within the fortified structure. "There were quite a few challenges, I think the first one was cutting the concrete out, we had to cut out 145 tons of concrete, then we had to seal it up from the inside," Mitchell explained. "As time went on new challenges came along because nobody had really done it to this extent before."
To showcase the massive scale of the renovation work, some of the removed concrete has been strategically displayed at the front of the house, providing visitors with a visual representation of the depth and thickness of material that had to be excavated from the original bunker structure.
Mitchell collaborated with architectural firm A7 Architecture throughout the complex renovation process. The firm believes this project represents the first German bunker conversion in the British Isles, making it a groundbreaking example of adaptive reuse architecture. The innovative design and execution have now earned recognition on an international level.
Since completing the extensive renovation, the unique property has been on the market for approximately one year. The house represents a successful example of how historical military structures can be repurposed to address modern housing needs while preserving important wartime heritage. Mitchell expressed amazement that the project has been entered for the prestigious Architectural Technology Awards, which will be held later this year in London.
The conversion project demonstrates innovative approaches to sustainable development and historical preservation, showing how obsolete military infrastructure can be given new life as residential housing. The recognition through the international awards process highlights the project's significance in the field of adaptive reuse architecture and heritage conservation.
