A shelter should be the liveliest room in the building, architect argues
Gert Christjanson, a recent master's graduate from the Estonian Academy of Arts, argues that shelters in apartment buildings should be used daily as shared spaces, not just locked basements for emergencies.
A master's thesis defended at the Estonian Academy of Arts proposes a radical shift in how shelters in apartment buildings are perceived and used. Gert Christjanson, the author, argues that shelters should not be dark, locked basements reserved solely for air raid sirens. Instead, they should be among the liveliest shared spaces in the building, used every day as playrooms, shared offices, repair cellars, or party halls.
Christjanson's research focused on the cross-use of basements in Soviet-era apartment buildings, drawing on experiences from Estonia, Finland, and Denmark. He concluded that a well-functioning shelter depends not only on meeting technical requirements but also on whether residents see it as a natural part of their everyday living environment.
The topic is particularly relevant as new shelter construction requirements have come into force in Estonia. While these guidelines thoroughly address safety and technical conditions, Christjanson believes too little attention has been paid to peacetime use. "If a person has already spent time in that room before, then in a crisis they know better where to go and what to expect there," he said.
Fieldwork in Tallinn apartment buildings revealed a recurring problem: technical requirements were often met, but rooms were locked in everyday life, making them passive technical spaces. Christjanson emphasized that it is not enough for a room to meet all requirements; it must be integrated into residents' daily lives.
Finland impressed Christjanson most, where shelters are treated not merely as crisis infrastructure but are integrated into everyday life. The same room can serve as a sports hall, gym, playroom, music studio, or community center and can quickly be converted into a shelter when needed. Furniture should be dual-purpose—benches can double as storage units, and shelves can become benches.
Christjanson concluded that a well-functioning shelter depends on mutual trust among residents and their willingness to use the shared space. He cited an apartment building on Vase Street in Tallinn where all shared rooms are constantly open to residents, symbolizing openness and trust.
He also highlighted apartment associations' fear that publicizing their shelter would attract outsiders during a crisis. Christjanson stressed that non-public shelters are primarily for the building's residents and that associations could serve as examples to encourage neighboring buildings to create similar solutions. Silence only deepens fear born of ignorance, he said.
