Insolite

In southern Alaska, in the town of Whittier, only one building stands out. Why? The Begich Towers are home to all the inhabitants of the city.

And that's not the only surprising feature of this building. The Begich Towers, also known as "the city under a roof", are only accessible by a tunnel. Of Whittier's 272 residents, 217 live in this secure space.

The Begich Towers were designed in 1953 and built in 1957. Their use was first of all military. They were originally to be part of a larger complex and house the engineers of the American army, reports the media Demotivateur. It was in 1972 that this specific building, formerly called the "Buckner Building", was renamed "Begich Towers Condominium", in homage to a senator from the region. In the same year, it became a building reserved solely for civilian housing. Medical facilities, a church, supermarket, school, police station...; everything is there. The weather conditions as well as its initial use explain why it is easier for the population to stay in this building (perfectly adapted to the cold). 

One of the residents, who was passing through, testified on the Reddit forum and shared his experience, which he describes as "surreal". "Not being able to leave when you want to is a really strange feeling. They close the tunnel completely and from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., you can't enter or leave the city." 

(AsD/ML - Source : Demotivateur - Illustration : Unsplash)