I guess “Green Space Zoning“ wasn’t really an option…
When in Homer, Alaska, I was told by some locals who looked the part, admirably, that a bunch of people had come up to that area for a Grateful Dead concert—and never went home. 30 years later they were still there, and upstanding, easily identified citizens of the area. Maybe that’s what happened here? Maybe a “Yes” or “Led Zeppelin” or “White Sabbath” concert ?
__________
Ken Kuang
【Town under one roof：Begich Towers in Whittier, Alaska】
The Begich Towers Condominium is a 14-story building in Whittier, Alaska, famous for being the “town under one roof.” Because of the area’s extreme weather and geographical isolation, nearly the entire population of Whittier (about 270 people) lives within this single complex.
Why Everyone Lives There
The building was originally designed as a Cold War-era military barracks (the Hodge Building, completed in 1957). After the military pulled out, the structure was repurposed into a self-contained community. The design allows residents to go about their daily lives without ever stepping outside into the brutal Alaskan winters, which can see over 250 inches of snow and 60 mph winds.
What’s Inside the “Vertical Town”
Beyond the 196 residential apartments, the towers house almost every essential service for the city:
Government & Safety: The Mayor’s office, the Whittier Police Department, and a small medical clinic.
Daily Essentials: A post office, a grocery store (Kozy Korner), a laundromat, and a fitness center.
Community & Faith: A Baptist church (located in the basement) and an indoor playground.
Education: While the school is a separate building, it is connected to the towers via an underground tunnel so students can get to class safely in any weather.
Check out the Google Map here: https://lnkd.in/g-48c97d
