Storage Tunnels T-SY

The grounds of a former military unit on the outskirts of Tirana were redeveloped as social housing — barracks for Roma families — but the underground storage tunnels were left out of the project entirely and have remained abandoned. They are long and spacious workings with several entrances, smooth walls, crossings, and even surviving hermetic doors made of reinforced concrete.

In wet weather, streams run down from the hill above and flow into the tunnels, which is why the hermetic doors are buried waist-deep in sand. Inside the tunnels there is nothing but a small amount of rubbish; otherwise they are clean and even beautiful. At one point a curious collapse has occurred: the vault shell burst inward and enormous boulders fell through from above — apparently the builders saved on rebar, so the concrete ceiling proved not particularly strong.

There are many storage bays arranged one after another; the most interesting ones are beyond the car park. Individual bays along the street are used by locals for storing various odds and ends and therefore have doors or grilles over their entrances, their self-appointed ‘owners’ living in nearby private houses. Stray dogs may also be encountered inside the empty tunnels, sheltering from the cold in winter.