City in One House: The Amazing History of Alaska's Begich Tower

In the harsh climate of Alaska, where winter temperatures regularly drop to -50°C, there is one of the most unusual settlements in the world - the city of Whittier and its famous Begich Tower. This is a 14-storey building, which houses almost the entire population of the city - about 200 people. Imagine a whole city enclosed within the walls of one house.




Living under the same roof
Begić Tower, built in 1974, is a real city in miniature. The building houses:

• 85 residential apartments of different layout
• Grocery store
• Police station
• Medical facility
• Primary school
• Laundry
• Church
• Post office

All major city services and institutions are within walking distance - just go down or climb to the desired floor. This is especially important in winter when going outside can be dangerous due to extremely low temperatures and strong winds.




Living in extreme temperatures
When the window is -50°C, the architecture of the Begić tower takes on special importance. The building is designed taking into account the harsh climatic conditions:

• Thick concrete walls protect against cold and wind
• Centralized heating system provides a comfortable temperature
• Covered passages allow you to get to cars without going outside
• Windows with triple glazing minimize heat loss

Residents have adapted to such a life and created a unique system of mutual assistance. In the event of a power or heating outage, everyone comes together to solve the problem.




Unusual traditions and rules of hostel
Public activities

• Weekly meetings of residents in the general hall
• Joint holidays on the covered terrace
• Film Evenings in the Former Cinema
• General culinary master classes in a large kitchen

Rules of residence

• Strict schedule of laundry use
• System of duty for cleaning common premises
• Mandatory participation in meetings of residents
• Special rules of fire safety

Everyday life
Despite the unusualness of this way of life, the inhabitants of the Begich tower lead a very ordinary life. Children go to school on the first floor, adults work (many without leaving the building), teenagers gather in a youth center on the third floor.
Features of life:

• Products ordered in bulk for the entire building
• The system of internal communication works
• There is a calendar of events
• Mutual assistance system established

Challenges and benefits
Advantages:

• Safety from climatic conditions
• Savings on heating
  
• Close social ties
• Infrastructure convenience

Difficulties:

• Limited personal space
• The need to follow many rules
• Dependence on general life support systems
• Psychological adaptation to a confined space

Conclusion
Begich Tower is a unique social experiment, proving the possibility of a comfortable life in extreme conditions. It is a place where necessity gave birth to an innovative solution, and the harsh climate has created a special community of people who have learned to live and thrive in unusual conditions.
The experience of this unusual city-home can be useful in the design of residential complexes in other regions with harsh climates, as well as in the planning of future settlements in extreme conditions, including potential colonies on other planets.