{"id":650,"date":"2023-10-10T08:30:32","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T08:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smalldivine.com\/?p=650"},"modified":"2023-10-11T12:44:34","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T12:44:34","slug":"wilkinsoneyre-set-to-open-londons-secret-world-war-two-tunnels-to-the-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/smalldivine.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/10\/wilkinsoneyre-set-to-open-londons-secret-world-war-two-tunnels-to-the-public\/","title":{"rendered":"WilkinsonEyre set to open London’s secret world war two tunnels to the public"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"WilkinsonEyre's<\/div>\n

Architecture studio\u00a0WilkinsonEyre<\/a> has unveiled designs to turn London<\/a>‘s Kingsway Exchange Tunnels into an experience centre<\/a>, revealing their wartime history as a secret government communications exchange.<\/span><\/p>\n

Located 40 metres below the street of High Holborn in central London, the passageways were built in the 1940s to provide shelter from the Blitz during world war two.<\/p>\n

The tunnels at one point housed the Special Operations Executive, a secret world war two organisation that was an offshoot of foreign intelligence service MI6. During the Cold War, they served as an international telephone exchange.<\/p>\n

\"Underground
The underground London tunnels measure 7.6 metres wide<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Kingsway Exchange Tunnels are no longer subject to the Government’s Official Secrets Act and would be restored by WilkinsonEyre<\/a>, which plans to turn the subterranean space into a cultural experience that will be open to the public.<\/p>\n

The restoration would preserve the 8,000 square metres of passageways, which have a combined length of one mile and a diameter measuring 7.6 metres. They are said to have inspired the fictional research division Q Branch in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels.<\/p>\n

Wilkinson Eyre’s plans, which are subject to planning approval, would include preserving the special operations communication equipment inside the tunnels and adding digital screens, interactive sculptures, speakers and scent-emitting technology to create an immersive experience.<\/p>\n

The attraction would reveal the history of the tunnels and provide space to host cultural events in the fields of science, art and entertainment.<\/p>\n

\"Digital
The studio aims to preserve the London tunnels and transform them into an immersive visitor experience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When operational as a communications exchange, the Kingsway Exchange Tunnels contained a bar, recreational room and restaurant with mock windows.<\/p>\n

It was fully decommissioned in the late 1980s, as advances in technology meant the tunnel’s telephone centre became obsolete.<\/p>\n

“WilkinsonEyre is delighted to bring our experience designing visitor destinations to this unrivalled location in the heart of London, but unknown to most,” said WilkinsonEyre director Paul Baker.<\/p>\n

“These secret spaces present the opportunity to tell extraordinary stories that helped shape the 20th century, alongside awe-inspiring digital immersive experiences.”<\/p>\n