Shelter

Shelter are robust structures built to protect people from external threats during war, disasters, or other emergency situations.

According to the Presidency of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD), a shelter is “a protected space designed to ensure the safety of life and property against all types of attacks, disasters, and hazards.” This definition encompasses not only war or enemy attacks but also chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) threats, explosions and fires, earthquakes, radiation dispersion, and various other disasters.

Shelters are designed in different forms depending on their location, structural characteristics, and intended use:

• Underground shelters: Structures enclosed by earth or concrete offering the highest level of protection.
• Above-ground shelters: Protective areas constructed within buildings, typically on ground or basement levels.
• Movable or temporary shelters: Portable structures designed for use during or after disasters or in transient situations.

These spaces are insulated from harmful external conditions and engineered to withstand pressure, heat, radiation, and chemicals. Although the duration of occupancy in shelters is limited, minimum conditions necessary for sustaining life during this period—such as ventilation, water, energy, communication, and sanitation—are provided.

Historical Development

Early Periods

The concept of seeking shelter emerged with the origin of humanity. The earliest examples are natural caves that provided protection from wild animals, harsh climatic conditions, and external threats. With the transition to settled life, the ideas of shelter and protection began to take architectural form; dwellings in Neolithic settlements such as Çatalhöyük, which lacked windows and had roof entrances, represent early examples of defensive design.

Over time, the need for defense and protection was met through deliberately constructed structures. Underground cities in Central Anatolia, particularly Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Özkonak, and Mazı, are advanced examples of this approach. These structures were excavated to accommodate hundreds of people and included ventilation shafts, water wells, food storage areas, worship spaces, and secret passages. Thus, underground shelters became both military and social living environments.

Ancient and Medieval Periods

In ancient times, walls, fortresses, subterranean shelters beneath temples, and underground tunnels were used to protect cities. The Ishtar Gate in Babylon served as both a symbolic and military defensive structure. Similarly, the discovery of a 1500-year-old underground shelter within Zerzevan Castle reveals the security culture of that era.

During the Middle Ages, walled cities and castles functioned as collective shelters. In the early periods of Christianity, cave churches served both as places of worship and refuge. In Islamic history, the trench dug during the Battle of the Trench represented a different form of the shelter concept.

Castle architecture diversified during this period, with enhancements such as bridges, drawbridges, towers, battlements, and casemate systems improving security. Particularly in Europe, stone-built castles evolved into defensive units capable of withstanding prolonged sieges.

Early Modern and Modern Periods

In the early modern period, shelter and defense architecture merged with military engineering. With the widespread use of cannons, the star fort system was developed, walls were thickened, and bastions were constructed to increase defensive angles.

Shelters in the modern sense emerged during the First and Second World Wars. Reinforced concrete technology enabled the construction of underground shelters capable of withstanding high pressure and explosions. Typical examples from this era include the Führerbunker in Germany, civilian shelters in Britain, and the fortifications of the Maginot Line in France.

These wars also placed cultural and artistic heritage at risk, leading some museums and archives to be relocated to shelter-like storage facilities for protection. Russia’s Hermitage Museum’s protection plan during the Second World War is one of the early examples of the concept of cultural shelters.

During the Cold War, the increasing nuclear threat led to the construction of millions of shelters across the United States, the Soviet Union, and European countries under civil defense programs.

Architectural and Technical Features

Modern shelter architecture is based on principles of high durability, insulation, and continuity.

• Structural strength: High-density reinforced concrete used in walls, floors, and ceilings provides protection against pressure and shock waves.
• Ventilation and filtration: CBRN filtration systems prevent exposure to chemical and biological hazards.
• Energy and water infrastructure: Shelters are equipped with independent energy sources (generators, batteries) and water storage tanks.
• Communication systems: Radio, satellite, and wired communication networks ensure continuity in case of disruptions.
• Privacy and comfort: Living areas including beds, toilets, kitchens, and waste management systems are planned to support prolonged shelter occupancy.

Modern shelters, known as “life protection systems” developed by the private sector, are structures designed for families or small communities, equipped with CBRN filters and wastewater pumping systems. These systems provide multi-purpose protection areas usable not only during war or disaster but also in scenarios such as chemical leaks or industrial accidents.

Current Usage and New Approaches

Today, shelters are being redefined not only as defenses against military or political threats but also as essential responses to natural disasters, technological accidents, pandemics, and disasters linked to climate crises.

The Global Seed Vault in Svalbard is an example of a biological shelter designed to ensure the continuity of living species. Similarly, military field hospitals, portable shelters, and container-based settlements used in disaster management extend the contemporary understanding of shelters.

Alongside smart city applications, sensor-based early warning systems, automated air filtration modules, and solar-powered life support units have become integral components of next-generation shelter technology.

The shelter is one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring architectural solutions to danger. The historical evolution from caves to modern underground complexes reflects both technological and social transformation. In Türkiye, current regulations require shelters to be viewed not merely as wartime structures but as vital life-safety infrastructure for all types of disasters and emergencies.

Today, increasing climate risks, biological threats, and energy dependency demonstrate that the concept of the shelter has expanded beyond mere protection to become part of broader approaches to sustainable living and resilient urbanization.

Shelters and Legislation in Türkiye

In Türkiye, shelter applications began to be developed as part of civil defense policies from the 1950s onward. Since then, various regulations have been enacted to protect civilians in potential war, attack, or disaster scenarios. During the second half of the 20th century, many public buildings and large-scale housing projects were required to include shelter sections, typically designed as reinforced basement areas with thick reinforced concrete walls.

The foundational framework for these practices was long defined by the Shelter Regulation published in the Official Gazette No. 30884 on 9 September 2019 (Legislation No. 4883). The regulation technically specifies the classification of shelters, construction principles, and standards for capacity, ventilation, energy, water, and communication, while assigning oversight responsibility to local administrations.

Accordingly:

• Buildings with twelve or more independent units are required to include a shelter.
• Shelter planning is mandatory in public buildings, educational institutions, industrial facilities, shopping centers, and areas of collective use.

Shelters are classified into three categories:

1- General shelters: Designed for the protection of the general public.

2- Special shelters: Designated for specific individuals or institutions.

3- Protective shelters: Equipped with specialized filtration systems against nuclear, biological, and chemical (CBRN) threats.

The state shelter located in Ankara is one of the exemplary facilities in this field, featuring independent energy and water systems, reinforced thick reinforced concrete walls, and structural resilience against nuclear and biological attacks.

Recent Updates (2025)

Following a six-month study conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Türkiye’s shelter regulation has been comprehensively updated in 2025 to align with contemporary conditions. This revision was prepared through the collaboration of 44 different institutions and organizations and entered into force upon publication in the Official Gazette. The aim is to modernize shelter standards within the context of growing population and urbanization dynamics and to strengthen nationwide planning and coordination during disaster scenarios.

The key provisions introduced by the new regulation include:

• The scope of mandatory shelter requirements has been expanded: It is now mandatory to construct shelters in residential buildings with more than 10 independent units, dormitories, hotels and similar accommodation facilities with more than 50 beds, care homes and healthcare facilities with more than 25 beds, industrial and manufacturing structures larger than 2000 m², and public buildings larger than 1000 m².

• Additional safety and equipment requirements have been introduced for public buildings: Shelters in these buildings must be equipped with generators capable of providing uninterrupted power for 24 hours, satellite phones or emergency Wi-Fi infrastructure, battery-supported lighting systems, fire extinguishers, first aid cabinets and kitchen niches.

• New standards for educational institutions and sports facilities: Wall thicknesses and structural safety conditions for shelters in schools have been redefined, and the construction of shelters is now mandatory in stadiums and similar facilities with a seating capacity of 5000 or more. The capacity of these shelters must be at least 3 percent of the total number of spectators.

• Urban infrastructure adjustments: New metro tunnels will be designed to function as general-purpose shelters. Existing lines are also required to be upgraded to meet this standard. In addition, basement levels of shopping centers and underground parking facilities will be adapted as shelters. All existing facilities must be brought into compliance by 31 December 2028.

• National parks and public spaces: In national parks exceeding 15,000 m² in area, an underground shelter covering at least 3 percent of the total area must be constructed. The entrances to these shelters are to be camouflaged and designed for general public use.

• Accessibility standards: All shelters must be designed to be accessible to elderly, disabled and pregnant individuals, and must fully comply with the relevant provisions of the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE).

• Inspection and registration system: Licenses for existing and new shelters must be recorded by local administrations and reported to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) through provincial governorships. The regulation also requires all shelters to be inspected within one year and non-compliant shelters to be renovated in accordance with applicable regulations.

• Special obligations for institutions: The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) is required to establish dedicated infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted broadcasting services from all types of shelters. Maintenance and readiness of shelters are the responsibility of building managers.

With these regulations, Türkiye’s shelter policy has evolved from being solely a protective measure against disasters and war scenarios into an integrated component of urban planning, public safety and disaster management strategies.