Introducing the Hyper Cave
Earlier in the issue we covered how to ensure you and your family are going to survive the apocalypse in style. Now that we’ve got the most important thing sorted, we can get into the second most important thing: how your supercars are going to survive.
Why not underground in this incredible 2,250m² uh… A bunker sounds shabby, a carport isn’t grand enough. A showroom? That’ll have to do. Architect and car enthusiast Jonathan Clark has taken his two passions and made a business of making gorgeous show-spaces for the ultra-wealthy. “Our clients are people well below the radar,” Clark told Autocar. “We don’t find them, they find us, and having done so, they insist on complete discretion.”
He’s got five projects on the go, all of which you’ll have trouble finding the exact location of, but the one pictured is in France. Two are in the UK. The others are located in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, where all supercars go to roost. All the projects he shared change details around for customer privacy, but what we get a glimpse of is close to the finished projects. Clark’s first finished project is called Hypercave 1. Each will be numbered.
The pictured French project is built below the gardens of a large country house and hidden from view with the exception of three large skylights and an entrance pavilion.
Car entry is via a remote-controlled hydraulic lift-up lid which leads down to a semi-circular ramp that enters directly into the middle of the basement space.
Inside, there is parking for at least 25 cars in a space that is environmentally controlled. A powerful supply and extract ventilation system takes care of any exhaust fumes and is hidden behind half-height timber strips. Below each skylight is a revolving turntable for display and manoeuvrability of selected cars.
A centrally positioned mezzanine level is ideal for entertaining family, friends or colleagues with a view of the cars below. This area can be fitted out with a bar, seating areas or a walk-in wine cellar for example.
Personally I like the glass floor on the mezzanine for getting a unique view of the vehicles while hanging out.