If you’ve ever felt claustrophobic in the hellscape that is student accommodation, take a second to think about the 20,000 people that live in the ‘world’s most crowded apartment block’ known as the ‘human anthill.’
Situated near St. Petersburg, Russia, the building complex contains a whopping 3,708 apartments across 25 floors.
In each section of the complex there’s an average of four to six apartments on each floor, serviced by four lifts.
While the idea of living in close proximity to so many other people may sound like a nightmare, the building – dubbed the ‘human anthill’ due to its enormity – has soared in popularity since first appearing on the market back in 2015.
A ‘human anthill’ apartment block outside of St Petersburg, Russia, is home to 20,000 people (YouTube/Curious Facts)
And for arguably good reason, according to its residents. Parking is free, thick walls between units mean there are ‘no disturbances or ruckuses’ and the complex is in a convenient location for residents to commute to work, according to reports.
The apartment block’s first floor is home to a variety of businesses, meaning residents can access everything they could possibly need without ever having to leave.
One person on social media lauded the building’s facilities, which apparently include seven grocery stores, three beauty salons, multiple coffee shops, a nursery and a post office.
They said that they ‘once spent half a year without leaving the premises’ because it had everything they needed.
The complex contains everything residents could ever need from shops to beauty salons to a nursery and post office (YouTube/Curious Facts)
And a Reddit user who’s lived there for eight years says most residents are working individuals who like the convenience it offers.
The relatively low cost of the apartments – price range from £30,000 to £76,000 – are also really attractive to buyers when compared to properties in central St Petersburg, which are said to be ‘old’ and ‘too expensive.’
But, sharing your apartment building with 20,000 other people doesn’t come without its issues.
One resident claims there are often long lines to use the lifts in the evenings like waiting for the bus.
I can’t even imagine the chaos a fire alarm going off would cause…
And it’s left people divided.
While one Redditer called the complex their ‘dream place’ and another said the apartments ‘really ain’t bad,’ others were less convinced.
One user wrote: “It would stress me out living there.”
Another said: “That just baffles me, we have 3000 people in our little farm town.”
A third worried about ‘the lack of parking spaces’, while a fourth commented: “Can you imagine times when there’s a plumbing issue?”
