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The Barracks is a secure residential base area on the the main island located in a crater-like valley. It is a set of houses and other buildings on the surface with electricity and water service plus an unknown amount of underground facilities. While originally constructed by the DHARMA Initiative, the Barracks was for a long period under control of the Others and the site served as their home and base of operations on the Island. The Others eventually departed for an unknown location leaving the site abandoned.

History

The Barracks was first mentioned by Dr. Mark Wickmund in the Pearl Orientation Video. In the video, Wickmund instructed the Pearl occupants to (at the end of their 8 hour shift) "proceed to the Pala ferry which will take you back to the barracks". With this evidence, combined with the DHARMA electrical map, it can be concluded that the Barracks was used by the DHARMA Initiative for workers not on active duty. ("?")

However, when the Barracks is next seen, some 24 years after first mentioned in the 1980 Orientation film, the Others are shown to be living in the modern village (with plumbing being repaired by Ethan Rom). The Others witness the mid-air break-up of Oceanic 815. ("A Tale of Two Cities")

3x12 ParAvion Cabling Map

DHARMA cabling map as seen in "Par Avion"

The survivors' discovery of the Barracks began when Sayid found a map in the Flame with the location marked on it. According to Sayid, the map showed "electrical and data cabling running from the Flame... to a place called the Barracks". He also said that the barracks were "comprised of houses and dormitories, with water and power, large enough to accommodate an entire community." He correctly surmised that this is the location of the Others' home. ("Enter 77")

The Others have since left the Barracks for an undisclosed location. They were seen packing up and leaving for a moment by Kate.

Location

Lost301theothersplaceintheisland

The barracks in relation to the crash

The Barracks is located on the main island, in a crater-like area behind some mountains. It is completely surrounded by a sonic barrier that can injure (or possibly kill) anyone who passes through it, and blocks the Monster as well. In the opening scene of "A Tale of Two Cities" Ben says that Goodwin can make it to the tail crash site within an hour if he hurries, demonstrating that the Barracks is not very far from the coastline.

The Barracks could also be in a remote position in relation to other locations on the Island. From the Pearl station, DHARMA workers were instructed to go to the Pala ferry to make it back to the Barracks. This suggests that a direct route from the Pearl to the Barracks might be for some reason inaccessible.

The DHARMA cabling map also shows that the Barracks is West of the Flame station, as the map contains a compass showing up as North. This seems to provide discrepancy, however, as being only an hour away from the tail-section crash site, it would be assumed that the Barracks was on the North of the Island. This contradicts the validity of the blast door map, which, taken as North facing, would place the Flame in the mid-West of the Island, making the Barracks even further to the West and nowhere near the tail-section crash site. However, if the cabling map is assumed as wrong, with up as South, the discrepancy disappears. It is also possible that the magnetic anomalies on the island have caused magnetic north to shift over time.

Based on the mile markers on the bottom of the DHARMA cabling map, the Barracks is roughly 1 mile across.

Layout

Using the DHARMA cabling map as a reference, along with images so far seen of the area, it appears that there are 18 yellow buildings, all built in a similar style:

  • A cluster of 6 structures on the Western side. One building seems to be the termination for the Western tunnel.
  • Another cluster of 6 on the Southern side. The Easternmost building seems to be the termination point for the Eastern tunnel.
  • A cluster of 5 between these and on the Northern side of the main road. The Northernmost building seems to be the termination for the Northwestern tunnel.
  • A larger lone structure to the East, presumably Ben's house.

These buildings are arranged in a circular pattern around a central picnic area with a lone Norfolk pine tree, and a nearby white gazebo. There are only footpaths (no roads) between the houses.

The Others' society

The Others seem to have constructed a tight-knit community in the barracks. They have all of the conveniences of modern living, such as electricity, plumbing, ovens, relatively new books, and CD players. This indicates that they are able to receive goods from off the island. They also seem to have recreational leisure activities, as people can be seen biking as well as playing football in "Par Avion". The community also has a book club. Although it is still unknown exactly how many Others were housed in the Barracks, Jack, who spent several days there, implies in "Left Behind" that he believed about fifty people to have been living there.

File:Juliet Burns the muffins.jpg

Juliet burns muffins in her kitchen

Juliet's house

Juliet's house is located in the barracks and is where the book club is held. It is a yellow, one story house. In Lost: The Official Magazine, issue nine, official art by Scott Cobb shows Juliet's house having wooden roof beams, a television set, a dining room table and the area where the book club discuss. A kitchen is also seen, as well as a hallway leading into what is presumably the bedroom and bathroom.

Some of Juliet's possessions include:

Ben's house

Alex on the wall

Ben looks at the pictures of the young Alex on his wall

Ben's house is located in the barracks. Ben is seen exiting it to watch Flight 815 break apart in "A Tale of Two Cities". It has since been refitted to make access and living easier for a wheelchair-bound Ben, including a motorized bed shown in "The Man from Tallahassee". In the same episode, Locke makes note of all the modern conveniences that the Others seem to enjoy, such as electricity, running water, and "chicken in the fridge." Ben's house contains a collection of paintings of various locations on the island; these are mounted upon the walls in at least two rooms. There are photographs of Alex at various ages also framed on the walls. According to the Official Lost Magazine, Ben's house is two stories, unlike the rest of the Others.

Recreation room

Jack kate recroom

Kate and Jack in the Rec Room

See also: Pinball machine

The recreation room appears to be a room full of recreational activities for people. Among the collection is a Backgammon game, pool table, a foosball table, the board game Mouse Trap and two arcade games. Kate is held captive in this room by the Others in "The Man from Tallahassee" and "Left Behind".

Playground

The playground is the outside field which all the buildings in the barracks surround. Jack is here seen playing football with Juliet and Tom in "Par Avion", and Sayid is held captive here in "The Man from Tallahassee", chained to a nearby swingset for 3 days, as Juliet reports in "One of Us".

Lake and wharf

3x16 submarine docked

Juliet arrives on the Island

The lake is a small body of water within short walking distance of the barracks. It is notable for the wharf that sits on its shores. It is not nearly as big as the Pala Ferry pier, and only looks big enough to house one vessel at a time. The Submarine was stored here as of "The Man from Tallahassee". The lake is inside the security fence, to be seen northeast on the DHARMA cabling map. The lake is shown in full light in "One of Us". There is most likely an underwater tunnel, either artificial or natural, that connects the lake to the open sea and allows the Submarine to travel back and forth.

Jackshouse

Jack in his house

Jack's house

Jack lived with The Others as part of their society while he looked after Ben, and saw him back to better health after his surgery. The Others allowed Jack to live in one of their little houses during his stay. This house was rigged with security cameras, so that they could continuously monitor Jack. The house contains a small corridor along with a main living space that includes a piano. It is unknown who lived here before Jack, possibly one of the deceased, e.g. Ethan, Goodwin, Colleen and Danny Pickett, Bea Klugh or possibly Sabine.

Security perimeter (Sonic barrier)

3x12 ParAvion SonicBarrier

Sonic Barrier

Main article: Sonic barrier

The Barracks are protected by a security perimeter. This forms a sonic barrier that protects the compound. Crossing the barrier is injurious (or possibly fatal) to humans. The barrier has also been shown to keep out the monster.

Trivia

The dove

The dove

  • Before the name of the location was revealed, it was given the names Otherville, Othersville, and Utopiaville by fans. Further nicknames were "Bennsylvania" and "Losteria Lane".
  • Close inspection of the zoom out at the end of the opening scene of "A Tale of Two Cities" reveals a dove, flying over.
  • Ethan Rom is seen underneath Juliet's house, repairing the plumbing. The plumbing that Ethan is working on is typically seen in houses with well water. ("A Tale of Two Cities")
  • The pine tree is a Norfolk Island Pine, genus Araucaria heterophylla, fairly common on the island of Oahu, where the show has many filming locations. These trees were often planted on tropical islands by early sailors to be available for ship masts, and are well adapted to tropical climates.
  • A set of swings are visible in the last scene of "Par Avion".
  • There are speakers along the pathways, which are similar to or exactly the same as the Hydra Station's speakers at the cages where Sawyer, Kate and Karl were kept.
  • Also lining the pathways are what appear to be solar powered garden lights.
  • The filming location is at the YMCA Camp Erdman in Hawaii - (reference)
  • Ben lives close to Juliet
  • Lost Official Magazine, Issue #9, pointed out a few facts, on a page spread:
    • Ben's house has two stories, unlike the others.
    • The village has no telephone or electrical poles, though it does have electricity, which indicates the presence of underground power distribution.

Unanswered Questions

Unanswered questions
  1. Do not answer the questions here.
  2. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer.
For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Barracks/Theories
  • Is there a control center for the defenses as well as the panels on the side?
  • As DHARMA built the barracks over 20 years ago, why are the appliances all new?
  • Is there a main entrance to the barracks e.g. a road?
    • Is there also a gate to get past the perimeter?
  • How do the others get their food from DHARMA if it collapsed 10 years ago?
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