According to Yonhap News, multiple sources have confirmed that construction work has restarted on Pyongyang’s Ryugyong Hotel, quite possibly the world’s creepiest piece of architecture.
Recent visitors to Pyongyang have witnessed work ongoing at the site.
Construction on the 105-story hotel began in 1989 using French capital, but as North Korea’s economic situation took a turn for the worse, construction was halted in the early 90s.
This time, apparently, the North Koreans have swindled investment from an Egyptian firm to restart construction. Many worry, however, that the rusty structure — which hasn’t been touched for close to 20 years — cannot be completed safely.
Moreover, even if the building is completed, North Korea will have to decide how to use the damn thing.
Now, some of you out there might question the wisdom of a country bordering on mass starvation pumping money into building an architecturally unsound 105-story tourist hotel in a city that gets next to no tourists. With Seoul being named World Design Capital 2010, however, you couldn’t expect Pyongyang to sit around and do nothing, could you?
(HT to Hamel)
UPDATE: On his website, Jon Dunbar takes us into the belly of the beast! These are the first photos I’ve ever seen taken from inside the hotel itself. Scratch that — some sick, twisted April Fool’s Day joke, apparently.
15 Comments
“quite possibly the world’s creepiest piece of architecture.”
I find nothing creepy about a structure that reminds me of an enormous clitoral hood. To the contrary, I find it soothing and comforting.
Kevin
It’s not nearly as clitoral as the Dongdaemoon Design Park. But I think when both are completed, they will fit together like, well…
More phallic than clitoral with those two sort of appendages at the sides.
A German engineer once took a look and declared the building was not straight. That might pose a problem for elevators. My guess is they’ll know it down and rebuild.
Perhaps it’s creepy, but who among us wouldn’t want to stay there at least once? (maybe not for the whole night)
That postcard would be a memorable souvenir, particularly if they play up the “Ministry of Death” vibe of the architecture.
#1, my guess is that your observation is a result of overexposure to freaky mangga for most of you developmental years and that you are highly unlikely to have seen an actual human clitoris as yet.
Damn ugly building though.
#4,
If you take the time to look, you’ll find an interview with a North Korean engineer who worked on the building. Not only is the building crooked, so it the elevator shaft…so much so that the engineer claimed an elevator could not be installed safely.
“UPDATE: On his website, Jon Dunbar takes us into the belly of the beast! These are the first photos I’ve ever seen taken from inside the hotel itself.”
I know it’s a little late, but…April Fool?
I must admit, I was fooled and was wondering how the hec he got access, and allowed to take photos of cracks etc.
Looking at the pics now, the shot of the Dae dong gang is looks too close to the actual location. Floors and interier look quite different. Wooden ranch like arch, then a purple wall??
It was my most successful April Fool’s joke ever, and I couldn’t bring myself to put up a disclaimer.
If you click on the link at the bottom it says “April Fool” and lists all the photo sources.
I am still scheming to get permission to go in there. Some day I do want to get in.
How nerdy is that, as soon as I saw the picture, I thought of the Imperial Star Destroyer? Especially when the other immediate image is apparently a woman’s genitalia…
In my defense, the whole evil Empire deal was resonating with the NK setting. I swear I’m not a Star Wars geek…
I think everyone has seen this, but check it out again. It’s the awesome music video starring the Ryugyong Hotel.
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=lEjqnTcdkXY
The Imperial Star Destroyer comparison I can see. Nothing like any clitoral hood I’ve come across (or would want to) but maybe I’ve been lucky so far.
Maybe they’re getting it ready for President Obama’s visit?
great work, the design will stand the test of time. Unfortunately, it’s supposedly not well built.
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