PYONGYANG | Ryugyong Hotel - Reconstruction | 1,083 FT / 330 M | 105 FLOORS
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news from AP and other sources North Korea Resumes Construction of Luxury Hotel May 19, 2008 Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0816 19 May 08 Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Shenyang, China, May 19 (Yonhap) - North Korea resumed the construction of a highrise hotel building in Pyongyang last month, which was suspended for nearly 20 years due to funding problems, informed sources here said Monday. The construction of the luxury Ryugyong Hotel began in 1987 with French capital and technology for completion in 1992. The 105-story building has long been left uncompleted since early 1990s amid North Korea's chronic economic problems. "North Korean authorities restarted the construction of Ryugyong Hotel in April," the sources said, quoting those who recently returned from trips to Pyongyang. Orascom Telecom Holding of Egypt is North Korea's partner for the construction, the sources said. "If completed, the hotel will be used as an accommodation for foreign investors and visitors, a business centre and an international convention centre among others," a source said. The 330-metre hotel is expected to be the world's tallest when completed. (C) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved On hold for 20 years?! Anyone have anything else on this, like maybe some renders? |
Well, that author should do some fact checking, Dubai's Rose Rotana is the world's tallest at the moment at 333m.
Their people are still starving, they spent god knows how much to build an a-bomb, yet here they are trying to finish the damn hotel. Wikipedia also confirms that they restarted work on it. Here is the hotel picture from wikipedia: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rugen_05_s.jpg |
I never thought I'd see the day. In a way, I'm going to miss seeing that massive, villainous looking frame looming over Pyongyang. It seemed to fit North Korea well.
How about some photos: http://ryugyonghotel.com/photos/ryug...el-tower-5.jpg http://ryugyonghotel.com/photos/ryug...el-tower-6.jpg http://ryugyonghotel.com/photos/ryug...el-tower-2.jpg http://ryugyonghotel.com/photos/ryug...el-tower-9.jpg All photos from www.ryogyonghotel.com |
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As far as I know the structure is already beyond repair because of the bad quality of the concrete that they have used. Even if they managed to come up with a solution for this problem, I highly doubt that they have the financial power to finish it (especially considering the fact that they probably have to import the vast majority of the materials anyway, because they aren't available in NK.) And we don't even have to debate that this money would be soooo much better invested otherwise in North Korea. |
Wow.....i'm suprised. Then again, hopefully when Kim dies, things like these will start happening more frequently.
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How the hell are they going to do this with the concrete problem? This should be fun to watch (even though watching will be extremely limited).
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It seems like less. |
i counted 102.. not sure about the ground level area.... they should use it as a crazy movie set
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A skeleton exposed to the elements for almost 20 years. I would be afraid to live in such a building.
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wasnt there a crazy rumor that a worker was just left in the crane after worked stopped??
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Probably just a cardboard cutout of a worker. Ya know, to boost moral.:whip: |
There is a North Korean urban legend that a crane operator is holed up on top in the cabin, since she had promised to not get out until the hotel resumes construction/is complete (forgot which one). Wonder how this myth will play itself out.
edit: heh, I posted this right before I read the two posts above. Interesting. |
Cool myth. I would be scared of being there too. I think it would just be better to make a giant amusement park around the building. And a roller coaster going up the big pointy part. I saw a photo from the top of the building and everything is empty, empty, empty.
If they finish it congrats! If they don't then it's good too. I like seeing this building unfinished for some reason. Like a giant haunted house or what skyscrapers will look like one all the nuclear bombs go off everywhere on earth. |
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I am not convinced the building is anything more than a shell. I have heard it is not only beyond repair (on top of poorly designed and bad materials), but is not feasible as a structure (as in, and this is an example (NOT REALITY), there are not pipes reaching the top, enough elevator shafts, etc.)
We will see, but I am not too optimistic. |
I more expected news of demolition than reconstruction.
Lets just hope the end result is safe. :rolleyes: |
Even completed, this would still be a hideous evil-looking eyesore. They should demo it and start over on a smaller scale.
My recollection is that the structure was being airbrushed out of city photos, doesn't appear on maps and was to be completely ignored when speaking to foreign visitors. Furthermore, reports were that it was poorly constructed, and 20 years of decay can't have helped matters. My guess is that, to save face, the government will announce a "new and improved" design (probably taller), demolish the current work with great fanfare, and then quietly leave the site empty. They really just want to get rid of this embarrassment. |
I'm surprised to see this thing actually going again. Even when it's finished, I wouldn't let my pet buzzard stay there.
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That is just crazy. I really dont know what to think about the design. Kind of like something out of a Godzilla movie. Maybe he lives there, he he...
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What I want to know is who's rushing to rent a room in North Korea (?). I mean what business do they expect to generate, and from where? They won't get it from their own people, let alone the rest of world, who they go out of their way to isolate. I never understood to logic of this.
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