|
North Korea’s super-sized hotel is set to open — 23 years behind schedule
North Korea’s super-sized hotel is set to open — 23 years behind schedule
By Chico Harlan February 9, 6:30 AM Washington Post "SEOUL — North Korea’s Ryugyong Hotel ranks among the world’s most remarkable — and mockable — buildings. It’s taller than New York’s Chrysler Building and wider at its base than an average city block. Constructed almost entirely of concrete, it looks like a rocket ship, casting a jagged shadow over Pyongyang’s gray vistas. http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/ima.../104561058.jpg (Ian Timberlake/AFP/Getty Images) - Sometime this spring, according to the Yonhap news agency in Seoul, the Ryugyong Hotel will partially open — 23 years behind schedule. But the Ryugyong has also never opened for business, which is why, for years, outsiders have viewed it as an emblem of North Korea’s broader failures. Work began in 1987 on a structure envisaged as a 105-story showcase of prosperity. It ended just four years later, when the money ran out. The building had reached its planned height but was left as a hulking pyramid with glassless windows. For years, a single crane remained perched at the top, a stranded reminder of grand plans gone bust. “It was the hotel with the iconic crane,” said Simon Cockerell, an executive at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, which leads tourist trips to North Korea. “It dominated the skyline.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...y.html?hpid=z2 |
Crazy building.
|
I wonder who is fitting the elevators in this building ?
|
I'm wondering who will stay at this building? I didn't think many people traveled to North Korea.
|
Quote:
|
I wonder how safe & stable this building is..., considering how many years the concrete was exposed to the elements ?
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I first heard about the Ryugyong Hotel 4 years ago, just before they started up working on it again... It gave me the creeps then and it still does now, even if the exterior is finished. I agree with what was said upthread - it really does look like a villain's headquarters!
|
The world's coolest building in quite possibly the world's uncoolest place.
|
Most recent picture taken in 1/25/2012. Credits to TigrouMeow.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tigroumeow/6792375767/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6...837c5cfe_o.jpg |
Bladerunner!
|
Another recent picture taken on February 6th, 2012 by Fruhtau. Credits go to him/her.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32681890@N06/6899004145/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6...89d9628a_b.jpg This recent picture confirms that the exterior work is completed. Sadly this and the picture I posted above are the only ones available. This is disappointing compared to last February when a lot of pictures were put up. There should be more since there were two North Korean tours in February. That was what I found out online. |
More pictures taken on March 10th. Credits to Momo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/momocita/6822805138/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6...26aaa3b3_b.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/momocita/6822850334/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6...39c4e644_b.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/momocita/6822862642/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6...d4f51cd8_b.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/momocita/6822859510/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6...53414fe0_b.jpg These pictures act as another confirmation that this hotel's exterior is complete. |
Last few shots have to be the best photos I've seen of Pyongyang.
|
Surreal building. Looks like it's supposed to be set in a dark future...
|
and for some, that dark future is a present reality
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
^ What a disgusting mind. People DIED, but atleast the hotel is done. I understand the love for architecture believe ME, I love buildings MORE than you. But humanity FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD, architecture after a WHILE.
|
Quote:
|
North Korea looks soooo out of date compared to BOOMING amazing Seoul and Busan. I can't wait to see North Korea go democratic and start playing catch up with modern highrises and infill.
It's not a matter of if but when. We will look back and laugh at this funny little town in the near future. |
Quote:
|
[QUOTE=Roadcruiser1;5645555]More pictures taken on March 10th. Credits to Momo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/momocita/6822805138/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6...26aaa3b3_b.jpg The aliens have come to earth in their great mothership to visit the lowly humans.:jester: |
[QUOTE=speedy1979;5647096]
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
Reminds me of an old comic book, X-Factor, where the original X-Men were based out of a huge alien spaceship that dominated the Manhattan skyline. That's exactly what this looks like. |
Quote:
|
wow.
Quote:
|
Quote:
Wow... Pyongyang has a serious smog issue. Like someone posted earlier it does remind me of Blade Runner in the night time shot. |
[QUOTE=speedy1979;5647096]
Quote:
|
More pictures. Credits to Herophysco. Taken on March 17th, 2012.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/7...882c62a5_b.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6...dba093fd_b.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6...b9e7e7ae_b.jpg It's a beautiful looking building at a bad place. |
You know the only skyline that could absorb something this tall and ugly is San Francisco. This would fit just fine alongside the tweezer towers.
|
More pictures. Credits go to Joseph A. Ferris III and -Allegheny-. Taken on April 6th, 2012 and April 20th, 2012.
This picture is stunning. The base as you can all tell is completed, and this is a close up shot. Really cool. http://www.flickr.com/photos/alleghany/7115467705/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7...f367b8ab_b.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/josephferris76/6969477414/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/6...0d0b2025_b.jpg It's also best to leave this building in the under construction thread until we get more pictures and information to see if the building is actually done and open or not. |
I'll come back after i smoke some of that good stuff and see if i can agree this is a nice looking building.
It is shiny, I like that, although the lack of practicality with half the glass surface lapping over the concrete kind of kills any respect i have for it's use. |
Here is are pictures taken in April 2012. Credits to James Gourley.
The sign on the foreground of the first picture reads "Greatest respect to Kim Jong Un" http://www.jamesgourleyphotography.c...il/north_korea http://permanent.media.digitalphotog...3-f23c91df768a http://permanent.media.digitalphotog...3-f23c91df768a |
Looks very out of place.
|
Does anyone know if the inside is being completed and for what purpose? Is it still a hotel or is it being completed for other uses?
|
Quote:
|
Even though it looks a thousand times better than it did, its still a very odd looking building.
|
Quote:
How does that work? |
So badass. Looks straight out of a movie. Like some evil empire. The only place they could pull off a building like this is NK.
I think i just like how it goes against everything else. |
wicked pictures of a surprisingly cool building. Any guests yet at this hotel? will there be adjoining suites for the necessary chaperones? Will it ever be occupied?
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Until those last couple of pics, I was beginning to wonder if there were any people in the city.
|
this is one of the truly great towers. people compare it to the death star and all that, but looking at this thing, i'm in awe.
|
Great photo updates.
|
| All times are GMT. The time now is 12:14 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Prev