txjim From United States of America, joined May 2008, 197 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 3760 times:
Koryo Tours of China has posted photos of North Korea's Ryugyong Hotel, a towering 105 story building that was started in 1987. Construnction was suspended when money dried up but restarted in 2008 after a 16 year delay.
Just a couple of photos and no real surprises, sorry, just liked the name "Hotel of Doom." I think they should continue using that name in the tour brochures.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16830 posts, RR: 57 Reply 2, posted (7 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3724 times:
The architectural style could be described as being simultaneously brutalist and futurist. Two of my favorite genres. So actually, I love this building!
Darksnowynight From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 982 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (7 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 3562 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 2):
The architectural style could be described as being simultaneously brutalist and futurist. Two of my favorite genres. So actually, I love this building!
It is indeed great looking... From the outside. I've heard from numerous members at another forum (perhaps you read skyscraperpage.com), that because
A. It sat neglected for more than a decade half-finished
and
B. It's in North Korea
it's actually not a very safe building. I'm wondering if anyone knows more/better...
So you like Brutalist structures, yeah? Ever been pretty much anywhere along the Washington DC metro rail system? It's actually among my favorites to ride for that reason. It is a great genre indeed...
Posting without Talent is simply Tolerated Vandalism... We are the Vandals.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16830 posts, RR: 57 Reply 5, posted (7 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 3506 times:
Quoting Darksnowynight (Reply 4):
So you like Brutalist structures, yeah? Ever been pretty much anywhere along the Washington DC metro rail system? It's actually among my favorites to ride for that reason. It is a great genre indeed...
Yeah. It's a veritable orgy of brutalism! I love it!
Newark727 From United States of America, joined Dec 2009, 1175 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 3487 times:
Brutalism is fine if done well and horrible if done badly. I like the DC Metro though, it has this "you are riding in a transportation tube from the future" thing going on.
cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 7713 posts, RR: 55 Reply 8, posted (7 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 3446 times:
Yes - this is true -
Quoting Darksnowynight (Reply 4): A. It sat neglected for more than a decade half-finished
and
B. It's in North Korea
it's actually not a very safe building. I'm wondering if anyone knows more/better...
It will never open, for these reasons - elevator shafts out of true, all kinds of structural problems. Btw all high rise apartment buildings in Pyongyang are shonky, on one of the Juche Travel Services' recent aviation tours (to fly Il-18 x2, Il-62, Il-76, Tu-134 x2, Tu-154, Tu-204 - ), I know someone who had to stop using apartment buildings as a visual reference to level a shot cos they're all leaning a bit. They all look very toxic and flammable too.
fly Saha Air 707s daily from Tehran's downtown Mehrabad to Mashhad, Kish Island and Ahwaz
SmittyOne From United States of America, joined Feb 2012, 902 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2938 times:
“[I]n a place with absolutely no private or personal life, with the incessant worship of a mediocre career-sadist as the only culture, where all citizens are the permanent property of the state, the highest form of pointlessness has been achieved.”
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5673 posts, RR: 29 Reply 14, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2821 times:
Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 13): I could easily see a builing like this in Vegas.
me too... But at least in Vegas you would have enough tourists to possibly fill it. How many guests are the North Koreans expecting? I wonder what the hotel occupancy rate is in Pyongyang?
Quoting Darksnowynight (Reply 4): It is indeed great looking... From the outside. I've heard from numerous members at another forum (perhaps you read skyscraperpage.com), that because
A. It sat neglected for more than a decade half-finished
and
B. It's in North Korea
it's actually not a very safe building. I'm wondering if anyone knows more/better...
I am sure some corners were cut to get it finished too. I am just imagining a scenario like the 1974 film "Towering Inferno".
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 15, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2812 times:
Looking at those interior pics I think that would make an awesome place for laser tag or paintball matches.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
francoflier From France, joined Oct 2001, 3196 posts, RR: 10 Reply 17, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2685 times:
It will remain an empty shell.
It is rumored that part of the deal which saw the Egyptian company take over NK's cell phone network was that they finished the building (probably only the exterior facades, for show). It's just a pretty (or at least unusual) cell phone antenna tower.
I doubt it'll ever house any guest, apart from rats.
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit posting...
canoecarrier From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2657 posts, RR: 12 Reply 18, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2669 times:
Quoting francoflier (Reply 17): It will remain an empty shell.
It is rumored that part of the deal which saw the Egyptian company take over NK's cell phone network was that they finished the building (probably only the exterior facades, for show). It's just a pretty (or at least unusual) cell phone antenna tower.
I doubt it'll ever house any guest, apart from rats.
Once completed Kim Jong Un will announce that the Ryugyong Hotel is actually an intercontinental ballistic missile with a 500 megaton warhead stored at the top of the building/missile.
Personally, I think this building looks better than the brutalist example Doc gave, but I doubt the architect of the building will be putting it in any promotional items they send out to potential clients, that is unless they work exclusively in NK.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16830 posts, RR: 57 Reply 19, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2635 times:
Quoting canoecarrier (Reply 18): Once completed Kim Jong Un will announce that the Ryugyong Hotel is actually an intercontinental ballistic missile with a 500 megaton warhead stored at the top of the building/missile.
OK, that would simultaneously suck and be epic at the same time. As in "COOOOL!!! Sucks that the bad guys have it, though."
Newark727 From United States of America, joined Dec 2009, 1175 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2612 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 19):
OK, that would simultaneously suck and be epic at the same time. As in "COOOOL!!! Sucks that the bad guys have it, though."
And then the action movie begins. Paging Tom Cruise.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16830 posts, RR: 57 Reply 21, posted (7 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2604 times:
Quoting Newark727 (Reply 20): And then the action movie begins. Paging Tom Cruise.
Oh lord, PLEASE no. Don't give the man any more attention. There are younger (and hotter) stars.
francoflier From France, joined Oct 2001, 3196 posts, RR: 10 Reply 22, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2434 times:
Quoting canoecarrier (Reply 18): Once completed Kim Jong Un will announce that the Ryugyong Hotel is actually an intercontinental ballistic missile with a 500 megaton warhead stored at the top of the building/missile.
I think he's likelier to announce that it's a giant birthday cake for himself...
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit posting...
HOMsAR From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 804 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (7 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1941 times:
"We are pleased to give you a free upgrade to our penthouse suite. Unfortunately, the elevators are out of service, but you can find the staircase right around the corner. Enjoy your stay!"
I was raised by a cup of coffee.
25 aloges: "I'm so ronery So ronery So ronery and sadry arone" - words of its first guest
26 KaiGywer: That actually looks pretty damn cool.
27 zkojq: Could this become another of the Dear Leader's Palaces? Which building is that?
28 aloges: The Geisel Library, University of California San Diego (1969)
29 andrej: Interesting design! There are plenty of examples of uglier buildings around the globe. Every time I see pictures of this building I see resemblance to
30 einsteinboricua: As long as the government can convince that the building will be a source of greatness for them, they won't mind (at least, those in Pyongyang). Besi
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