Korean whopper waiting for the fate of the Tower of Babel

This whopper is designed for 3000 rooms, but now it is the use of much less than the old five-story building (photo from militaryphotos.net).

Legend has it that the first attempt to build the highest tower collapsed. This idea aroused the anger of the sky, as a result of the confusion of tongues happened, and people no longer understand each other. Millennia have passed, and history repeated itself. This has led not only to the linguistic crisis, and to multi-million dollar losses. But still unpleasant.

Well if it was known in the North of Baekdu Mountain Architects & Engineers biblical legend of the Babylonian disaster - now I never know. But, anyway, its owners have decided in 1987 to start construction in Pyongyang, one of the world's highest hotel.

You can, of course, do without this project, but in 1986 in Seoul (South, of course, Korea) was to build a hotel-skyscraper Swissôtel The Stamford, and this could not be left unanswered.





When viewed from Earth orbit "Ryugёn" perhaps might seem habitable structure, if not suspicious sickly green areas around (Photo DigitalGlobe).

North Korean building called "Ryugёn» (Ryugyong Hotel) - in honor of one of the oldest names in Pyongyang, which literally means "capital of willows". We decided to build an unprecedented scale. Catering has three wings which converge toward the center, each of which has a width 18 and a length - 100 meters.



Considering that a "Ryugёnu" especially visitors is not allowed, the frame is very "spyware" (photo from militaryphotos.net).



Particularly interesting sorokametrovoy tip consisting of 8 rotary and 6 fixed the uppermost floors. Total 105 floors with a total height of 330 meters, which is much more impressive Swissôtel, «who gained" 73 floors but 226 meters. But it was not only in the competition - the North Korean authorities considered that "Ryugёn" can be very profitable structure.



From a distance, at first glance "Ryugёn" recalls something familiar - whether the Kremlin's Spassky Tower, the main building of Moscow State University there (photo from militaryphotos.net).

For income from the hotel, it was decided to attract foreign investors, which has created an entire company Ryugyong Hotel Investment and Management Co. They were even willing to make some concessions - to allow them to open a casino and nightclubs that this country simply unprecedented. Although, of course, these places could easily get lost there - in the amount of area of ​​the hotel was to be 360 ​​thousand square meters.



Italian designers have proposed several options for the use of a useless structure. At least one of them may turn out to be profitable, and fashionable (illustration Il Pensatoio).

It was expected that due to this the company will be able to get answered by a serious profit - $ 230 million.



"Ryugёn" complements the urban landscape and Kim Il Sung Square (it is in the center) ... (photo from en.wikipedia.org).

Charges also have been impressive - for the construction of the reinforced concrete structure has been spent $ 750 million. Japanese economists estimated, this figure amounted to 2% of the gross domestic product of North Korea. "Ryugёn" even hit the Korean stamps and tourist maps of Pyongyang.

Yes, that's bad luck - this time began lining of the plate. Statement given to know the different problems: the lack of funding, the blackouts, the shortage of building materials.

Eventually, in 1992, the building was completely stopped.
Inside the building has not held any communication. Of course, the window units is also installed.

In general, at the moment it's just a body of concrete. However, after a long silence, the builders' Ryugёna "recently decided that the construction would be nice to renew

To do this, however, will need some $ 300 million, but the investors who want to share such a tiny amount, for some reason, and was not found.

Probably not the last role in this played the approval of the German real estate company Emporis.

She said that the hotel did not get to use - in particular, because of the poor quality of the concrete, making the operation of the building unsafe.

Although the building and was the highest in North Korea after this message is quite doubtful that there will be at least someone, who decided to take part in its completion.
Is that the Koreans themselves suddenly find at this for some strength and resources.

But in any case this ridiculous architectural experience is not passed in vain. For some, it has become another symbol of the totalitarian regime. For others - mostly artists and designers - the object for aesthetic exercise. However, only on computer models - close to the hotel are not allowed. Perhaps encouraged the building and the fans of philatelic rarities.



Source:

Tags

See also

New and interesting