The ugliest piece of architecture in the world is getting a facelift. Yes, the Ryugyong Hotel after being abandoned for 16 years is having glass panels installed.
Why don't they just tear down the monstrosity some call 'Hotel of Doom', 'Phantom Hotel', or The 'Phantom Pyramid'? In Asia saving face is often more important than displaying common sense. No hotel guest is likely to ever stay in the place. In the meantime more money will be poured down a hole making this building pretty. LOL, bureaucrats are alike all over. They all know how to waste money.
Hat tip- Robert Koehler at Marmot's Hole.
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Comments (6)
Why would you not stay the... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Mark L | November 25, 2008 7:26 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Why would you not stay there if you are in Pyongyang? Seems that would be the best way to avoid looking at it. After all, inside it is the only place in the city where you do not have a chance of seeing the exterior in its whole magnificent awfulness when you are looking out the window.
1. Posted by Mark L | November 25, 2008 7:26 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 25, 2008 07:26
2. Posted by JLawson | November 25, 2008 9:08 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Well, part of the problem of staying there is that it's never been finished. According to the linked wiki...
"The basic structure is complete, but no windows, fixtures, or fittings were installed when construction came to a halt in 1992, and it has never been certified safe for occupancy. The concrete originally used to build the hotel was of substandard quality, and at one point, according to ABC News, it was actually crumbling."
I'm sure some Party people somewhere got 'rich' off it...
2. Posted by JLawson | November 25, 2008 9:08 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 25, 2008 09:08
3. Posted by Parthenon | November 25, 2008 12:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Mark, I'm pretty sure it's not actually safe to be in.
3. Posted by Parthenon | November 25, 2008 12:28 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 25, 2008 12:28
4. Posted by Paul_In_Houston | November 25, 2008 12:31 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"Ugly" hardly begins to describe it.
"Lovecraftian" is more like it.
This seems typical of architectural elegance in totalitarian societies;
structures designed to intimidate rather than inspire.
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4. Posted by Paul_In_Houston | November 25, 2008 12:31 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 25, 2008 12:31
5. Posted by martyredcars | November 25, 2008 5:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I don't know. If they tore it down, wouldn't we lose something in the world? It's like a monument to absurdity. In a way, it makes perfect sense.
5. Posted by martyredcars | November 25, 2008 5:34 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 25, 2008 17:34
6. Posted by Arthur | November 26, 2008 12:42 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Ugly? Just needs a coat of paint.
6. Posted by Arthur | November 26, 2008 12:42 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 26, 2008 00:42