Hotel Of Doom
Hotel of Doom is a mocking name for one of the biggest and most ugliest structures in the world. The real name of that behemoth is Ryugyong Hotel which is located in Pyongyang, North Korea. This hotel is one of the best examples of awful planning.
The communist regime in North Korea wanted to show the entire world that they can be equal to them in any aspect. And is there a better way to show the world how capable they are then by building a huge structure which will attract rich foreigner tourists and investors. That’s not a new North Korea’s government policy, they are doing that for quite a while. The primary goal is to keep their people content and to give them hope of better tomorrow.
Hotel of doom is the result of their efforts. A building so ugly and hideous that the North Korean government decided to remove it from all official photos by Photoshopping it. The building couldn’t be finished due to lack of funds, which was 2% of North Korea GDP at that time. Everything that has been done was in the period of 1987-1992 and building remains a big embarrassment for 20 years. Ryugyong Hotel shows us what can be a result of bad politics and mixing it with bad planning.
The video shows in which state Hotel Of Doom currently is. It’s a miracle we can even have this video because North Korea is very strict concerning videotaping the hotel.
For quite some time North Korean government is trying to find new investors for the Hotel Of Doom in Pyongyang. They think that 300 million US dollars would be enough to finish this structure and put it into use. But the quality of concrete is so low that the safety of that building is in question. It is most likely that the Ryugyong Hotel will stay as a permanent reminder of a North Korea’s failure. It was a great and beautiful attempt but it is a disappointment of huge proportions at the end.
Tags: Bizarre, hotel of doom, interesting, pyongyang, ryugyong
Posted in Bizarre | 62 Comments »
July 18th, 2008 at 6:24 am
That building looks sooooo horrible I’m sorry to say. It should be taken down all the wayyyyy!!!!
July 18th, 2008 at 6:55 am
It’s not horrible, its interesting…they should leave it , its very interesting and unique.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I like it. It’s unique. I think it needs some colors on it which that would look a lot better. Perhaps, a brighter like light blue/peach/cream lime?
Most People thinks that hotel looks terrible and it is very common thought. Are they speaking of its color or shape?
I like that shape as well. It’s DIFFERENT! Maybe, the next generation would love it.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
it’s not horrible…it’s just different. just because it doesn’t go with the norm doesn’t make it ugly. people should know how to appreciate architecture.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:24 am
The hotel is back under construction, and this shot was taken before reconstruction began, when it was still dilapidated and abandoned. No building on earth looks good during the construction phase. Let’s wait and see what the finished project looks like before we judge. Hopefully it will not be abandoned again.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:29 am
This Building is yust too ahead of it’s time. Global financing can be reached if international intention step in. For shure it can be achieved. The sorroundings areas must supplement tourism, music, arts business and general well being to make a place to go. and live by…This may be the 8th wonder waiting to be unveiled. We must sheer the VISION…
The concept…recruit…..share the power of intention…Take example’s…
“Mr. Trump’s Managerial Global Grip” and transform this “Unfinished Diamond” for all eyes to see….
July 18th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Once again, damn commies acting without thinking
July 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
i think this massive structure proves what the north koreans can do and if they wanted to they could finish it.
they just don’t want to.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:37 am
looks like something from lord of the rings!
July 18th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Did anyone read the part about the sub-standard concrete that was used? Who the hell would stay in that place? Surely no American. North Korea hates us.
Way to go N Korea! (thumbsup)
July 18th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I think this building is neat, and the population isnt used to out of the ordinary things. As if everything has to look ‘normal’ now. I think this building has potential to be something big.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I think this building looks absolutely fantastic. It’s unique, clashes with its surroundings (as any future spectacle of greatness should) and it just needs some TLC. This building, (if finished) could be the very thing that helps to boost N. Koreas economy.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I think if they finished it and gave it all the great style that all fancy hotels have, it would be awesome! It’s a very interesting structure. They would be stupid not to complete it!
July 18th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
That shit foreva be ugly. Damn nigga it be lookin a hot mess ya dig.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Think how “awful” the Eiffel Tower must have looked when it first was built. It certainly doesn’t “fit in” with its surroundings, but can anyone imagine Paris without it now?
July 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
This could be a bealtiful building. The shape is unique and could be stunning.
The big worry is the quality of the concrete. I didn’t think they made buildings this tall out of concrete.
But, if it can be made stable, it could be a beatiful building inside of an ugly nation.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
This reminds me of the Soviet attempts to make Moscow’s skyline rival New York City’s. They instituted a series of construction projects that resulted in half-empty buildings whose existence was hard to justify outside of trying to “impress” the rest of the world with “Soviet ingenuity.”
The Soviet mistake was that they had no understanding of what created New York’s skyline in the first place, and that their society was fundamentally incapable of producing that kind of wealth. History repeats itself in North Korea.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
It’s what the building symbolizes. It’s a monster. There is nothing beautiful about a building like that being built while an entire country starves and dies.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
lets see what happens!
July 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
The building is awesome! I’d like to go to Poontang, NK and see it.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Yeah I dunno what their problem is. It’s not the prettiest concrete, but that can be painted or dyed. The structure is very unique for NK! I think it’s an awesome building. They should check the safety of it and if turns out to be fine, then finish it. If not, take it down… It’s just taking up space. =/
July 18th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
take it down it’s an eye sore and who would want to visit north korea anyway
July 19th, 2008 at 1:30 am
i think they (nk) should use it as a target for thier weapons…..i bet the insurance is mighty high
July 19th, 2008 at 4:58 am
It gives me the creeps. It’s so flat on the sides it looks like the rooms are not big enough to hold anybody. I personally would never stay in anything that enourmous. I would be scared of a fire.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:23 am
this building gives me the creeps..it just looks so bizarre and outta place man…wow…creepy!!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:24 am
its not ugly… its unique… it is just to hard for others to admit that north korea can do such a structure beacuse they are communist. shape-wise… its is ahead of its time!
July 19th, 2008 at 6:14 am
I like this building as well… maybe it’s the whole creepy, abandoned thing that I find intriguing. I beleive this building to be symbolic of N.K. itself in that it tries to impress from the outside, but once inside you see the barrenness and ruin the citizens are forced to indure on a daily basis. Sad that this money was wasted on a building that can’t be recovered – I can’t imagine anyone would want to stay in a building with substandard concrete!
On another note, I think Disney should think about making a ride based on this “Hotel of Doom”…. I’d stand in line for it!
July 19th, 2008 at 7:22 am
its kinda creepy, but its cool and its unique!! ive never seen any building like that! its not uglyyy…weird…but not ugly. they can always paint it!! or dy it!
July 19th, 2008 at 7:41 am
they shouldnt have nick named it hotel of doom, but it does give the building a certain unrealistic aura to it though…in a disturbed way the hotel is actually very compelling. Kind of like a building that would be perfect in Gotham city. hehe..
July 19th, 2008 at 7:42 am
i think this building looks good. very unique . i would love to see it. what retard would call it ugly. any person who likes architecture would find this building interesting. i t is th emedia and our (USA ) government who is always trying to get us to hate the nor koreans and think them back wards. and do you people not read the news at all. they are finishing the buiulding right now .
July 19th, 2008 at 8:19 am
i think that we must wait to be finished, i don’t think that it will be ugly but it will be original
July 19th, 2008 at 8:20 am
i think this is the best building in world and in place of this the white house of u.s.a. should be removed completely.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:51 am
They can produce nuclear weapons, but can’t open up a hotel on time. Sad, very sad. It’t like that cathedral in Brcelona Spain, frozen in time…
July 19th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Jeez, this building/structure is really scary. doesn’t look like a hotel at all. hmmm but it can be a good investment for those sci-fi movies
July 19th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I think rahul needs to go back to Malajajistan and shut up. This is like most commie architecture in that it is big,blocky ugly and without much artistic form. Poor commie bastards.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Oh Wow! Just the name of it alone is cool, then when I saw the actual building… frickin’ awesome! crazy cool architecture! I hope they do fix it up.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Wow! It’s so ugly, yet so intriguing! I want to explore it and see what it looks like on the inside.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:20 am
FUCK YEAH GUYS THAT SHIT IS GAY!!! ITS WACK SON!!!!!! DAMN HOLY SHIT I WOULD LOVE TO RUB MY GOUCHE RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT THOUGH!!!!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 11:42 am
1) Send em a boat load of spray paint and let them tag it from top to bottow.
2) Let the squatters in. It seems to be solid and I’ll bet better housing than many have.
3) Fill unused floors with dirt and plant vines. It’d look like jungle towers in a few years. Neat as all get out and a great habitat for birds (and good eating for the squatters).
Note: Team America had an observation post in the upper floors for a while . . .
July 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Is everyone missing the fact that this was built with SUBSTANDARD
July 19th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Is everyone missing the fact that this was built with SUBSTANDARD materials and that it isn’t safe for people to inhabit? I agree that it’s an interesting structure, but – if it’s unsafe, bring the b*tch down…
July 19th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I dont know what these people are talking about. Its Not ugly! Its Interesting.
I think that It is amazing.
I wish it was finished. I would go and stay there.
The only thing about it is that the color is gross.
Other than that It is amazing.
I hope they get investors that like it.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Instead of financing large amounts of money in building monstrous disasters, they need to invest the money in their own people who are starving.That’s dictatorship for you.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
this is beautiful. they should keep it. this makes the skyline of pyongyang unique. only innate to the north koreans. it’s a breath of fresh air compared to the boring buildings here in australia and in the US.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
its not a hotel, its a spaceship based on the one in the game galaga
July 19th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I think the building looks cool. Its different ,but it looks neat and unique. I mean a triangle hotel it’s just different.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I like it. Is so ugly that it has a beauty of it’s on!
July 20th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Not ugly at all uniqe if any and interesting design… however i think it needs to be demolished. understand the symbolism and you’ll understand my stands.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
it doesn’t look that bad, it actually looks kind of cool
July 20th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
They should forget the idea of refinishing it, that would be like putting lipstick on a dog.
A better idea would be a haunted hotel tour, or better yet the largest rock climbing gym in the world. They could have Kim bungee from the top floor on opening day.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
They should forget the idea of refinishing it, that would be like putting lipstick on a dog.
A better idea would be a haunted hotel tour, or better yet the largest rock climbing gym in the world. They could have Kim bungee from the crane on opening day.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am
The building looks like a massive prison. It is ugly, but there are plenty of ugly things in this world that are also cool. Like Jennifer Lopez. In a landscape lacking any color, this building only heightens the notion that we are looking at a picture of Mordor by daylight.
I think hotel of doom is appropriate considering it is over 20 years old and has never been occupied. That in and of itself is creepy! Can you imagine that skeleton of a building outside your bedroom window, sitting there useless all these years. A film should be shot there.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
I think it’s pretty cool looking, actually. Its current ugliness comes from the raw concrete color and its half-done look.
Problems regarding its completion:
1) Who would invest in a HOTEL, in a country know for oppression of its people, and massive restrictions on tourism?
2) The concrete was sub-grade and may not have compression/tensile strength to support its own mass. It may collapse upon completion.
3) They’re out of money – when the USSR collapsed, North Korea lost its funding. How can they finish a project, estimated at 2-10% of their Gross Domestic Product?
That being said, it couldn’t happen to a nicer dictator (Kim Jong Il)!
—M
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
By the way, the North Korean government didn’t remove (“photoshop”) the building from pictures because it was hideous and ugly – they did so because it was a massive failure, and it hurt their egos.
Their skyline reflected their own failure.
—M
July 24th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
i have 1 thing to say LOL@THECOMMIES!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
November 26th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
What we are in fact looking at is the world’s most expensive pigeon coop.
December 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I totally agreed with all of you. This hotel is so ugly that I vomit just by looking at it. The hotel should stay so people in the world will know how ugly and vicious North Korean government is. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
December 9th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
This is the hotel of poop. Let’s go there and poop.
December 9th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
sorry no pooping in that sh** or the stupid north koreans will kill us
January 19th, 2009 at 4:14 am
Leave it up. It will make a great aiming point for nukes.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
This building is a the butt-ugly lovechild of Modernism and Art Deco.
Which are two types of design that contradict each other in the most extreme sense.
The building was never ahead of its time, it was completely ill-conceived.
By modern standards of taste and style, Ryugyong Hotel is no more than a sad joke.