BUSINESS DAY
North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, holds one of the unoccupied buildings in the world a massive monument to the ambition and, some might argue, to the regime’s limitations the Ryugyong Hotel, nicknamed the “Hotel of Doom”.
Rising to a staggering 1,080 feet, this behemoth is one of the tallest unoccupied buildings globally, shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
Its story begins in 1987 when North Korea sought to flex its architectural muscles in response to its southern counterpart’s burgeoning achievements.
South Korea was basking in the glow of economic growth, while Pyongyang aimed to assert its prowess on the world stage.
The Ryugyong Hotel was born from this competitive spirit, envisioned as a symbol of North Korea that might be set to overshadow its rivals both in height and grandeur.
Designed to accommodate 3,000 rooms and crowned with five rotating restaurants offering panoramic vistas, the Ryugyong was set to redefine luxury hospitality.
However, its fate took an unexpected turn as engineering challenges plagued its construction. Despite reaching its intended height in 1992, the hotel stood as a hollow shell, a haunting silhouette against the Pyongyang skyline.
The Ryugyong’s unconventional pyramidal shape, a departure from traditional skyscraper designs, was not merely an aesthetic choice but a necessity dictated by technological limitations.
Constructed entirely of reinforced concrete, a material familiar to North Korean builders, the building’s massive base tapered into a cone housing its upper floors.
While this architectural peculiarity symbolized the nation’s ingenuity, it also highlighted its dependence on basic construction techniques.
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