North Korea, also known as the Hermit Kingdom is the most isolated country in the world. Ironically, in a Godless country, the only God is their beloved leader Kim Jong Un. As part of a project with the Koryo Tour group, an architect working in North Korea was asked to design buildings suitable for sustainable tourism with no constraints on cost or possibilities. The aim was to tap into the creative spirit of those living and working in the DPRK. Here are 7 out of the 13 images. For more, visit CNN’s official website – A North Korean vision of the future [ 2014 ]
A designer envisions a cluster of holiday villas overlooking a waterfall in the Mount Kumgang region. Image copyright: Kroyo Tours
A futuristic silk cooperative that aims to bring together workers of the countryside has plenty of space for wind turbines and helicopter landing pads. The style depicts a traditional Korean hand wheel which is used for weaving. Image copyright: Kroyo Tours
A riverside guesthouse designed by North Korean architects called “The Bird’s Nest.” Many of the illustrations bear resemblance to old Korean structures. The base of this building is designed with this in mind and aims to use timber sourced from the surrounding woods. Image copyright: Kroyo Tours
A collection of futuristic cone shaped buildings designed to appear like a steel and glass mountain range surge out of the countryside. Image copyright: Kroyo Tours
Tapping in to a similarly environmental inspiration, this hotel envisioned for the Mount Kumgang area near the Korean DMZ has been designed in the shape of a tree. Image copyright: Kroyo Tours
A woodland retreat on stilts. This secluded structure has four rooms catering for luxury accommodation as well as a helicopter landing pad to provide access. Image copyright: Kroyo Tours
Exhibiting more blue-sky thinking, this image depicts a flying house that can double up as a hovercraft. Image copyright: Kroyo Tours
VICE on HBO Season One: The Hermit Kingdom
VICE makes history on a trip to North Korea to play hoops and meet with supreme leader Kim Jong-un. With NBA great Dennis Rodman and a trio of Harlem Globetrotters in tow, VICE traveled to the capital of Pyongyang for a tour of the city, a basketball clinic, an exhibition game, and a first-ever meeting between the leader and an American delegation.
