Journalist and photographer Oliver Wainwright's new book "Inside North Korea" presents eye-opening architecture in the most secretive country in the world.
Journalist and photographer Oliver Wainwright's new book "Inside North Korea" presents eye-opening architecture in the most secretive country in the world.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
The collection of around 200 photos shows the history and development of Pyongyang through dazzling structures such as a Saturn-shaped planetarium and an ice rink resembling a concrete teepee.
The collection of around 200 photos shows the history and development of Pyongyang through dazzling structures such as a Saturn-shaped planetarium and an ice rink resembling a concrete teepee.
Courtesy TASCHEN
Wainwright's depictions of Pyongyang's utilitarian apartment blocks and public sports facilities serve as a reminder that, as in any city, form sometimes follows function.
Wainwright's depictions of Pyongyang's utilitarian apartment blocks and public sports facilities serve as a reminder that, as in any city, form sometimes follows function.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, had to be built from scratch following the Korean War in 1953.
North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, had to be built from scratch following the Korean War in 1953.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
This, coupled with the country's relative political stability since, means that the capital is a well-preserved record of North Korea's modern history.
This, coupled with the country's relative political stability since, means that the capital is a well-preserved record of North Korea's modern history.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
"It has to be the only city in the world where the original political ideology which spawned the urban plan is still intact," Wainwright said in a phone interview.
"It has to be the only city in the world where the original political ideology which spawned the urban plan is still intact," Wainwright said in a phone interview.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
"It's like walking around a living museum to the Kims' 'Juche' ideology," he added, "which is all about self-sufficiency and self-reliance."
"It's like walking around a living museum to the Kims' 'Juche' ideology," he added, "which is all about self-sufficiency and self-reliance."
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
Despite an architectural philosophy that eschews outside influences, many of Pyongyang's post-war buildings are distinctly Soviet in style.
Despite an architectural philosophy that eschews outside influences, many of Pyongyang's post-war buildings are distinctly Soviet in style.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
Kim Il Sung relied on Moscow-trained architects to rebuild the country during the 1950s, though he ensured that local influences played their part.
Kim Il Sung relied on Moscow-trained architects to rebuild the country during the 1950s, though he ensured that local influences played their part.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
The city's more unusual structures would appear under the guidance of Kim Jong Il, who established his architectural credentials before his father's death in 1994.
The city's more unusual structures would appear under the guidance of Kim Jong Il, who established his architectural credentials before his father's death in 1994.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
Less deferential to history than his predecessor, he saw architecture as an expression of progress and modernity, according to Wainwright, who describes Kim Jong ll as having "more of a sci-fi fantasy fetish."
Less deferential to history than his predecessor, he saw architecture as an expression of progress and modernity, according to Wainwright, who describes Kim Jong ll as having "more of a sci-fi fantasy fetish."
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
"In Kim Jong Il's 1991 treatise 'On Architecture,' he describes how (the event's buildings) were specially designed to be a combination of cylinders, ziggurats and serpentine curves. He said that rectilinear buildings were an 'outdated method.'"
"In Kim Jong Il's 1991 treatise 'On Architecture,' he describes how (the event's buildings) were specially designed to be a combination of cylinders, ziggurats and serpentine curves. He said that rectilinear buildings were an 'outdated method.'"
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
Having inaugurated a number of large-scale apartment complexes and public projects since assuming power in 2011, Kim Jong Un's aesthetic appears to be distinctly pastel-colored.
Having inaugurated a number of large-scale apartment complexes and public projects since assuming power in 2011, Kim Jong Un's aesthetic appears to be distinctly pastel-colored.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
Soft shades of pink, orange and blue may predate the current leader, but Wainwright believes that their use has accelerated in recent years.
Soft shades of pink, orange and blue may predate the current leader, but Wainwright believes that their use has accelerated in recent years.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
"Things are rounded and soft, candy-shaded and pastel, and you sense that they're trying to provide a visual anesthetic, almost. It's this kind of saccharine salve to distract people ... from the fact they're living under an authoritarian regime."
"Things are rounded and soft, candy-shaded and pastel, and you sense that they're trying to provide a visual anesthetic, almost. It's this kind of saccharine salve to distract people ... from the fact they're living under an authoritarian regime."
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
The cumulative effect of three leaders' differing visions for the city leave it feeling "very theatrical," Wainwright said, comparing Pyongyang to a movie set.
The cumulative effect of three leaders' differing visions for the city leave it feeling "very theatrical," Wainwright said, comparing Pyongyang to a movie set.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
This unique meeting of Soviet influences, post-modernism and pastel colors also creates a Machiavellian blend of utopian and severe forms. Pyongyang, it seems, is a city asking to be both loved and feared.
This unique meeting of Soviet influences, post-modernism and pastel colors also creates a Machiavellian blend of utopian and severe forms. Pyongyang, it seems, is a city asking to be both loved and feared.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN
"<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taschen.com%2Fpages%2Fen%2Fcatalogue%2Farchitecture%2Fall%2F05337%2Ffacts.inside_north_korea.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>Inside North Korea</em></a><em>," published by Taschen, is available August 15, 2018. Prints from the book are available through </em><a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.saatchiart.com%2Foliverwainwright" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>Saatchi Art</em></a>.
"Inside North Korea," published by Taschen, is available August 15, 2018. Prints from the book are available through Saatchi Art.
Courtesy Oliver Wainwright and TASCHEN