North Korea’s ‘Hotel of Doom’ is the world’s largest abandoned building

Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea

This pyramid-shaped hotel in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/north-korea/" target="_blank">North Korea</a>, once a contender for the tallest hotel in the world, has remained unfinished since 1989 and instead became the world's largest <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/abandoned-buildings/" target="_blank">abandoned building</a>.

The notorious 105-story Ryugyong Hotel, frequently referred to as the "Hotel of Doom," could come to life after all. An Egyptian company called Orascom started working on the project again in 2008.

The structure, designed by Baikdoosan Architects &amp; Engineers, first broke ground in 1987 in Pyongyang, North Korea. It was supposed to open in 1989, two years later after the frame was finished.

This pyramid-shaped building in North Korea was once a contender for the tallest hotel in the world - but construction was interrupted in 1989 and it became the world's largest abandoned building instead. The notorious 105-story Ryugyong Hotel - frequently referred to as the "Hotel of Doom" - could come to life after all, as Egyptian company Orascom fired the project back up again in 2008....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/north-koreas-hotel-of-doom-is-the-worlds-largest-abandoned-building/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

Work on the structure stopped in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union (an ally and backer), and the hotel <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/unfinished-buildings/" target="_blank">remained unfinished</a>, looming over the North Korean capital.

It was supposed to open in 1989, two years later after the frame was finished.

In 2008, an Egyptian company took over the hotel and began adding exterior glass in the hope of finishing the project. Reports say that the interior has no <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/recycled-plumbing-fixtures/" target="_blank">plumbing</a> or electricity, and it could require another $2 billion to finish.

Reports say that the interior has no <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/recycled-plumbing-fixtures/" target="_blank">plumbing</a> or electricity, and it could require another $2 billion to finish.

As of late construction on the<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/green-hotel/" target="_blank">hotel</a> has stopped again, leaving the fate of the hotel unresolved.

Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea

Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea

Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea

Ryugyong Hotel, North Korea