Scenes of the future conjured by one with a limited understanding of the present eerily resemble cast-off concept art for the Tomorrowland section of Disney’s theme parks. The “Commissions for Utopia” are a series of futuristic scenes depicting North Korea as envisioned by one the communist nation’s rising young architects; the illustrations are part of an exhibit currently on display at the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy.
In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, architects are educated at government-run schools before subsequently working a government-issued job. Exposure to outside architectural schools of thought is extremely limited, if not none existent. Judging by the architectural style of buildings in North Korea, it appears they’ve been largely influence by the futuristic style of architecture largely captured in the early 1900’s during the era of nation’s formation. Snippets of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Fallingwater” can even be seen in the illustration below.
The architect who painted all this artwork was commissioned by an Englishmen named Nick Bonner who runs the world’s most popular North Korean tourism agency. Bonner is a huge advocate for the uniqueness and intrigue of the nation – from its capital of Pyongyang, a city built as an effigy of government propaganda, to its scenic coastlines and mountains.
The purpose of “Commissions for Utopia” is to explore how eco-friendly tourism can be fostered in North Korea from the perspective of one of its natives who bears “only a minor influence from the outside world,” says Bonner. The architect, who was given free-reign to do what he or she wanted, created what resembles a metropolis made of giant watermills decked out in solar panels (not bad)! Another image depicts a hotel elevated above the countryside on a giant bridge while another shows conifer-shaped homes propped up on stilts along a fire. Visit Wired to view the entire collection of artwork.
Via Wired
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