Mirae Unha Tower
| Unha Tower | |
|---|---|
은하 타워 (Korean) | |
Interactive map of the Unha Tower area | |
General information | |
| Status | Completed |
Architectural style | Futurism |
| Location | Mirae Scientists Street, Pyongyang, North Korea |
| Coordinates | 38°59′37″N 125°43′49″E / 38.9937°N 125.7304°E |
| Height | |
| Height | 210 m |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 53 |
The Unha Tower, also referred to as the Galaxy Tower, is a futuristic 53-story building in Pyongyang, North Korea. It was built as part of the redevelopment of Mirae Scientists Street and is the tallest tower on the street.[1]
History
In September 2014, the government of North Korea announced an initiative to develop a housing estate in what is now Mirae Scientists Street along the Taedong River. The apartments were to be assigned to engineers and scientists. The Mirae Unha Tower was the tallest apartment planned in the redevelopment, standing at 53-stories tall.[2] Construction began in early 2015,[1] and the tower was opened in November the same year.[2] At its completion, it was the 71st tallest building in the world.[3]
Construction entailed heavy manual labour and outdated building techniques involving pouring concrete onto steel, with no I-beams used to build the tower. As there are no reports of Kim Jong-un entering the building, it is possible the tower was internally incomplete. The state-run Korean Central News Agency claims that the tower was completed in "little more than 60 days",[1] while Naenara states it was designed to resemble the orbital path of an electron around an atom.[4] The tower has also been described as shaped like a "blossoming flower".[5]
In May 2017, the South Korean-based NK News reported that the tower was decaying and had remained uninhabited since its opening, though shops on the ground floor appear to be operational. Researcher Curtis Melvin says that analysis of photos of the building shows no domestic furnishings in balconies unlike other Pyongyang apartments.[1] In April 2025, the tower was reported to be developing cracks, with the exterior walls corroding, causing residents to worry about a collapse.[6][7]
Gallery
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Tower lit up at night
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Tower at ground level
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Tower from across the Taedong River
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Closeup of the finial
References
- ^ a b c d OCarroll, Mr (18 May 2017). "Largest skyscraper on prestige Pyongyang street remains uninhabited: sources". NK News - North Korea News. Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ a b Ahn, J. H. (4 November 2015). "'Pyongyang Speed' touted as finished scientist street revealed". NK News - North Korea News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ Eun Ah, Kang (25 April 2025). "평양 53층 '은하 201m 평양 53층 '은하아파트', 세계 71위" [201m Pyongyang 53-Story 'Unha Apartment' Ranks 71st in the World]. CHANNEL A (in Korean). Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
- ^ Yoon-seok, Ahn (12 July 2022). "평양 초고층 살림집 시리즈(1) '미래과학자거리 53층살림집'" [Pyongyang High-rise Housing Series (1) '53-story Housing Complex on Future Scientists Street']. SPN (in Korean). Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ Ravenscroft, Tom (17 December 2019). "North Korea's architecture revealed in Model City Pyongyang". Dezeen. Archived from the original on 18 November 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ Min-seon, Kwon (25 April 2025). "북한 김정은의 야심작 자랑하더니…'53층 평양아파트' 붕괴 직전?" [Boasted as Kim Jong-un's Ambitious Masterpiece... Is the '53-Story Pyongyang Apartment' on the Verge of Collapse?]. 매일경제 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ Chang-gyu, Ahn; Hyun-ju, Lee (6 May 2025). "[지금 북한은] 하루에 한 층씩 올라가는 평양식 아파트 건설법?" [[In North Korea now], is the Pyongyang-style apartment construction method going up one floor a day?]. RFA 자유아시아방송 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 16 December 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2026.