Psychedelic nostalgia: a walk through the DPRK hotels frozen in time

A stunning new book by Australian writer James Scullin opens the doors of North Korean hotels that seem frozen in time. There are neon karaoke halls, swimming pools, luxury retro restaurants and bars. Nicole Reed managed to take unique photos of the interior and staff of closed hotels. Australians have been given permission to look where entry to most foreigners is strictly prohibited.An unusual edition gives an opportunity to consider the luxurious retro interior of North Korean hotels. Few foreign tourists get permission to stay in such hotels, but the writer James Scullin succeeded.

The photographs taken by Nicole Reed show the interiors of the most luxurious hotels in Pyongyang.

The Australians stayed in the capital of the DPRK for five days and visited 11 hotels. To do this, they had to get special permits, because ordinary tourists are strictly prohibited from entering here.

His favorite place is the karaoke room at the Koryo Hotel. He calls the atmosphere in this hotel kitschy and psychedelic. Retro style is combined with futurism here.

The designers who created hotel interiors have never been abroad.

Hotels offer visitors five-star amenities, but they do not have Wi-Fi and room service.

All hotels in the DPRK are state—owned. Nevertheless, each of them is proud of its uniqueness and uniqueness. Here, the strict style restrictions that prevail throughout the country are slightly relaxed, so there is a place for freedom of creativity.

London photographer Michael Hunevich managed with great difficulty to take out the rarest shots from North Korea. Thanks to this, Europe was able to see unique pictures.