so, architecture critic oliver wainwright was allowed to tour north korea. how? i do not know. but he found pastel colors, quirky architecture, and kind of amazing design. wes anderson, can ya hear me?

he wrote a piece on it for the guardian:

“In every refurbished building we visit, there is a peculiarly consistent style of preschool colour schemes and shiny synthetic surfaces, the pastel palettes and axial symmetry giving an eerie feeling of walking into a Wes Anderson film set, or a life-size Polly Pocket toy… kindergarten kitsch is the logical next step for a regime intent on projecting an image of carefree prosperity. It is architecture as anaesthetic, a powerful tool for the state to infantilise its people.”

more here.

via, my friend emma!