The 21st May 21 Architectural Festival took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang from May 7 to 10 under the sponsorship of the Central Committee of the Architects Union of Korea.

The festival, which was held on the theme of “Comprehensive rejuvenation and development of our state and Juche-oriented architecture”, was attended by design, construction and educational establishments across the country. Presented to the festival were more than 400 architectural designs and formation plans which were highly appreciated in provincial (city under the direct control of the government) festivals, dozens of pieces of construction equipment and tools, programs for architectural information modelling and over 60 designs for projects.

Sim Yong Hak, chairman of the Central Committee of the Architects Union of Korea, said that cups and diplomas were awarded to different units by synthesizing expert judgments and the public evaluation of exhibits and commendations and certificates were conferred on several lead developers who won high appraisal in the festival which was divided into the exhibitions of architectural designs and formation plans, construction equipment and tools and architectural information modelling.

Various formation plans which contribute to rural development and growth of regional industry took a large proportion at the exhibition of architectural designs and formation plans.

Many formation plans for dwelling houses, public buildings, industrial buildings and decorative illuminations were exhibited. In particular, designs for regional-industry factories were novel and distinctive in style.

Production buildings were arranged in a concentrated way and each of them in keeping with its mission, while architectural styles went well with each other in overall aspect. And the plans made it possible to lower production costs as buildings were designed as land-saving ones and the areas of consumption were brought closer to material production bases.

Students of Pyongyang University of Architecture presented artists’ impressions for apartment houses “Hwaeppul(torch)” and “Changgong(sky)” which drew the attention of visitors. “Hwaeppul” shows an apartment house constructed in the shape of a flaring to create a rhythmical image and “Changgong” conspicuously represents the windows of each flat in the shape of water drops flying up to sky.

Excellent construction equipment and tools, which were introduced into the construction of rural houses and regional-industry factories by many domestic construction units, were put on display to widen the vision of construction officials and other visitors.

Sci-tech research findings were exhibited at the exhibition of architectural information modelling. They are aimed at ensuring the scientific accuracy, correctness and promptness of construction designs.

Also presented were the achievements made in the course of applying existing design programs to project designs and updating and introducing them in line with the actual situation of the domestic architectural design sector.

Programs on display were designed to ensure minimum expenditure in making up construction budget for structures, and scientific accuracy and correctness in ensuring maximum profit.

“Local design institutions and scientific research institutes brought out many successes to the festival in keeping with the new regional development policy. I felt through the recent festival that they are growing into powerful units that can be on a par with central design institutions,” said Rim Yong Nam, staffer of the National Design Administration.

During the festival, a virtual exhibition was held through the "Juche-oriented architecture" homepage of the national data communication network.