The Paketusan Institute of Architecture, established on July 22, 1982, is the largest architectural creation and research institute in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It has four divisions which specialize in the designing of monumental structures, research into finishing materials, green building materials and air conditioners, and improvement of architectural environment.
The designing division participated in the designing of many monumental structures and of their building processes, including the Monument to the Party Founding, Korea Computer Centre, Korean April 25 Film Studio, Ryugyong Hotel, Kim Won Gyun University of Music, Kaeson Youth Park, Rungna Dolphinarium, Munsu Water Park, Ryugyong Health Complex, the terminal of the Pyongyang International Airport, Changjon Street, Mirae Scientists Street and Ryomyong Street. It also engages in architectural designing of national importance and comprehensive designing of structure, facility, heating and electrical systems and furniture, gives on-the-spot technical guidance in a responsible manner, and conducts research for creating green, healthy and intelligent buildings. The division, which specializes in studying hygienic architectural environment and examining green building materials, assesses the hygiene of architectural environment and takes relevant measures, conducts the research for the realization of green architecture, and develops and introduces relevant products. It has adopted as State standards tolerable limits and examining methods in scores of terms of architectural environment and quality of building materials including quality of indoor air for the first time in the country. On the basis of this it annually conducts over 3 000 examinations of environment and building materials related to 60-odd indexes.
It has a monopoly position in the country in examination of water quality and environment such as genus legionella in water, ion and electromagnetic fields, and in hygienic examination of building materials. It was registered as a national quality examination organization related to green building materials and environment in 2014. In August 2017 it obtained the qualification of a national product authentication organization related to green building materials (healthy and functional).
The building materials division specializes in developing and introducing finishing materials needed for architectural structures of national importance to suit the country’s actual conditions. It has a section for domestic production of finishing materials and a functional building materials section. They are intensifying research to produce diversified and multicoloured building materials as required by the State’s policy in order to maximize the proportion of domestically produced finishing materials, and to actively develop green and functional building materials in keeping with the global trend towards healthy buildings. The researchers have developed multicolourpatterned paint for interior decoration, paint for relief-decorated wall, metallic lustre paint and decoration putty, which are recognized as excellent products for interior decoration of structures including that of ceiling, wall, floor and column of public buildings and comprehensive service facilities.
The paper-coated plasterboard they developed is widely used in dry construction, and won first place at the 2017 intellectual products exhibition. And their findings of finishing materials research have been adopted and registered as national standards, criteria and manuals, and won gold medals and top prizes and other prizes at different sci-tech festivals. Thus, the researchers are recognized as a promising team of high ability.
The air-conditioning equipment designing division is responsible for designing and research for domestic production of air-conditioning equipment. It focuses on the research and design for domestic production of modern air-conditioning equipment, geothermal equipment and freezing equipment while ensuring designing, manufacturing and installing of air-conditioning equipment for the architectural structures of national importance. It also exchanges and cooperates with different units at home for the development and production of air-conditioning equipment.
Article: Sim Chol Yong
