North Korea's future look?

Architects from North Korea were asked to design buildings with no constraints on cost or possibilities. Here, a designer envisions a cluster of villas overlooking a waterfall in the Mount Kumgang region.

A futuristic silk cooperative that aims to bring together workers of the countryside with plenty of space for wind turbines and helicopter landing pads. The style depicts a traditional Korean hand wheel which is used for weaving.

A riverside guesthouse designed by North Korean architects called "The Bird's Nest." Many of the illustrations bear resemblance to old Korean structures. The base of this building is designed with this in mind and aims to use timber sourced from the surrounding woods.

On the inside, The Bird's Nest caters for North Korean visions of luxury and relaxation.

It wasn't just stationary buildings that the architects visualized. An energy efficient train that provides views of the countryside and runs on a track that allows plants to grow on top of it was also designed.

• A tour group asked North Korean designers to come up with their visions of the future


• The results depict a mixture of Soviet style and futuristic technology


• Images are currently on display at the Venice Architecture Biennale

Editor's note: Click here for more One Square MeterIf you are viewing this article on mobile you may not be able to see all images embedded in the story. Click here to access a gallery containing all pictures.

(CNN) -- What happens when a North Korean architect is given free rein to design what he or she likes?

Over the course of the last four years, one Beijing based tour company has sought to answer that question by asking a practicing architect from North Korea to create futuristic designs for sustainable tourism developments in the country.

Koryo Tours -- which offers organized trips around North Korea -- provided the anonymous participant who works at the Paektusan Architectural Institute in Pyongyang with an open brief and no limits on costs, scale or physical possibilities.

The fascinating results depict something akin to Soviet-era iconography and the Jetsons and are now on display at the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy.

A collection of futuristic cone shaped buildings designed to appear like a steel and glass mountain range. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

According to Nick Bonner, the man who arranged the project, "there is very little exposure to contemporary architecture in North Korea."

"The architect who led this project for us drew upon his own thoughts and experiences," he added.

A hotel designed in the shape of a tree at Mount Kumgang. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

Unsurprisingly, the career path of an architect in North Korea is very structured.

"All architects (in North Korea) are trained at the University of Architecture and all work for the government. There are no private projects," Bonner continued.

"In a way, it's not much different than working for a council -- limited projects, but the better you are the more chance you have of working on more interesting projects, and the more chance of influencing design."

A hotel designed for the West Sea Barrage, Nampo. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

Some designs appear more rooted in reality than others which take big leaps into what the architect believes may be possible in the future.

The image above shows a hotel and gondola on the West Sea Barrage in the port city of Nampo, an area currently without major accommodation facilities.

A one room holiday home that is also a flying hovercraft. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

Exhibiting slightly more blue-sky thinking, this image depicts a flying house that can double up as a hovercraft.

An architect's vision for a tourist bridge at Mount Myohang. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

Combining the old and the new, meanwhile, this nifty-looking bridge is designed to connect the famous mountains of Myohyangsan.

People walking across it in the morning will be high above the early mist providing the sensation of floating above the clouds, the architect said.

The interior of the Mount Kumgang Bird's Nest villa. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

"Apart from blocks of architecture that reflect Soviet influence, there is a certain futuristic style (and) modernism in many of the buildings" in North Korea, Bonner said.

In the image above, visitors to a mountain villa retreat interact with each other in an atrium designed to encourage social interaction between holidaymakers.

A woodland retreat designed by a North Korean architect. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

Reaction to the exhibition has been mixed so far.

"Some people see it as retro and kitsch, while others see it as inventive, fun and with some valid ideas," Bonner said.

"It was never intended as anything more than a visual brainstorm -- a way to stimulate engagement, ideas and discussion."

The interior of a train designed to enable holidaymakers to view the North Korean countryside. (Courtesy Koryo Tours)

The designs will be on display at the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale until November while Koryo Tours will be running a seven day architecture trip to North Korea in late October.

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Building the world's tallest tower

It is expected that construction of the tower will require 5.7 million square feet of concrete and 80,000 tons of steel.

For buildings of this stature, wind load could also put stress on the structure. To battle this, the design of the structure will change every few floors.

There are plans for a 98-foot sky terrace on the 157th floor. When completed, it will be the highest terrace in the world.

The structure will overlook the Red Sea, posing additional challenges to the building process. It's particularly important that the foundations -- 200 feet deep -- won't be affected by saltwater from the ocean.

Like the Burj Khalifa, the Kingdom Tower will have a flower-shaped footprint.

The project is expected to cost $1.2 billion.

Engineers will also need to design a pump to help deliver concrete to high levels.

According to Construction Weekly, construction will start on the Kingdom Tower -- slated to be the world's tallest at 1 kilometer (3,280 feet) tall -- next week.

• VIPs visiting the building will be able to call an elevator using their cell phones


• The elevators at the Kingdom Tower will not have buttons inside


• New cable technology makes it possible for an elevator to reach a height above 1,600 feet

(CNN) -- Whether or not Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Tower will be the world's tallest building upon completion is subject to debate (last week, it was announced China just might thwart the Kingdom's ambitions).

Even if it only ties for the honor, there's no doubt that the 3,280-feet (1,000 meters) tall structure will be a luxury experience. As it turns out, even the elevators will be VIP.

Not only will the elevators reach a record height of 2,165 feet (660 meters), but the elevators responsible for shuttling visitors directly to the tower's observation deck will be the world's fastest double-decker lifts -- traveling at speeds of 30 feet (10 meters) per second.

According to Johannes de Jong, head of technology for major projects at Kone Corporation -- the company contracted to build the structure's elevators -- high-rolling residents will also be able to communicate directly with the lifts through their phones.

"You can call the elevator as you step out of your car so you have it practically there when you arrive," he says.

KONE has developed a material called UltraRope for the elevtators.

Kone, who are leaders in elevator technology, will also be doing away with what for decades has been one of the most defining elevator features: buttons.

"Instead, we will have keypads outside the elevators, where people can type in their destination," says de Jong. The advantage, he says, is that people traveling to the same destination can be grouped together in one elevator. It's a system that not only speeds up the journey by enabling each elevator to make fewer stops, but is more energy efficient as well.

Sky is the limit for elevator tech

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Even crafting an elevator that can reach heights above 1,600 feet (500 meters) is a technological marvel.

The reason is that steel cables, which have long been the traditional means of pulling up an elevator, are heavy.

The taller the building, the more cables are needed to lift it. In order to travel the distance to the observation deck, a single elevator in the Kingdom Tower would require nearly 20 tons of steel rope. Getting that much weight to where it needs to be for installation is near impossible.

New technology, in the form of the KONE UltraRope, has made it newly possible for an elevator to reach great heights.

Made from carbon fiber, the new rope is both lighter and stronger than its steel predecessors. By comparison, a single lift would only require around three tons of the new cable to operate.

The savings in weight, says de Jong, equals a further reduction in energy consumption.

"Because of the rope, these elevators will reduce typical energy consumption by as much as 21%," he says.

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Editor's note: Read a version of this story in Arabic.

(CNN) -- Viewing this on a mobile device? Click here for mobile version.

Video shows jets nearly collide

• Video shows Boeing 767 of Russian airline UTair pulling up from approach as aircraft crosses its path


• Barcelona aviation official says aircraft were not in danger but officials confirm investigation under way


• Aviation analyst Miles O'Brien says air crew on ground should have checked their way was clear

(CNN) -- An apparent near miss between two aircraft that was captured on video at Barcelona Airport has prompted an investigation by Spanish aviation authorities.

The video shows a Boeing 767 belonging to Russian airline UTair pulling up from its landing approach as an Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A340 taxis across its path.

No one was injured in the incident and the UTair plane was able to circle round and make a safe landing five minutes later.

The video, shot on Saturday, had gained nearly two million YouTube hits by Monday.

Spain's airport authority, AENA, said the government's Committee on Civil Aviation Incidents and Accidents would look into the incident.

A Barcelona airport AENA spokeswoman told CNN that the UTair pilot had been cleared to land but exercised his authority to abort.

She said the Aerolineas Argentinas flight also had permission to taxi across the runway. She did not comment on the timing of its maneuver.

The spokeswoman said there had been no impact danger and the perspective of the video did not show that there was plenty of space between the two aircraft.

It was "not about a collision or a possible collision," she said, adding that neither airline had submitted a complaint over the incident.

CNN aviation analyst Miles O'Brien said that, according to plans of the airport, the two planes had been about half a mile apart at the time of the incident.

"That said, you see they had to perform a go-around and if you've ever been in an airliner that has to performed a go-around, it gets your attention," he said.

O'Brien said air crews on the ground should check to see if the flightpath is clear before crossing a runway as part of standard protocols.

"What we can say here is the system did ultimately work -- the last resort that is, but there was a series of mistakes... that led to this."

Aerolineas Argentinas in Madrid referred calls to its headquarters in Buenos Aires, where CNN's efforts to reach anyone at the press office, through the switchboard and three direct lines, were unsuccessful after repeated attempts.

In a statement, UTair said the pilot of its flight from Moscow to Barcelona had been following the instructions of Barcelona airport dispatchers.

"While lowering on a final approach track the commander found an obstacle on the runway (the aircraft of another airlines was crossing it)," it said.

"The aircraft commander took prompt decision on the implementation of standard operating procedure -- go-around flight maneuver.

"The maneuver was carried out in the normal mode, the landing was successful, none of the passengers was injured.

In this situation, the commander well judged and adequately assessed the situation, showing at the same time composure and professional excellence.

"According to international rules aircraft while performing approach has an absolute priority over all the aircraft located on the ground."

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CNN's Madrid Correspondent Al Goodman and Barry Neild in London contributed to this story

Japan's 'Ferrari' train

Japan Rail East has called on Ferrari designer Ken Okuyama to create a 34-passenger luxury train. It will have only 10 carriages, including two glass-walled observation cars.

Observation carriages are located in the front and the back of the super-luxury train.

All suites will have a private bathroom with a shower and toilet but the top sleeping space is the deluxe suite. On the bottom are two beds, on the top a traditional Japanese dining area.

The Cruise Train's 10 carriages include five suites, one deluxe suite, two glass-walled observation cars, a dining car and lounge.

Japan Railway East's planned Cruise Train has a separate lounge car. Due for launch in the spring of 2017, no fares have yet been announced.

Proposed lounge seating on JR East's Cruise Train, now in development, suggests a new level of railway luxury.

• Yamagata-born Ken Okuyama designed JR East's new Cruise Train, due to debut in 2017


• Okuyama has designed for Porshe and Pininfarina -- the company that designs Ferrari and Maserati


• Cruise Train to have 10 carriages that hold maximum of 34 passengers

(CNN) -- What happens when you ask a super-car designer to create a super luxurious train?

Magic, judging by the above images released by Japanese rail company JR East.

Yamagata-born Ken Okuyama, well known in automobile design circles, was brought in to style the company's super slick new Cruise Train, due to start chugging down the tracks in spring 2017.

Holding a maximum of 34 passengers, the Cruise Train will have 10 carriages made up of five suites, one deluxe suite, two glass-walled observation cars, a dining car and lounge.

Okuyama has worked as a chief designer for General Motors, a senior designer for Porsche AG and design director for Pininfarina, the company behind the Ferrari Enzo and Maserati Quattroporte.

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According to his company, Ken Okuyama Design, he wanted to create a train that would allow passengers "to appreciate the flow of the time and space," while enjoying Japan's landscapes and culture throughout the journey.

One of the more unique features is the observation carriage at the front of the train, which allows passengers to see onto the tracks ahead.

The other observation car is at the end of the train.

JR Rail says the train will be fitted with furniture that conveys the nobility of traditional Japanese culture.

The Lounge, for instance, is wrapped in graceful curves and features decor inspired by trees.

All suites will have a private bathroom with a shower and toilet, but the top sleeping space is the split level deluxe suite, which sleeps four.

On the bottom are two double beds, on the top a traditional Japanese dining area, with seats on the floor.

The train will be able to run on both electric and non-electric rails.

MORE: 11 extremely practical Japan travel tips

Can't wait till 2017?

JR East's upcoming Cruise Train won't be the first Japanese train to take the super-luxury route.

JR Kyushu's Seven Stars train, which features Japanese and Western design elements, hit the tracks in the fall of 2013.

This one only travels through the island of Kyushu and has 14 luxury guest rooms, two deluxe suites, three presidential suites, a lounge car, dining car and bar.

Guests can choose either the two- or three-night experience.

The name "Seven Stars" represents the seven prefectures of Kyushu, the seven carriages of the train and the seven main tourist attractions of the island (nature, cuisine, hot springs, history/culture, spiritual sites, local hospitality and sightseeing).

Those who want to take a Seven Stars journey need to apply online. Prices start from ¥180,000 ($1,765) per person for the two-night trip.

No first come first serve here.

The company says that in the event that applications exceed available places, a lottery will be conducted to select participants.

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New airport security measures

• Intelligence reports suggest terror groups are working on harder-to-detect explosive devices


• New security measures require passengers flying into U.S. from abroad demonstrate electronic devices are functional


• Worries of increased lines at security checkpoints so far unfounded

(CNN) -- Air passengers heading for United States are to be subjected to new security checks that could see them delayed if their electronic device has a dead battery.

A U.S. government official has told CNN the measures are in response to new intelligence that terror groups are trying to build new, harder-to-detect explosive devices.

With stringent airport security already viewed as an inconvenience -- albeit a necessary one -- by many passengers, the new checks have been greeted with concerns over delays, disrupted schedules and the potential loss of expensive and irreplaceable devices.

So how will the new measures affect travelers?

Here are a few answers:

Which passengers will be affected?

DHS: New airport security measures coming

In theory the checks apply to all air passengers flying directly to the United States from outside of the country.

Those on domestic flights within the United States will not be subjected to the same scrutiny.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is requiring airlines or security officials to perform the checks before boarding, says the measures are already in place at some international airports and will be formulated at others in coming days.

The focus of the new measures is on airports in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Key aviation hubs in the UK, Netherlands, Germany and France have already confirmed they're implementing the measures.

Security agencies have declined to detail whether every passenger will be subject to heightened screening, but one analyst said this is unlikely.

"I think it's going to be a more of random selection," aviation security consultant Jeff Price told CNN. " I don't think everyone's going to be required to walk up there with their cellphone in their hand."

Electronic devices must be functional in order to pass though security check points.

Which devices will be checked?

All electronic equipment could be subject to examination, including laptops, cell phones, tablets and MP3 players.

Passengers are being advised to make sure these are all charged before travel so that they can be switched on and demonstrated to be operational.

The DHS says there's an increased focus on enhanced explosive trace detections, meaning the devices could also be swabbed for chemicals.

Some reports have indicated that Apple and Samsung products are being specifically targeted, but the U.S. Transport Security Administration has declined to respond to questions about this.

Price said it's possible that intelligence reports have picked up on specific brands.

"Typically what will occur is that someone will come up with a new type of device and they'll publicize that within their community and try to get others to do it as well," he said.

"They'll most likely have designed it to go in certain devices, which is probably what the intelligence has indicated, that's why they'd look at specific brands."

What happens if the battery is dead?

The DHS says it doesn't dictate to individual countries how they handle electronics that do not power-up, other than to say the devices can't go on the plane. It's up to individual countries to decide what to do with the devices.

Anyone with an uncharged device risks being subjected to extra scrutiny and possibly held back from boarding their flight, according to the DHS and airline officials.

Those who get to the airport with a dead battery have several options.

They can try to charge the device if they can find a power point (many airports now have free or paid-for charging facilities).

Otherwise, if they find the dead battery in time, they can stow their device in their check-in luggage.

At some airports, those with no ability to charge up their device will have the option of using a private service to deposit items for later collection or forwarding (at a cost of up to about $100).

A spokeswoman for London's Heathrow Airport said final checks will be performed by airline staff at the boarding gate and it's up to airlines to decide what to do with the devices.

Similar procedures are in place at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

British Airways says anyone unable to switch on their device will not be allowed to fly and will need to rebook on an alternative flight.

Other airlines have declined to outline what measures they'll take.

Virgin Atlantic said it won't disclose specific security details.

"Our arrangements are under constant review and can be adapted at short notice should there be a need to do so," the airline said in a statement.

The DHS said anyone with an uncharged device may have to undergo "additional screening," but didn't elaborate.

Will this mean extra delays?

News of the enhanced measures has provoked fears of increased lines at security checkpoints but so far this appears not to be an issue.

Schiphol airport officials have pledged to "take all possible steps to avoid additional queuing time," but advised passengers to check with airlines about what time they should arrive at the airport.

Aviation security analyst Price said he doesn't foresee long lines at airports as a result of the measures.

Are the new security measures here to stay?

Officially, it's not known how long the new checks will be in place and Price speculates they could indefinitely remain a part of airport procedures.

However, he speculates that the intensity of the checks is likely to wane as any perceived level of threat subsides.

He said the new checks were likely linked to intelligence specifying a particular device -- as was the case when printer cartridges were restricted following an al Qaeda plot in 2010.

"I think they've got some intelligence that indicates these type of devices are going to be used for explosives and so for the time being they're going to increase the scrutiny and then I think it'll fall off.

"I don't think it will go away completely, it'll be part of a new bag of tricks."

He added that the most significant impact would be that "people are going to learn to charge their cellphone before going to the checkpoint -- that's for sure."

Heimaey: The Icelandic Pompeii

A sign reading "Pompei" points the way to an area destroyed by volcanic eruption on Iceland's Heimaey Island in 1973. The eruption left one person dead and prompted the evacuation of dozens of families.

Most people displaced by the volcano's 1973 eruption returned to settle closer to Heimaey's main town of Vestmannaeyjar.

The Eldheimar museum (meaning "worlds of fire") is built around a cottage that was engulfed in ash. It was discovered after archeological excavations were begun six years ago.

This serene view from Eldfell volcano in Iceland belies the volcano's dramatic history. Eldfell was thought to be extinct before suddenly erupting in 1973.

Inside the excavated house -- which opened to the public in May 2014 -- waterfalls of ash have preserved lampshades, tablecloths and curtains.

The town of Vestmannaeyjar was saved from Eldfell's lava by using sea-water to stop the flow, but not all structures survived.

On boat rides around the Iceland's Heimaey Island, visitors pass towering banks of ash sloping down to the sea.

• Iceland's Heimaey island was evacuated in 1973 when the Eldfell volcano exploded


• Houses buried by the volcano have now been excavated and preserved in a new museum


• Helga Jonsdottir, who fled the volcano as a child, now runs a cafe on the island

(CNN) -- Helga Jonsdottir still remembers in vivid detail the day her island home was swallowed by a volcano as she and her family joined others fleeing the molten lava.

"As my boat left the harbor, the fissure opened up, and flames burst into the sky," she recalls.

"The fissure extended into the ocean, and I could see red-hot lava beneath the water."

Jonsdottir was 18 in January 1973 when the Eldfell volcano exploded on Heimaey, a small island 151 kilometers (94 miles) from the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik.

Her childhood home was among 400 buildings engulfed as 200 million tons of ash and lava rained down in the days following the eruption.

Some of these structures have now emerged, perfectly preserved beneath the volcanic debris following an archaeological excavation begun six years ago.

Worlds of fire

The result is a captivating new museum, Eldheimar, meaning "worlds of fire," which opened its doors in May 2014.

At the museum, visitors can revisit 1973, see a snapshot of life on Heimaey and also get insight into the devastation wreaked by the volcano.

Vestmannaeyjar, in the volcano's shadow.

On the fateful night, the island's 5,300 residents were alerted to the eruption by the honking of fire engine horns.

When they stepped outside their houses, they saw bright red lava exploding from Eldfell and a wall of fire spurting from a fissure snaking across the island.

Only one person died as a result of the eruption.

The vast majority of the islanders were evacuated that night, not returning until months later.

Many of those living on the eastern side came back to find their houses engulfed by lava, while other properties had been completely flattened or buried under mountains of ash.

A few islanders stayed away, but the majority rebuilt their houses closer to Vestmannaeyjar, the 13-square-kilometer (five square miles) island's only town.

MORE: Only in Iceland -- descending into a volcano

Time stands still

When archaeologists began to excavate the houses nearest to the volcano in 2006, they found that beneath the mountains of ash and frozen slabs of lava, time had stood still.

Prior to the eruption, tables had been laid for breakfast and clothes folded and piled by the fireplace, but everything had been abandoned when the fire engines started sounding their horns.

Archaeologists decided to focus on one particular cottage, which now forms the centerpiece of the Eldheimar museum, located on the outskirts of Vestmannaeyjar.

Inside the museum's walls, petrified waterfalls of ash pour from the cottage's windows, through which lampshades, tablecloths and curtains can be seen.

The mountains of ash visible from the museum's windows are reminders of just how close this island came to total destruction.

Heimaey, a 25-minute plane ride from Reykjavik or a 30-minute ferry journey from Iceland's mainland, is a barren chunk of volcanic rock.

Visitors who take the ferry arrive into a small harbor dramatically narrowed by a river of solidified lava.

When Eldfell erupted, the lava flow almost cut the harbor off entirely.

Locals slowed its progress by spraying it with cold water, but not before it had increased the island's size by one square mile.

MORE: On the edge of the world: Iceland's remote Westfjords

Towering banks of ash

The horizon here is dominated by two enormous volcanic peaks.

Helgafell, a perfect, grass-covered cone, erupted thousands of years ago, spewing so much lava that two islands merged to form Heimaey.

Eldfell, meanwhile, is a jagged, ash-covered reminder of the 1973 eruption, although in places, bright purple lupins sprout from the blackened slopes where locals have planted grass to improve its appearance and prevent erosion.

On boat rides around the island, visitors pass towering banks of ash sloping down to the sea.

In places, the coastline has been imprinted with a semi-geometric pattern, as though someone has transplanted part of Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway here.

A visit to Vinaminni Kaffihus, a cafe in Vestmannaeyjar run by Jonsdottir, offers fascinating insight into the events of 1973.

Jonsdottir, who returned to Heimaey as a married woman two years after the eruption, opened the cafe as a memorial to the volcano.

Each table tells the story of a different family, with before and after photos and accounts of that fateful night.

Today Jonsdottir, like other islanders, says she's simply grateful for the low death toll, and the fact that the island wasn't destroyed entirely.

"We're just so thankful that we've been allowed to continue living in such a beautiful place," she explains.

"We came so close to this island being uninhabitable."

How to get there

Flights to Heimaey depart Reykjavik's domestic airport, which is a 40-minute drive from Keflavik International Airport. Round-trip fares with Eagle Air start from $359; +354 5624200

Herjolfur ferries sail from Landeyjarhofn to Vestmannaeyjar. Landeyjarhofn is 132 kilometers (82 miles) from Reykjavik, in the south of Iceland. Prices start from $28 each way.

The ferry makes five crossings every day, apart from Tuesday, when there are four crossings; +354 4812800

It's possible to drive to Landeyjarhofn or take the bus from the Bsi bus terminal in Reykjavik.

Eldheimar museum , Sudurvegur/Gerdisbraut 10, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Heimaey, Iceland; +354 4882700

Vinaminni Kaffihus , Vinaminni Kaffihus, 481 2424m Vesturvegi 5, 900 Vestmannaeyjum, Heimaey, Iceland; +354 4812424

Viking boat tours , Tangagotu 7, 900 Vestmannaeyjum, Heimaey, Iceland; + 354 4884884. Boat rides cost from $50.

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Tamara Hinson is a freelance journalist specializing in travel. She also covers health, beauty and technology for a wide range of publications and websites.