Narcotecture: A Photo Tour of Kabul’s Poppy Palaces
Here in Kabul, the poor live in unimaginably squalid conditions and the rich live like kings. Kings in very ugly castles.
We call them Poppy Palaces or Narcotecture, because much of the money that went into building them came from Afghanistan’s biggest crop. I also suspect that some UN/NGO/USAID dollars are paying for these insults to taste and design.
You can see these monstrosities all over town and I’ve photographed a few of the worst for your viewing pleasure. Note the really high walls and metal armor on some of them.
I apologize for the hurried nature of these photos—I took most of them from a moving car—but the AK-47 toting guards who stand watch at these palaces become a bit, um, grumpy when you take pictures around them.
My favorite one is pictured below. It’s still in the process of being constructed, but it clearly is meant to look like a certain residence in Washington, D.C.
More after the jump…
This house needs more railings
Behold! The ugly house of the fuuuuuuture!
This could be yours...
Got glass?
Ft. Lauderdale meets the Haqqani network
The Prince of Siam lived here, when he manufactured and distributed heroin
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That’s not Florida?
I like the ‘For Rent’ sign on the one that looks like a Klingon advance ship.
Great pics, and perfect captions! The faux “White House” is just too funny—–except that it’s all so tragic.
What phenomenally ugly architecture.
[...] He and about 50 of his supporters stormed the home of a former ally-turned-political rival. They shot one of the rival’s bodyguards, beat him and his son unconscious and dragged them back to Dostum’s house. The police showed up shortly thereafter and surrounded Dostum’s house, where a standoff ensued. (Note the houses in the background of the photo in that story. Look familiar?) [...]
[...] a week at The Desk. It started with a lovely guided tour of Kabul’s poppy palaces, then we all got to see what an IED looks [...]
[...] Afghan narcotecture photos http://trueslant.com/pjtobia/2009/07/12/narcotecture-a-photo-tour-of-kabuls-poppy-palaces/ [...]
[...] -P.J. Tobia’s photos from Kabul. Highlights: a ‘For Rent’ sign on one (‘Roommate wanted. Must like cooking base and Wii Tennis tournaments.’) and what appears to be the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. [...]
Medellin, Afghanistan ???
No doubt the afghan dope lords feel more secure with american troops guarding the country….than Taliban
You missed out this one.
[...] Afghanistan, opium dealers have built opulent estates. This blogger calls it [...]
[...] P.J. Tobia – Afghan Desk – Narcotecture: A Photo Tour of Kabul’s Poppy Palaces – Tru… extraordinary photographs of palatial residences in Afghanistan (tags: incredible photos drugs) [...]
[...] if you follow the link: Narcotecture: A Photo Tour of Kabul’s Poppy Palaces – P.J. Tobia – Afghan Desk – True/Slant __________________ Standard disclaimer: the disgusting statements contained in this post are [...]
[...] In parts of Kabul there are so many houses like this that they have become as much a natural part of the city as stationary traffic and potholes in the roads. http://trueslant.com/pjtobia/2009/07/12/narcotecture-a-photo-tour-of-kabuls-poppy-palaces/ [...]
Thanks so much for this insight.
Please keep posting!
Linked to via the Tariq Ali article on the LRB site:
http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2010/01/06/tariq-ali/rebuilding-afghanistan/
Greetings from Dublin, Ireland…
When I was in Kabul in November I wrote this report on poverty, including talking to some of the casual labourers who sometimes work on building these monstrosities
http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/119/article_5900.asp
[...] In Afghanistan, nothing says failed state like narcotecture. [...]
[...] Narcotecture: A Photo Tour of Kabul’s Poppy Palaces – P.J. Tobia – Afghan Desk –… [...]
[...] Narcotecture: A Photo Tour of Kabul’s Poppy Palaces – P.J. Tobia – Afghan Desk –… [...]
[...] our lives are fairly sheltered behind compound walls surrounding our poppy palaces. Not sure why they’re known as poppy palaces, but I can only assume it has something to do with the sheer beauty of the architecture on display. [...]