Architecture reflects the spirit of the eras, it follows the changing society and adapts to it. While these changes are difficult to visually trace in a person, architecture keeps them in their original form for us.
The remains of the soviet brutalist architecture should fairly stand amongst many attractions in Russia. Created in the post-war UK, this architectural style came to Soviet Russia in the 1970s. Giants made of stone, concrete and metal, usually with bizarre shapes. Soviet brutalist buildings surely stand out from the overall ensemble, they catch the eye of the beholder quickly. Now those hidden gems of peculiar architectural thought are scattered across Russia and former Soviet republics. This might make one feel like going on a quest, to travel Russia and search for these outlandish architectural pieces.
Some examples of brutalist architecture can be found in big cities, while for others one must make quite a trip. Here I will show you some of my favorites:
Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow
The complex is a stand-alone architectural dominant feature of the southwestern part of Moscow and one of the highlights of the Sparrow Hills.
The spatial structure on the top, that locals call the “golden brains”, contains systems needed to ensure the operation of the building. The top floors now have a viewing platform and a restaurant.
The House of Soviets in Kaliningrad
It is a dominant piece that stands out of the overall landscape. To some it reminds of a massive spacecraft, others call it plain ugly and want it to disappear from the city prospect. In the mid-80s, when the building was almost ready, construction work was stopped. The House of Soviets has never been in use and is now getting closer to being demolished to its base.
The Institute of Robotics and Technical Cybernetics in Saint Petersburg
The building can be found next to the Benois Garden, on Tikhoretsky Avenue.
The elegant composition of the building is based on the sharp contrast between horizontal lines and a unique tower volume. The tower has a hollow structure with a metal frame on the inside.
Learn more about Russian architecture in our instagram.
