10 very beautiful books about the Soviet architecture

1. «Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed», Frederic Chaubin

Once the eye of French photographer Frederic Shobenu came across an old book, dedicated to the Georgian post-revolutionary architecture. Shoben could not read a word, but at first sight fell in love illustration. Thus began his seven-year journey through the former Soviet republics: he went in search of the most unusual works of Soviet architects.

The result of this colossal work was a solid album, which collected the best examples of futuristic architecture of the USSR: House of Culture, the Palace of Marriages and even crematorium. Some look like flying saucers, other - the majestic ships, others resemble bizarre pyramid. Unfortunately, many of these unique buildings today are not wanted and are under threat of destruction.

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2. Moscow Architecture NEP period and the first five years. Guide

This book has a team of professional researchers architecture and life post-revolutionary Moscow. The guide describes in detail a few dozen key buildings of the avant-garde era. Some of them are very recognizable, such as the building of the newspaper "Izvestia", or house-studio of the architect Melnikov. The other is not so well known, but their story is still interesting.

Convenient format assumes that the reader will be able to choose from 12 exciting routes to become a self-guide and discover the unusual sides of the city. But it is quite possible to use the publication and how encyclopedia.

3. "Guide to the Exhibition of Economic Achievements," Pavel Nefedov

Mighty illustrated guide will be very useful during a walk around the legendary exhibition. The book tells how to decipher preserved at ENEA numerous signs of history and help ordinary visitors to navigate.

For those who is not going to go for a walk, a guide in any case will take a fresh look at the history VSHV-VDNH-VVC. It is noteworthy that the issue of more and contains a number of useful links to Internet sources.

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4. «Soviet Bus Stops», Christopher Herwig

Canadian photographer and videographer Christopher Herwig drew attention to the unusual architecture of the Soviet bus stops. Inspired by the researcher went to the odyssey of the former Soviet republics (mainly countries Central Asia) with one goal: to collect as many pictures of this undervalued part of the architectural Heritage of the USSR. Herwig toldSoviet Bus Stops - Photo bookThat the journey was not without its curiosities: the locals reacted incredulously to a curious foreigner and almost accused him of spying.

Collected over 12 years of photography Christopher published in the album Soviet Bus Stops ( «Soviet bus stops"), which became so popular that a sequel was released in 2017. In Herwig camera lens at this time were the bus stops in Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.

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5. "Moscow: Soviet Modernist architecture. 1955–1991. Reference and Guide, "Anna Bronovitskaya Nikolai Malinin

In his guidebook authors tell, what is interesting Soviet Modernism and why this area is underestimated. Reference covers a vast architectural era Moscow from Khrushchev to Gorbachev.

The book includes not only the well-known buildings like the Palace of Congresses or "golden brain" of the Academy of Sciences, but also buildings that often wrongly overlook, for example, unusual pharmacy in Orekhovo-Borisovo or new life Home Shvernika street.

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6. Yekaterinburg. Architectural Guide. 1920–1940

The book is dedicated to the famous Sverdlovsk constructivism - a bright era in architectural history Yekaterinburg. The publication presents eight major city pedestrian routes. Unusual that a guide jacket is functional: it takes place in the large map.

We worked on the creation of the book leading experts in the field of architecture of the XX century, including those working on the project "Moscow Architecture NEP period and the First Five-Year Plan."

Unfortunately, the guide, published in small editions (a total of 2000 copies), it is practically impossible to find on sale. But now TATLIN publishing team worksArchitectural Guide to Yekaterinburg on their second release with an updated cover.

7. «Holidays in Soviet Sanatoriums», Maryam Omidi

British journalist Maryam Omidi greatly impressed with the trip to the Hodge-Obigarm resort in Tajikistan - resort with radon springs, once famous for the whole Union. Woman struck by both the Soviet spa architecture and unusual wellness treatments.

When he returned, Miriam has launched a campaign on Kickstarter to raise funds for an expedition to the sanatoria USSR, And the result was the nostalgic album Holidays in Soviet Sanatoriums ( «Holidays in Soviet sanatoria").

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8. "Alma-Ata: the architecture of the Soviet Modernism 1955-1991. Reference and Guide, "Anna Bronovitskaya Nikolai Malinin

The second guide Bronovitskaya Anna and Nikolai Malinin, published by the Museum "garage", says the architecture of Alma-Ata.

Modern Almaty can be called a sanctuary of Soviet modernism because of its golden age came in the second half of the twentieth century. The further transfer of the capital to Astana contributed to the preservation of the city. Thanks to this unique architectural heritage in Alma-Ata.

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9. "To the typology of the Soviet model construction. Industrial housing construction in the USSR. 1955-1991 ", Philip and Dmitry Moiser Zadorin

Typical Floor architecture USSR - an ambiguous phenomenon. On the one hand, thanks to her millions of families have their own apartments. On the other, this architecture is perceived by citizens as the ugly and inhumane, and typical Soviet houses are contemptuously called hruschoby and boxes.

Researchers Philip and Dmitry Moiser Zadorin in detail the history of the prefabricated construction of Khrushchev's reforms to the Soviet Union. Perhaps this colossal work will make the reader quite a different look at the project on renovation of five-story building. By the way, in an expanded edition of the book in English (Towards a Typology of Soviet Mass Housing: Prefabication in the USSR 1955-1991) consists of a card game based on the popular series of panel houses and plaster model Khrushchev.

10. «Soviet Asia: Soviet Modernist Architecture in Central Asia», Roberto Conte and Stefano Perego

Milanese photographers Roberto Conte and Stefano Perego startedThe architecture of Soviet modernism in photography. Lecture by Roberto Conte and Stefano Perego career with filming abandoned industrial buildings ItalyAnd later became famous photo project about the Soviet architecture of Armenia, Georgia and Russia.

Now, supporters released an album dedicated to sharing the journey of former Soviet republics in Central Asia. And the question of preservation of these unique buildings still remains open.

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