Soviet architectural modernism

Soviet architectural modernism ( French modernisme , from French moderne - the latest, modern; " English modern " - modern, new) is one of the three original Soviet architectural styles along with constructivism and Stalinist classicism . Bred by critics in a separate direction at the beginning of the XXI century. Covers the period from 1955 to 1991.

Content

1 General characteristics
- 1.1 Origins
- 1.2 History of the term
- 1.3 Similarity to brutalism
- 1.4 Style Features
2 Research
3 Basic Style Examples
4 Criticism of style
5 notes
6 Literature
7 References

General characteristics

Origins

Architectural modernism came to the USSR from the West and transformed into the Soviet one. During the so-called Khrushchev thaw, specialized professional magazines began to appear in the public domain for architects in the USSR, and an exchange of experience began with architects from the countries of Poland , Cuba and Hungary . The internationality of modernism, in fact, is one of its main distinguishing features. Specifically, the origins of Soviet modernism lie directly in the works of Le Corbusier , who, by the fifties of the 20th century, reworked the foundations of Soviet constructivism in a new, own architectural style.

Term History

The term “Soviet architectural modernism” was introduced in the early 2010s, until that moment it actually did not exist. It is important that the exact criteria of Soviet architectural modernism have not yet been determined, except for a relatively clearly defined period. A great role in identifying this style was played by the French photographer Frederic Shubin ^[1] , who at the beginning of the 2000s traveled the territory of the former Soviet Union and captured a number of buildings that at that time belonged exclusively to brutalism.

Similar to Brutalism

According to most researchers, brutalism formed the basis of Soviet modernism, therefore - it is characterized by the corresponding features, namely: the functionality of massive forms and designs; urban appearance of buildings. Bold and intricate compositional solutions reflect, according to the creators, the complexity of Soviet life. As in brutalism, the main building material used is reinforced concrete , and the architectural order approach is complex.

Style Features

However, it would be wrong to completely identify this architectural style with brutalism, since there are some differences. So, a feature of Soviet modernism is, for example, the use of facing materials ( marble , sandstone , shell rock or cheaper analogues). This architectural style is also characteristic (mainly at the developmental stage) of decorativeness - for example, the presence of mosaic panels and other modernist elements of decoration, and in addition - massive glazing of building surfaces, partly reminiscent of constructivism .

Research

An important role in determining the style was played by the study (more precisely, the album) of the French photographer Frederic Shubin, as well as a series of photographs “Spomeniki” by Dutch photographer Jan Kempenaers ^[2] . In the same context, a study of the Tatlin Moscow publishing house entitled “Soviet Modernism: 1955-1985” ^[3] and his work on the work of Armenian architects “Architecture of Soviet Modernism” ^[4] deserves attention.

Basic Style Examples

The following buildings can be considered the main examples of Soviet modernism: the Kremlin Palace of Congresses ^[5] , the ensemble of Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill ^[6] , the Television Tower in Ostankino ^[7] , etc.

Style Criticism

The main criticism of this architectural style is that after the Stalinist “decorativeness”, the purely functional asceticism of modernism (starting from the Khrushchev era) deprived architects of space for creativity. As for the views of the townsfolk, and not the figures of this type of art, many ordinary citizens of the USSR were not satisfied with the so-called “house-boxes”, they considered them deprived of cultural and artistic value. In addition, the art of this period as a whole and architecture, in particular, were distinguished by a formal approach and adherence to ideological principles.

Thus, in an open letter to Mikhail Suslov, a group of artists E. M. Belyutin criticized the formal approach to art and the practice of creating works of art in the framework of the state order.

Notes

Literature

Rykov A.V. The art of modernism and the idea of progress // Bulletin of St. Petersburg University. Ser. 2. 2014. Issue 3. P. 73-82.
Felix Novikov, Vladimir Belogolovsky. Soviet modernism: 1955-1985 // Tatlin, ISBN 978-5-903433-43-8
Karen Balian. The architecture of Soviet modernism. Master | Arthur Tarkhanyan, Spartak Khachikyan, Hrachya Poghosyan. // Tatlin, ISBN 978-5-903433-77-3

Links

[1] Chaubin. Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed. TASCHEN Books

[2] Spomenik - Works - Jan Kempenaers

[3] SOVIET MODERNISM: 1955-1985 - Tatlin Publishers

[4] Architecture of Soviet Modernism. Arthur Tarkhanyan, Spartak Khachikyan, Hrachya Poghosyan Book Buy - Tatlin Publishers

[5] Kremlin Palace of Congresses

[6] Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill

[7] TV tower in Ostankino