Residential districts of soviet modernism: history and prospects for further development

Abstract

Soviet modernism is one of the branches of the international style of modernist architecture. Despite the fact that Soviet modernism created a number of unique buildings, for most people this period is associated with immense areas of faceless residential districts. This paper outlines the reasons for the emergence of modernism in the USSR during the 1950s, identifies the urban and architectural features of this period and analyses the positive and negative characteristics of Soviet prefabricated housing blocks in relation to the current expectations of living conditions. Special attention is given to the future of these housing districts, which are currently subjected to sharp criticism from both the professional community and local residents. The research conducted for this paper shows that it is possible to solve the problem without resorting to widespread demolition. Well-conceived renovation or remodelling can make the old housing blocks modern and comfortable, and also help to achieve visual variety that is sorely lacking.

Features Of Komsomolsk-Na-Amure Architectural Image

“…As the main architectural object, "Houses with a Spire" in various representations of the architectural space of the city carry the function of copying. According to the General plan of the city, developed by the Leningrad branch of Gorstroyproekt, it was envisaged to construct 8-10 high-rise buildings with towers and spires, but only 3 large-scale residential buildings with a neoclassical spire, which are the main urban planning points, were implemented, thereby forming the silhouette of the city (Eremeeva, 2018;Powers, 2012).…”

Memorial Complex To Submarine-Sailors And Komsomolsk Shipbuilders In The City Structure

“…The embankment reconstruction plan has a linear development along the river with ring structures of areas of various diameters. The main direct pedestrian alley is located along the river, with the rest of the pedestrian alleys having a various configuration joining the main alley with ramps and stairs (Eremeeva & Venatovskaya, 2018).…”

Editorial

“…171) we have a fascinating selection of papers touching on diverse themes in urban design and planning. There is a wide reach in this edition, from a great paper focusing on recent planning and design in historical (and future) perspective, on 'Residential districts of soviet modernism: history and prospects for further development' (Eremeeva and Venatovskaya, 2018) to the very case study-based 'Eco-metropolis planning conditioned by the growth ideology: the case of Greater Copenhagen' (Xue, 2018).…”