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From Amazing To Downright Scary, These 30 Design And Architecture Decisions Are Far From Boring
There are many different branches of modernist architecture, from Art Deco and constructivism to expressionism and metabolism. However, not all 20th-century buildings get the care and attention that they might deserve. Enter, stage left, what’s known as socialist modernism—brutalist buildings that were erected in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, right up to the fall of the Soviet Union.
Imposing grey monoliths. Functional yet also possessing gorgeous but deeply bizarre designs. These are just some of the ways that you can describe these buildings. We’ve collected some of the most impressive examples of socialist modernism designs from the r/SocialistModernism and r/SocialistModernism1 online communities to share them with you. Scroll down, upvote the pics that impressed you the most, and let us know if you’ve seen any of these architectural marvels in person.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Prefabricated Elephant Slide In Dresden, East Germany, Cca 1965 #sicmod
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#2
Spodek ("Saucer") Multipurpose Arena Complex In Katowice, Poland. Built In 1971
#3
Military Medical Academy Complex - Belgrade, Serbia
#4
State Museum Of History, Uzbekistan (1968-70) By Yevgeniy Rozanov And Vsevolod Shestopalov
#5
Bus Stop In Kazakhstan
#6
Sanatorium/Rehabilitation Center, 1985, Dombay, Karachay-Cherkess Republic
#7
The Iron Fountain - Gyumri, Armenia
#8
Pov: Soviet Chad Calling Your Girl Over Satellite Phone
#9
The Palace Of Ceremonies, Tblisi, Georgia
#10
Hala Arena In Poznań, Poland. An Indoor Sporting Arena Built In 1974
#11
The Strange Beauty Of Soviet Bus Stops
#12
Hotel "Vrbak", Novi Pazar, Serbia. Built In 1976 With A Bit Of An Oriental Touch To Suit The Ethnicity That Lives In This Area
mooshoflove 3 years ago
This is gorgeous.. this whole area has so much movement and the building in the center looks like it's from an alternative dimension
#13
When The East Meets The West
#14
Bodiul's Viewpoint Platform, Near Chisinau, Moldova, Built In The 60s (C) Bacu/ Photo Bu Dumitru Rusu
#15
Mosaic In Former-Soviet Central Asia
#16
Sevan Writer's House
#17
Rudo Skyscrapers, Just Took The Photo Now
PeePeePooPoo 3 years ago (edited)
Ah Konjarnik, in Belgrade. My grandma lived here. Views from the roof are AMAZING.
#18
Museum Of Contemporary Art, Belgrade [oc]
![Museum Of Contemporary Art, Belgrade [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646daad85ae9f_czztufflnhya1__700.jpg "Museum Of Contemporary Art, Belgrade [oc]")
#19
Mountain Kosmaj, Serbia. Built In 1971 Architect Gradimir Medaković And Sculptor Vojin Stojić (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
![Lake Sevan Viewing Platform [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646daccf65f41_3z3q7hnl7xj71__700.jpg "Lake Sevan Viewing Platform [oc]")
#21
Trade Fair Center, Accra, Ghana, Designed By Vic Adegbite, Jacek Chyrosz, And Stanislaw Rymaszewski In 1967. One Of Many Collaborations Between African And Eastern European Planners From This Era
#22
Genex Tower
#23
Tuzla Bank, (Now Nlb) Tuzla, Bih, Built In 1977, Architect V.stojanović © B.a.c.u. / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#24
Abandoned Lakeside Building, Chisinau
#25
[oc] Fontana Complex, New Belgrade, Serbia. Built In 1968, Architect Uroš Martinović
![[oc] Fontana Complex, New Belgrade, Serbia. Built In 1968, Architect Uroš Martinović](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646dac1ccb027_nqvnjo88fova1__700.jpg "[oc] Fontana Complex, New Belgrade, Serbia. Built In 1968, Architect Uroš Martinović")
Spencer's slave 3 years ago
I really think some of these need more information. Are they residential, industrial, abandoned, radioactive (🙄) etc.
#26
Home Furniture Store In Bucharest, Romania
#27
Derzhprom
#28
Time Stopped
MushroomHead22 3 years ago
i mean this is a picture. even if the clock wasn't broken, time would be "stopped"
#29
Brutal Buildings In Novi-Sad, Serbia
#30
Communal Buildings In Berlin's Eastern Half From The Ddr
#31
The Former Memorial House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party, (Buzludzha Monument), Shipka Pass, Bulgaria, Built In 1981, Architect Georgi Stoilov (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
!["Karaburma" Dorm, Belgrade, Serbia [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646dabd22ec35_q9pq2n818kua1__700.jpg "\"Karaburma\" Dorm, Belgrade, Serbia [oc]")
#33
Panorama Resort - Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia
Agfox 3 years ago
Not a recent pic if the cars are any guide. Here's a more recent pic 78623102-6...4cd7bb.jpg 
#34
Post-Soviet Modernist Architecture In Central Asia
#35
One Of The Two Halls Of Parting, Memory Park (Kiev) Ukraine. Built 1968–1981 Architect: A. Miletsky Concept, Design, Architectural Plastic Copyright Modeling Of Wall Of Remembrance By Artists Ada Rybachuk And Vladimir Melnichenko (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#36
Town Square View Towards "Zlatibor Hotel" In Užice, Serbia [oc]
![Town Square View Towards "Zlatibor Hotel" In Užice, Serbia [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646dac1019eb5_ods9sysw0sta1__700.jpg "Town Square View Towards \"Zlatibor Hotel\" In Užice, Serbia [oc]")
#37
Lenin V. Palace Of Sports - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
#39
Palace Of Rituals, Tbilisi [oc]
![Palace Of Rituals, Tbilisi [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646db28bcf7d2_ts88i2zqjin71__700.jpg "Palace Of Rituals, Tbilisi [oc]")
CHRIS DOMRES 3 years ago
I can understand how the durability of building with concrete and rebar had the architects eager to build with it. But did none of them ever consider how moldy and filthy they would become?
#40
Cafesjian Art Museum - Cascade, Yerevan, Armenia. Design 1975-1980 Built 1985-2000 Architects Sargis Gurzadyan With Jim Torosyan, Aslan Mkhitaryan (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#41
Sports And Concert Complex - Yerevan, Armenia
#44
Lviv Bus Terminal Stryiska 109, Lviv, Built In 1980 Architect: V. Sahaydakivsky, M. Stoliarov Engineer: V. Boykiv, A. Yefremov. (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#45
The Aul Residential Complex, Tole Bi 286/1, Almaty, Kazakhstan Built In Stages Between 1986-2002 Architects: B. Voronin, L. Andreyeva, Yu. Ratushnyi, V. Lepeshov, V. Ve, M.rakhimbayev Designers: S. Matveyev, G. Klochkovskaya, V. Zinstein, S. Kainarbayev (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
UltimateSwiftie 3 years ago
it looks very crowded. I could get claustrophobic in those balconies.
#47
[oc] Entrance Group With Concrete Decor Elements In New Belgrade, Serbia
![[oc] Entrance Group With Concrete Decor Elements In New Belgrade, Serbia](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646dac653ae7d_p7p8unvfufua1__700.jpg "[oc] Entrance Group With Concrete Decor Elements In New Belgrade, Serbia")
#49
The Monument House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party - Buzludzha, Bulgaria
#50
"Romanița" Collective Housing Tower For Small Family Units, Chisinau, Moldova, Built Between 1978-86, Architect: Oleg Vronsky With O. Blogu, S. Crani, N. Rebenko And P. Feldman. Engineer A. Marian. © Bacu/ Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#51
Livezeni Coal Mine. One Of The Largest Underground Mining Exploitation In Romania Located In Petroşani - One Of Six Cities In The Jiu Valley Mining Exploitation Region Of Hunedoara County. It Was Built In 1980
#52
Palast Der Respublik (Palace Of The Republic), East Berlin, Ddr
![Residential Building In Tbilisi [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646db01544033_01f6j68zsgi71__700.jpg "Residential Building In Tbilisi [oc]")
#55
Olympic Mascot Mishka (1980) On An Apartment Block In Osh, Kyrgystan. © Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#56
Monument On Freedom Hill By Janez Lenassi In Ilirska Bistrica, Republic Of Slovenia, 1965. (C) Bacu © Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
![Detail Of The Skyscraper And The Stormy Sky In Novi Sad [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646dac9850a5c_6e775zxjah0b1__700.jpg "Detail Of The Skyscraper And The Stormy Sky In Novi Sad [oc]")
![[oc] Building In New Belgrade, Serbia](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646dacf5da163_uaxewpfhxmsa1__700.jpg "[oc] Building In New Belgrade, Serbia")
#61
New Belgrade Under Construction, 1980's. #socmod Photo Via #socialistmodernism #socheritage #socmodernism #brutgroup #isc20c
S. E. in Indiana 3 years ago
So, when you come in go down the hall and make a left, then down the hall make a right. Then down the hall another right then a left then another left then a right and one more right and we're the third door on the left.
#62
Omldinskih Brigada Street, Belgrade, Serbia
Lisa Simpson 3 years ago
Famous 'Mercedes' buildings :) Because from the above they look like Mercedes logo
#63
Centrum Department Store At Suhl, East Germany, (1969)
#64
The Bank Of Georgia’s Headquarters - Tbilisi, Georgia
#65
Lamela Bilding -Blocks 61,62 (Aka Panonian Sailboats), Belgrade, Serbia, Built In Sistem Rad-Balency - Between 1974-80 Architect Milan Miodragovic. Urban Design Josip Svoboda. (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#66
Glavna Posta / The Central Post Office Of Skopje (Part Of The Ptt Telecommunications Center), Detail Skopje, Republic Of North Macedonia Built In 1972-74. Urban Planning: Kenzo Tange (1960s) Architect Janko Konstantinov (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Kathleen Nelson 3 years ago
A lot of these buildings could benefit from a good power wash! Maybe the concrete they used couldn't withstand the pressure !?!
#67
The Immaculate Conception Roman-Catholic Church, (Biserica Romano-Catolică "Neprihănita Zămislire") Orșova, România. Built Between 1972-1976 Architect Hans Fackelmann. © Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#68
Nis, Serbia
#70
[oc] The Stunning Hotel Roman: Baile Herculane, Romania. Built 1974-76. Architect Salumita And A. Mureșan. Hotel/Sanatorium, Still In Use. Built Over A Roman Baths From 107ad
![[oc] The Stunning Hotel Roman: Baile Herculane, Romania. Built 1974-76. Architect Salumita And A. Mureșan. Hotel/Sanatorium, Still In Use. Built Over A Roman Baths From 107ad](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646dafd79ceb8_6gcx09psqd991__700.jpg "[oc] The Stunning Hotel Roman: Baile Herculane, Romania. Built 1974-76. Architect Salumita And A. Mureșan. Hotel/Sanatorium, Still In Use. Built Over A Roman Baths From 107ad")
#71
Leipzig Gewandhaus, Germany, Designed By Rudolf Skoda In 1975
#73
Mykolajiv Train Station, 2049 [oc]
![Mykolajiv Train Station, 2049 [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646db0ad6c30c_kmkoxzjhh7771__700.jpg "Mykolajiv Train Station, 2049 [oc]")
UltimateSwiftie 3 years ago
looks like an place in some zombie movie? hmm imma go think about it
![[oc] Theater In New Belgrade, Serbia](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646db0ce5c9da_dulmo5b3tfsa1__700.jpg "[oc] Theater In New Belgrade, Serbia")
#76
Cerak Vinogradi, Belgrade, Serbia. Picture Taken In The '80s
#79
Publishing House, 100 Stefan Cel Mare, Chisinau, Moldova Built In 1980, Architects: V. Zakharov, L. Gofman, A. Jinkin (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#80
The Hall For Lectures And Cinema Of The Institute Of Scientific And Technical Information, (Aka “Kyiv Flying Saucer”) Kyiv, Ukraine. Built In 1971, Architects: F. Yuryev, L. Novikov Engineers: A. Pechenov, L. Kovalev, L. Kovtun, N. Coffman (C) Bacu/ Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#82
Hotel Panorama Resort. Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia
#83
[oc] Random Facade In Suceava, Romania
![[oc] Random Facade In Suceava, Romania](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646db1082106d_8d1j62tg2loa1__700.jpg "[oc] Random Facade In Suceava, Romania")
#85
Lviv Bus Terminal Stryiska 109, Lviv, Built In 1980 Architect: V. Sahaydakivsky, M. Stoliarov Engineer: V. Boykiv, A. Yefremov. (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#86
The Hall For Lectures And Cinema Of The Institute Of Scientific And Technical Information, (Aka “Kyiv Flying Saucer”) Kyiv, Ukraine. Built In 1971, Architects: F. Yuryev, L. Novikov Engineers: A. Pechenov, L. Kovalev, L. Kovtun, N. Coffman ; (C) Bacu Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#87
Former Ministry Of Communications Of The Lssr, (Now: Ministry Of Health Of The Republic Of Lithuania), Vilnius, Lithuania, Built In 1979. Architect: Justinas Šeibokas. (C) Bacu/ Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Noyfb noyfb 3 years ago
A nation careful (or wealthy) enough to keep its concrete buildings clean.
#88
Tuzla Bank, (Now Nlb) Tuzla, Bih, Built In 1977, Architect V.stojanović © B.a.c.u. / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
#89
Auditorium Of Faculty Of Chemistry Of Wrocław University, Poland. Built In 1971
![Dnipro Bus Station [oc]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/646db1102ad5b_dsaas7uex9671__700.jpg "Dnipro Bus Station [oc]")
#93
Sanatorium/Rehabilitation Center, 1985 #brutgroup Photo Unknown Via #socmod #socialistmodernism Dombay, Karachay-Cherkess Republic
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David Paterson 3 years ago
Concrete is an amazing material. It's amazingly shapeable into any shape. And all around the world all our skyscraper cores are made of concrete. In the West we clad that in expensive frippery. In former Soviet countries they skip the frippery, but the concrete really could do with a coat of paint.
astral slug (he/she/they) 3 years ago
So many of these are Serbian?? I finally understand why Marina Abramovic went a bit kookoo (no offense, I love her and her work). Also, every song that Konstrakta has ever recorded makes a lot more sense. Love y'all but you will never catch me in or near Belgrade unless I'm at a Zemlja Gruva show.
Mila Preradović 3 years ago
Don't let it mislead you, Belgrade is beyond beatiful and amazing.
Load More Replies...
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 3 years ago
You'll find some of the memorials and whatnot here, they're in the former republic of Yugoslavia and that area https://www.spomenikdatabase.org/
David Paterson 3 years ago
Concrete is an amazing material. It's amazingly shapeable into any shape. And all around the world all our skyscraper cores are made of concrete. In the West we clad that in expensive frippery. In former Soviet countries they skip the frippery, but the concrete really could do with a coat of paint.
astral slug (he/she/they) 3 years ago
So many of these are Serbian?? I finally understand why Marina Abramovic went a bit kookoo (no offense, I love her and her work). Also, every song that Konstrakta has ever recorded makes a lot more sense. Love y'all but you will never catch me in or near Belgrade unless I'm at a Zemlja Gruva show.
Mila Preradović 3 years ago
Don't let it mislead you, Belgrade is beyond beatiful and amazing.
Load More Replies... Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 3 years ago
You'll find some of the memorials and whatnot here, they're in the former republic of Yugoslavia and that area https://www.spomenikdatabase.org/
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