From Amazing To Downright Scary, These 50 Design And Architecture Decisions Are Far From Boring
Socialist Modernism is an online initiative created by the Bureau for Art and Urban Research (BACU) to protect the monumental but decaying structures of central and eastern Europe erected between 1955-91.
"We aim to revitalize this heritage not only for symbolic reasons but because we believe in these elements that managed to defy some of the ideological requirements, giving the urban space a certain flavor so characteristic of those times," says Dumitru Rusu of BACU. "Boulevards, public buildings, living units, and monuments, they all are a clear reflection of the social and cultural context of the socialist period."
In the first phase of the project, BACU is documenting the architecture from the Eastern Bloc — it has mapped these socialist modernist buildings and monuments online in a community-driven tool, hoping to build a comprehensive database as well as create awareness and promote a desire to preserve them. The second phase aims to develop regulations for protection.
Overall, the project is an inspiring example of how preserving the past can also enrich the present.
More info: socialistmodernism.com | Instagram | Facebook
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Monument To The Conquerors Of Space Moscow, 1964
”electrification”, Stainless Steel Sculpture, Vidraru Dam 1971. Arges County, Romania
The Monument To 1300 Years Of Bulgaria
That's Prince Boris I https://www.kathmanduandbeyond.com/monument-founders-bulgarian-state-shumen-bulgaria-2/
The National "Khabar" Television Studios And Administrative Offices. Almaty, Kazakhstan, Built In 1983
The building is called "Sosulka" (meaning icicle) in the urban language due to the prefabricated elements hanging from the roof, these being created in the spirit of Islamic architecture.
Bus Stop No 37, Network Of Bus Stations, Tajikistan. Built In The Late 70s
Housing Building On Bobur Street. Tashkent, Uzbekistan Built In 1974
Slovak Radio Building, Bratislava, Slovakia, Built Between 1967-1983
Former Ministry Of Transportation, (Now: Bank Of Georgia) Tbilisi, Georgia, Built In 1974
The Former Wedding Cathedral, (It Was Used As A Private House, Now Event Place) Tbilisi, Georgia, Built In 1985
Monument To The Revolution Of The People Of Moslavina - World War II Memorial. Podgarić, Croatia Unveiled In 1967
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
The Monument To Yu.gagarin Moscow. Russia
Canteen For The House Of Recreation For The Writers’ Union Of Armenia Sevan Lake, Armenia, Built In 1967
Bas Relief Sculptural Frieze On The Facade Of The Institute Of Communications. Yerevan, Armenia. (70s)
The Hall For Lectures And Cinema Of The Institute Of Scientific And Technical Information, (Aka “Kyiv Flying Saucer”) Kyiv, Ukraine. Built In 1971
Cafesjian Art Museum - Cascade, Yerevan, Armenia. Design 1975-1980 Built 1985-2000
Nstitute Of Robotics And Technical Cybernetics, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Built Between 1973-1986
Monument On Freedom Hill By Janez Lenassi In Ilirska Bistrica, Republic Of Slovenia, 1965
Sports And Concert Complex, Aka Hamalir Yerevan, Armenia Built Between 1976-84
Military Medical Academy Complex, Banjica, Belgrade, Serbia, Designed In 1973, Built In 1981
The Monument To Yuri Gagarin Is Located On Gagarin Square In Moscow, Russia - It Was Unveiled On July 4, 1980
Experimental Residential Building In Bratislava, Slovakia, Built Between 1968-74 Architect Štefan Svetko With J. Hauskrecht
Block Of Flats, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Built In The 80s Architect Victor Breusenko
Ilinden / Makedonium - A Monument Dedicated To The Fighters And Revolutionaries Who Participated In The Ilinden Uprising Of 1903
As well as soldiers-partisans of the Macedonia National Liberation Struggle 1941-1944.
Kruševo, North Macedonia
Built in 1974
Nova Scena Theatre, Prague, Czech Republic. Built Between 1977-1983, Architect Karel Prager
Bridge Of The Slovak National Uprising, Bratislava, Slovakia, Built Between 1967-1972
Concrete Toboggan Slide - Playground Floreasca. Floreasca Development. Bucharest, Romania. Built In 1959-1960
It looks to me like the "Toboggan of Death" for parents who don't much care for their children.
Hotel Salyut. Kyiv, Ukraine. Built Between 1976-1982
One Of The Two Halls Of Parting, Memory Park (Kyiv/Kiev) Ukraine. Built 1968–1981
Few Of The Many Imposing Statues Located In The Center Of The Monument To 1300 Years Of Bulgaria
House Of Fashion, Belarus, Minsk, Built In 60's-70's
The Former Memorial House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party, (Buzludzha Monument), Shipka Pass, Bulgaria, Built In 1981
Seems to be located in the middle of nowhere. And in urgent need of repair
Pearl Cafe, (Now Mirvari Cafe) Baku, Azerbaijan Built In 1961
Palace Of Weddings, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Built In 1987
Very symmetrical except for the sign above the door. They should have used a palindrome!
Memorial Monument "The Defenders Of Stara Zagora" 1977. Chadir Moghila, Stara Zagora County, Bulgaria
There’s a lot of symbolism in there. Too much for people who don’t know the history associated with it.
Monument To The Uprising Of The People Of Kordun And Banija / Spomenik Ustanku Naroda Banije I Korduna Petrovac, Petrova Gora, Croatia Unveiled In 1981
Hotel “Cosmos" Moscow, Russia, Built In 1979
To that panda who wanted to drive up the monument: in Night Watch movie (2004) a car races on this curve wall.
Bus Stop No.12, Network Of Bus Stations, Near Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Built In The Late 70s
Not much protection from the elements for the people waiting for the bus
Haludovo Resort, Malinska, Croatia, Built In 1972
Lviv Bus Terminal Stryiska 109, Lviv, Ukraine Built In 1980
Biotürme, Part Of Former Lauchhammer Coking Plant, (Decontamination Towers/Gdr-Heavy Industry.) Lauchhammer, 1957
A coking plant? Is this some kinda holocaust building? Gotta go Google coking. I just imagine pounds of cocaine
Coke is coal which has been heated in the absence of oxygen, driving off impurities and leaving a more consistent product which is important for reducing iron oxides into metallic iron during the smelting process.
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East Germany was behind the iron curtain. Remember that whole wall fiasco?
Load More Replies...Apartment Building On Karowa Street, Warsaw, Poland Built In 1978
Ferant Garden Residential Quarter Ljubljana, Slovenia, Built In 1975
Pantheon To The Heroes In The Serbo-Bulgarian War, Gurgulyat, Bulgaria, Built In 1985
Museum Of The Slovak National Uprising, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Built In 1969
The Former Memorial House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party, (Buzludzha Monument), Shipka Pass, Bulgaria, Built In 1981
Cafe In A Railway Station - Pkp Warszawa Powiśle, (Former Ticket Booth) And Main Entrance From The Puma Building; Warsaw, Poland, Designed And Built Between 1954-1963, Architects Arseniusz Romanowicz, Piotr Szymaniak
Eastern Gate Of Belgrade, Rudo Buildings, (Istočne Kapije) Belgrade, Serbia, Built In 1976, Architect: Vera Ćirković Engineer: Milutin Jerotijević
University Of Wroclaw, Building Of The Faculty Of Mathematics And Computer Science - Facade From The Odra River, With A Mosaic By Anna Szpakowska-Kujawska. 1971. Wroclaw, Poland
Note: this post originally had 145 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Yes, which is found all over the world during this time period, not just Eastern Block countries.
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Some interesting (futuristic) architecture in these posts... Shame that many of the buildings and structures have been poorly maintained (or stopped being maintained altogether).
I was thinking the same thing! So many interesting designs but most look completely abandoned, and those clearly still in use look filthy if they're not also crumbling :(
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It's like they used all of their creativity on these building and therefore had to build the depressing concrete slabs to House the people
The soviets razed entire villages and city blocks to erase all traces of national history and culture in a bid to create the fever dream of the soviet union. Then replaced with housing projects that look exactly the same no matter where in the former satellite states you go. Soulless concrete monstrosities, built on the backs of hundreds of thousands of displaced people and the millions who have been killed or disappeared without a trace.
Load More Replies... Not many blue skies or sunny days to show off these pieces. Shame that concrete and steel don't come in more colors. These could be incredibly beautiful. Shades of gray emphasize the bland. If these were anything less than monumental structures, they would be invisible.
They certainly had a lot of imagination in the Soviet bloc - curious, given that they were all indoctrinated to think the same. Perhaps this was their only creative outlet.
This one's my fave. It's massive. Still stands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_and_Kolkhoz_Woman
I'm from the eastern part of Germany, some of the structures feel strangely familiar. But today there isn't much left of the brutalist architecture and monuments in our cities.
These were cool. And I now have the locations to shoot my indie sci-fi/fantasy movie!
Interesting examples, but many of them are not located in eastern Europe, as I mention few times.
You know the former Soviet Union and Eastern Block countries extended well into Asia, right?
Load More Replies... They weren't afraid to push the limits of the possible. Very aggressive style of monumental building, ugly but impressive
Most of the buildings here are located at East Europe, what does this imply?
Wicked architecture! Reminds me of dystopia futuristic sci-fi art from the 70's. So cool!
Several of these are war memorials, known collectively as " Sponeniks". You'll find the database here : https://www.spomenikdatabase.org/ they're in various states ranging from well kept to completely destroyed.
Yes, which is found all over the world during this time period, not just Eastern Block countries.
Load More Replies... Some interesting (futuristic) architecture in these posts... Shame that many of the buildings and structures have been poorly maintained (or stopped being maintained altogether).
I was thinking the same thing! So many interesting designs but most look completely abandoned, and those clearly still in use look filthy if they're not also crumbling :(
Load More Replies... It's like they used all of their creativity on these building and therefore had to build the depressing concrete slabs to House the people
The soviets razed entire villages and city blocks to erase all traces of national history and culture in a bid to create the fever dream of the soviet union. Then replaced with housing projects that look exactly the same no matter where in the former satellite states you go. Soulless concrete monstrosities, built on the backs of hundreds of thousands of displaced people and the millions who have been killed or disappeared without a trace.
Load More Replies... Not many blue skies or sunny days to show off these pieces. Shame that concrete and steel don't come in more colors. These could be incredibly beautiful. Shades of gray emphasize the bland. If these were anything less than monumental structures, they would be invisible.
They certainly had a lot of imagination in the Soviet bloc - curious, given that they were all indoctrinated to think the same. Perhaps this was their only creative outlet.
This one's my fave. It's massive. Still stands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_and_Kolkhoz_Woman
I'm from the eastern part of Germany, some of the structures feel strangely familiar. But today there isn't much left of the brutalist architecture and monuments in our cities.
These were cool. And I now have the locations to shoot my indie sci-fi/fantasy movie!
Interesting examples, but many of them are not located in eastern Europe, as I mention few times.
You know the former Soviet Union and Eastern Block countries extended well into Asia, right?
Load More Replies... They weren't afraid to push the limits of the possible. Very aggressive style of monumental building, ugly but impressive
Most of the buildings here are located at East Europe, what does this imply?
Wicked architecture! Reminds me of dystopia futuristic sci-fi art from the 70's. So cool!
Several of these are war memorials, known collectively as " Sponeniks". You'll find the database here : https://www.spomenikdatabase.org/ they're in various states ranging from well kept to completely destroyed.
