“Stalin buildings” are the name given to houses built in the USSR from 1935 to 1960. These buildings owe their nickname, of course, to I.V. Stalin, during whose reign they were founded. Outstanding examples of Stalinist architecture can be observed in many cities: St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Krasnoyarsk, Nizhny Novgorod, etc. These lines will tell about seven of perhaps the most outstanding examples architecture of this period. I present to your attention seven famous Stalinist skyscrapers in Moscow:

The main building of Moscow State University on Vorobyovy Gory

Address: Vorobyovy Gory, Main building of Moscow State University. Nearest metro station: "University".

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 12, 1949. On September 1, 1953, the building began training sessions. Height - 182 m, with a spire - 240 m, number of storeys in the central building - 36. Base height above sea level - 194 m. For 37 years, until the construction of the Messeturm in Frankfurt in 1990, the Main Building of Moscow State University was the tallest building in Europe.

Address: Kotelnicheskaya embankment, building 1/15. Nearest metro station: Taganskaya.

The house, which closes the perspective from the Kremlin to the mouth of the Yauza, was built in 1938-1940, 1948-1952. The central volume has 26 floors (32 including technical floors) and has a height of 176 m. The high-rise contains 540 apartments, of which 336 two-room, 173 three-room, 18 four-room and 13 one-room apartments.

Hotel "Ukraine"

Address: Kutuzovsky Prospekt, house 2/1. Nearest metro station: Kievskaya.

The hotel is located at the intersection of Kutuzovsky Prospect and New Arbat. The hotel building is located opposite the White House. The second tallest “high-rise” was built in 1953-1957. It received the name “Ukraine” in honor of the homeland of the next Secretary General Khrushchev; under Stalin it was supposed to be called simply - the Hotel Building in Dorogomilov. The building opens with Kutuzovsky Prospekt, created in 1957. Modern official name- Radisson Royal (Radisson-Moskovskaya). The central volume of the building includes 34 floors; total area more than 88 thousand m?, height - 206 m, including a 73-meter spire.

The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Address: Smolenskaya-Sennaya st., building 32. Nearest metro station: Smolenskaya.

The building was built in 1948-1953. The central volume includes 27 floors, the height of the building is 172 m. The building completes the panorama from the Borodino Bridge, forming a square. The building houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Russian Federation(Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia). Characteristic feature The high-rise building has a huge coat of arms of the USSR on its façade.

The original design of the building did not have a spire, but the plan was subsequently finalized. Calculations showed that the building would not support the stone superstructure, so the spire was built from sheet steel and painted with ocher (so it was noticeable that the color of the spire differed from the color of the building's trim). Currently, the spire has been repainted and practically does not differ in color from the main volume of the building. The Foreign Ministry building is the only one of the seven high-rise buildings whose spire is not topped with a five-pointed star. Probable cause This is because the spire of the building turned out to be very fragile and could not withstand the weight of the star.

Address: Kudrinskaya Square, building 1. Nearest metro stations: Barrikadnaya, Krasnopresnenskaya.

Built in 1948-1954. The building consists of a central (24 floors, height with tower and spire - 156 meters) and side buildings (18 residential floors each), constituting a single structural array resting on a common ground floor. In total there are over 450 apartments in the building. The technical floors of the side buildings were subsequently modernized and turned into residential ones. They can be reached by stairs, rising from the entrance, or through open passages from the central tower. There are from 4 to 8 apartments on each floor, the lobbies are richly decorated (mirrors, chandeliers) and can be locked, isolating the floor from the stairs and the elevator landing (in fact, each floor is divided by the elevator zone into two lobbies).

Address: Sadovaya-Spasskaya street, building 21. Nearest metro station: “Red Gate”.

It was built from 1947 to 1952. The building consists of a 24-story central building, and two residential buildings of different heights (from 11 to 15 floors). In the right wing of the building there is one of the two vestibules of the Krasnye Vorota metro station, facing Kalanchevskaya Street.

Hotel "Leningradskaya".

Address: Kalanchevskaya street, building 21/40. Nearest metro station: Komsomolskaya.

One of the most famous hotels in Moscow, located near Komsomolskaya Square in a 17-story building. The building was built in 1949-1954. Forms an organic whole with the ensemble of Komsomolskaya Square. Among other “high-rise buildings” it stands out for its modest height (only 136 meters) and the sophistication of its exterior and interior decoration. Along with white ceramic tiles, red glazed ceramics were used in the decoration of the façade. The ribs and emblem of the octagonal spire, the rosettes between the pylons and the balls on the obelisks are covered with gold. The impressive Leningradskaya tower rises on Komsomolskaya Square, next to three stations - Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky and Kazansky. Several years ago, the hotel was acquired by the owner of the world's most famous hotel chain, Hilton, after which its building underwent a major overhaul. So, instead of the Leningradskaya Hotel, the luxury Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya Hotel / Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya appeared. Residents of the capital, out of habit, call it the Leningrad Hotel.

There is at least one low-lying place in Moscow from where you can see 4 of the 7 high-rise buildings (the Ukraina Hotel, a residential building on Kudrinskaya Square, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the main building of Moscow State University) - this is Free Russia Square (from the Sparrow Hills you can see all 7).

It is believed that almost all “seven sisters” have older brother counterparts on the American continent. This is how the Manhattan Municipal Building is read at Moscow State University, the Wrigley Building in the house on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, the house on Kudrinskaya Square is suspiciously similar to the Terminal Tower, the Leningradskaya Hotel is similar to the United States Courthouse, and the Woolworth Building from some angles is indistinguishable from the Foreign Ministry building.

/?php _e("Categories:"); ?> /?php the_category(", ") ?> /?php _e("Author"); ?> /?php the_author(); ?>
/?php comments_popup_link("No comments »", "1 comment »", "% comments »"); ?>

The world-famous ensemble of seven high-rise buildings in the capital is not only an architectural masterpiece, called the “Stalin Empire style,” but also one of the main symbols of the city. The ZagraNitsa portal will tell you a few interesting facts about monumental buildings

All the “sisters” were founded on the same day - September 7, 1947, when the 800th anniversary of Moscow was celebrated. True, they initially planned to build eight buildings. The best architects of the USSR worked on the creation of a grandiose creation.

The same eighth high-rise building that was never destined to grow is an administrative building in Zaryadye. Its construction was stopped due to the death of Stalin in 1953. And 10 years later, the Rossiya Hotel arose in its place.

The appearance of the capital's high-rise buildings was influenced by American skyscrapers of the 1910-1930s. However, Soviet architects were faced with the task of erecting high-rise buildings that were different from Western ones (since they were supposed to embody Stalin’s idea of ​​​​superiority Soviet Union over all capitalist countries). The architects coped with the task with a bang, resulting in an original architectural style, which came to be called “Stalinist Empire” or “Soviet monumental classicism”.

Photo: kartinki24.ru 4

All seven Moscow high-rise buildings were built according to the principle of a pyramid, or the so-called wedding cake, which helped to visually increase the height of the buildings.

According to the original project, the tallest building was supposed to rise 32 floors. However, during construction, all high-rise buildings became even higher. Thus, Moscow State University grew by 36 floors, and the Leningradskaya Hotel - by 26 (while in the project it was only 16 floors).

Photo: birdseyeview.ru 6

The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not only added 11 floors, but also received a spire that was missing in the original design. It is interesting that after Stalin’s death, the high-rise architect Mikhail Minkus turned to Khrushchev to order the removal of the spire, since it was not in the original project. However, there is a legend that Nikita Sergeevich refused the architect’s request, deciding that the spire would serve as a “monument to the great stupidity of Comrade Stalin.”

And the building, within the walls of which today the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov is located, was initially supposed to become a hotel.

The fountains at the Moscow State University high-rise are part of the building's air intake system. For this reason it is practically impossible to find around tall trees- there’s just a concrete slab lying under the square. Even more interesting facts You can read about this Stalinist skyscraper in the article.

Photo: shutterstock.com 9

Hotel "Leningradskaya" is the lowest of the "seven sisters". But its small height relative to its “relatives” is completely compensated by its luxurious interior in the Moscow Baroque style.

Hotel "Ukraine" was first supposed to grow in the area of ​​the Dynamo metro station. It is also a residential building: in the side buildings of the high-rise there are apartments, while in the central part there is a five-star hotel.

Photo: shutterstock.com 11

The residential building on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, which today is perceived as a single building, was built in stages: by 1940, one wing appeared, which is an independent building; after the war, they built another one on Podgorskaya embankment and combined it with the first one, building a tower with a spire over them.

The high-rise building on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment has a record among the “sisters”: it has appeared in films more than others.

Photo: Sergey Ershov 13

There are rumors that government bunkers were located under Stalin's high-rise buildings. In reality, there were only bomb shelters there. One of them, located under the building on Kudrinskaya Square, has an area larger than the high-rise building itself.

The residential building on Kudrinskaya Square was nicknamed “the house of aviators” for a reason. At one time, in addition to actors and high-ranking officials the apartments there were occupied by masters of “heavenly” professions: aircraft designers, test pilots and cosmonauts.

The high-rise building on Red Gate Square was erected at an angle, as part of it overhung the pit that was dug for the construction of the metro lobby. The soil had to be frozen to a depth of 27 meters to maintain the slope. At the end of the work, the soil thawed, allowing the high-rise to take a vertical position.

Photo: panoramio.com 16

Imagine - the garbage disposal in residential buildings was located right in the kitchen! Many modern residents wall up its door due to difficulties with cleaning.

The Polish Palace of Culture and Science, as well as the building of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, were built in the image of the famous Stalinist skyscrapers. Therefore, locals sometimes call them “Soviet gifts.”

The Triumph Palace residential complex in the Khoroshevsky district is very similar in appearance to the style in which the “seven sisters” were built. However, it has nothing to do with Stalin’s skyscrapers and was built already in 2005.

Photo: lux-estate.ru

Historical data suggests that Stalin initially conceived 8 high-rise buildings, which were supposed to demonstrate to the whole world how majestic the Soviet Union was. The location of the houses was planned to be special; it was supposed to resemble a perimeter Egyptian pyramids and serve to accumulate energy flows. As a result, 7 high-rise buildings were erected, which still stand proudly in the center of the capital. These buildings have become an architectural legend of Soviet times; they are shrouded in many secrets and legends.

Stalin's skyscrapers amaze with their beauty; they are monumental buildings capable of bewitching with their power and grandeur. The laying of the foundations of all the high-rise buildings took place on one day, this happened on September 7, when the capital celebrated its 800th anniversary. It is known that the high-rise buildings were supposed to be surrounded by an even more majestic building - the Palace of the Soviets.

It was planned to build a huge palace, which would include a hundred-meter figure of Lenin. The height of the building was supposed to be 420 meters including the figure. But the war interfered with the plans, the structure was dismantled. Metal structures were used for other needs.

Stalin's skyscrapers - style of architecture

When high-rise projects were developed, the architects took into account the tastes of Stalin himself. It is known that he loved the Gothic style, which is why all the buildings were crowned with gabled finishing. At first there were no spiers in the projects, then they were added according to the instructions of the management. The architecture can be traced to ancient Roman aesthetics, classical elements, and Russian architectural motifs characteristic of the 16th and 17th centuries. It must be said that the characteristic architectural traditions of the capital are visible in the silhouette of the high-rise buildings. They are visible in the towers of the Kremlin, in the bell tower of the monastery called Novodevichy, a slender vertical, which is inherent in the bell tower of Ivan the Great.

Stalin's skyscrapers in Moscow - where are they located?

The first high-rise building is a house on Kotelnicheskaya

The house of art workers was built according to the design of a famous architect named Chechulin. The house is located in a cozy and sufficient beautiful place- on Kotelnicheskaya embankment. The building has 32 floors and is designed in the Stalinist Empire style. The house was conceived as a starting point for all other streets that lead to the river. The house was attached to the house of the security officers. This complex has 700 apartments.

The second high-rise - the house at the Red Gate

The house was built on a high point on the Garden Ring. The height of the building is 138 meters. Nearby there is a metro station called Krasnye Vorota. Architects of this project became Mezentsev and Dushkin. The house was originally intended for workers of the Ministry of Transport Engineering. Today, the building houses not only the above ministry, but also many of the most different organizations, including a currency exchange, bank, restaurant, shops, Transstroy corporation.

The third high-rise building is a hotel called “Leningradskaya”

The building fits perfectly into the ensemble of the square on which it is located. Near the metro stations "Krasnye Vorota" and "Kalanchevskaya". The hotel is famous in the capital. The exterior decoration of this high-rise building is more elegant; it includes architectural elements characteristic of temples.

The fourth skyscraper is the House of Aviators

The high-rise building is located on Kudrinskaya Square, it is located near the metro station called Barrikadnaya. The ensemble consists of a central building and side ones. The central building has 24 floors, the side buildings have 18 floors. Employees of the aviation industry, test pilots, and astronauts received apartments in the high-rise building.

Fifth skyscraper – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The building houses three ministries, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Relations and Trade. There are 28 elevators in the building, 18 of which are high-speed elevators. It must be said that this is the only high-rise building without a star on its spire. Stalin was supposed to stand on the spire, but the design of the spire could create a serious load, so it was replaced with a lightweight one.

The sixth high-rise is a hotel called “Ukraine”

The building is located on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, next to the Kievskaya metro station. Two thousand specialists developed a variety of details of the structure. The building has a spire 73 meters high. The perfection of the building's composition is amazing. The hotel opened in 1957, the side buildings were given over to residential buildings.

The seventh skyscraper – Moscow State University

The MSU building opened its doors in 1953. It is located on the Sparrow Hills. Vera Mukhina was involved in the design of the facades, as well as the creation of various sculptures. The building was designed by a group of architects led by Rudnev. Luxury interior decoration in this building is amazing. The stairs are made of marble, the decorative elements resemble those of a palace.

Stalinist high-rise buildings in Moscow - how many pieces (addresses)

1. House on Kotelnicheskaya. Kotelnicheskaya embankment, building 1, fraction 15.

2. “Red Gate”, Sadovaya-Spasskaya, building 21.

3. Hotel Leningradskaya, Kalanchevskaya, building 21, fraction 40.

4. Hotel Ukraine, avenue called Kutuzovsky, building 2.

5. Residential building. Kudrinskaya square, house 7.

6. Moscow State University building, Vorobyovy Gory, building 1.

7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square, building 32, fraction 34.

If you want to visit the famous Stalinist skyscrapers on a tour, it will be very convenient to stay at the Romashka hostel, located in close proximity to the main attractions of the capital. This hostel provides high level safety and comfort. The cozy and friendly atmosphere will not leave you indifferent.

Moscow's eight hundredth anniversary came during the difficult post-war period. The country was just beginning to recover after the fascist invasion. However, it was on this day that the construction of Stalinist high-rise buildings in Moscow began.

Laying the foundations

In 1947, the USSR Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on the construction of eight high-rise buildings in Moscow. Of course, this decree was issued with the approval and even, possibly, on the initiative of Stalin.

The laying of the foundations took place simultaneously, on the same day, on the day of the capital's anniversary celebration - September 7. An hour earlier, a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow, was laid on Sovetskaya Square. There is no doubt that these events were intended to indicate that, just as Yuri Dolgoruky once laid the foundation for the Russian capital, so on the day of its 800th anniversary he blesses it for a new significant, one might say, epoch-making period in its history .

Stalin's skyscrapers in Moscow were planned as the personification of power huge country and everything Soviet people. By the way, they were also built in some other cities of the Soviet Union and socialist countries.

Grandiose idea

According to some reports, the original idea for the construction of high-rise buildings in Moscow was even more ambitious. Eight high-rise buildings were to become a worthy environment for an even more impressive structure - the Palace of the Soviets, crowned with the monumental figure of the leader of the proletariat - V.I. Lenin. However, the project was not destined to come true.

Although he had made a start. Moreover, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was demolished, on the site of which the construction of the Palace of the Soviets began.

A team of architects led by B.M. worked on the project. Iofan.

The monumentality of the designed building was evidenced by the fact that only the internal volume of the palace could accommodate three. The figure of Lenin was supposed to reach 100 meters. And the total height of the Palace of Soviets together with the monument was planned to be 420 meters. At that time, there were no taller buildings in the world.

Construction began in 1937. Before the war, they even managed to construct the foundation of the building from metal structures the height of a ten-story building. However, the war not only interrupted construction, but also forced the metal structures to be dismantled and used for the construction of facilities more necessary for the defense of the capital: bridges and barrier structures.

It was never possible to complete the monumental object. In its foundation for a long time a swimming pool functioned, and in the 1990s the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was restored on this site.

But Stalin's skyscrapers were still erected in Moscow.

Tallest skyscraper

The tallest Stalinist skyscraper was built on Sparrow Hills - the main building of Moscow State University. It was built over four years, from 1949 to 1953. Architects who worked on the project: S.E. Chernyshev, L.V. Rudnev, P.V. Abrosimov, V.V. Nasonov and A.F. Khryakov.

There is information that 40 thousand tons of steel were needed to construct the building’s frame, and 175 million bricks for the walls. The weight of the star installed on the spire of the high-rise building is about 12 tons.

The height of the main building of Moscow State University reaches 236 meters, the building has 36 floors. 68 elevators and express cabins were manufactured for it.

Many prisoners worked on the construction of the high-rise building, who were promised early release when the building was completed. For the construction workers to live near the site, the Solntsevo settlement was organized. Now it has become one of the districts of the capital.

In the post-Soviet era, Stalin's high-rise buildings in Moscow are growing like mushrooms with implausible stories: mysticism in them prevails over reality. For example, they talk about secret corridors leading to each living room and built in order to eavesdrop on people's conversations. And there were legends about the building of Moscow State University that it goes underground as much as it rises above the ground. It was planned to place a center in its basement building missile defense capitals.

"House of Aviators"

Stalin's skyscrapers in Moscow were built in different areas of the capital. Thus, a high-rise residential building rose on Vosstaniya Square. Once upon a time, the village of Kudrino was located in its place. Now the square has returned its old name - Kudrinskaya.

Construction of the high-rise began in 1948 and ended in 1954. Its height was 156 meters. The building had 24 floors (in the central part), the side extensions consisted of 18 floors. The building was designed for 450 apartments.

The building was designed by architects A.A. Mndoyants and M.V. Posokhin.

For the post-war era, this residential building was truly luxurious: high-speed elevators, spacious lobbies, rooms with high ceilings... Apartments in this high-rise building went to workers in the aviation industry, namely test pilots, cosmonauts, and aircraft designers, so it was nicknamed “The Aviator’s House.” However, both party workers and actors lived here.

The house also housed a store, a cinema, underground garages and much more.

High-rise without a star

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building was built according to the design of architects M.A. Minkus and V.G. Gelfreich. It opened seven Stalinist skyscrapers in Moscow, since it was erected first. The building rose 172 meters and consisted of 27 floors equipped with 28 elevators, most of which were high-speed.

In the original plan, the first building did not have a spire. However, Stalin did not like it in this form. And, as the legend says, he gave instructions to urgently complete it. There were some difficulties associated with this, primarily due to the additional load. Therefore, the spire was installed to a large extent decorative, made of steel sheets. Naturally, there was no question of any star (the spire would no longer withstand). Therefore, the USSR coat of arms was erected on the building at an altitude of 114 meters.

By the way, today in the Stalinist high-rise building there is not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade of the Russian Federation.

The second highest is “Ukraine”

Construction of the building began in 1953 and was completed in 1957, already under Khrushchev. However, initially a hotel was planned there. But Khrushchev chose a different name for it. After all, Ukraine is his homeland.

The building was built according to the design of architects A.G. Mordvinova and V.K. Oltarzhevsky on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. The height without the spire reaches 198 meters, the spire adds another 8 meters. The high-rise has 34 floors.

A tour of the Stalinist skyscrapers of Moscow, of course, will not bypass “Ukraine”. If only because it contains a diorama, or a model of Moscow in 1977. It was made for the National Exhibition in America, and was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The diorama is very skillfully made and represents historical center Moscow almost thoroughly.

The hotel from 2005 to 2010 underwent serious major renovation, it was made by new owners. After this, the hotel became known as the RadissonRoyalHotel.

House of Creative Intelligentsia

Construction of the house began before the war (1938-1940), and ended in 1952. Architects - A.K. Rostkovsky and D.N. Chechulin.

The building had 32 floors and its height reached 176 meters. It was decorated with turrets and sculptural groups. It was located in a very beautiful place - at the confluence of the Moscow River and the Yauza River.

It is not news that Stalin's high-rise buildings in Moscow were partially built by prisoners. There has already been talk about the Moscow State University building. The house on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment was also built by “convicts”.

Perhaps, according to the government's plan, the building should have had a different purpose. There are also various legends about this. However, after construction, the house was given to the creative intelligentsia. IN different times Evgeny Yevtushenko, Galina Ulanova, Andrei Voznesensky, Faina Ranevskaya, Lyudmila Zykina, Nona Mordyukova and many others lived there famous personalities. So the house was elite.

On the ground floor there was a post office, a bakery, and a cinema.

At the very top of the Garden Ring

Since this Stalinist high-rise building was built at the highest point of the Garden Ring, despite its smaller size compared to other buildings, it looks very impressive and is visually not inferior to others.

The building was built according to the design of architects B.S. Mezentsev and A.N. Dushkina. It was an administrative residential building 138 meters high. It was crowned with a tiered tent.

The construction of a high-rise building on Red Gate Square was fraught with some difficulties. The deepest metro station was also being built there, and one wing of the building was supposed to be located above the station. It wasn't easy for the architects. But they did everything as needed, using brilliant ideas: freezing the pit, and erecting the building at an angle (when the pit defrosted, the building leveled out).

The administrative building was occupied by the Ministry of Transport Engineering. Now the offices of the Transstroy corporation are located there. Mikhail Lermontov was born in a residential building that was located on the site of a Stalinist high-rise building.

The most “miniature” is the Leningradskaya Hotel

All the Stalinist skyscrapers in Moscow deserve interesting stories. Their photos can also decorate any album.

The Leningradskaya Hotel is inferior in height (136 meters) to other high-rise buildings, but surpasses all others in interior decoration. It combines elements of ancient Russian architecture and temple architecture. Rare types of stone, huge crystal chandeliers, a relief depicting St. George the Victorious, forged doors, sculptures were used for the interior... The architects of the building were L.M. Polyakov and A.B. Boretsky.

Special excursions are organized to the hotel, which is now called the Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya.

The hotel is located next to Komsomolskaya Square, it is also called the “Square of Three Stations” (Kazansky, Yaroslavsky and Leningradsky).

It is not necessary to know the exact addresses of Stalin's skyscrapers in Moscow. Landmarks can be: Sparrow Hills, Kudrinskaya Square, Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, Kutuzovsky Prospekt, Red Gate Square, Kalanchevskaya Street and Arbat.

Was there an eighth skyscraper?

On the anniversary day of Moscow, 8 buildings were laid. The administrative building that was planned to be built in Zaryadye (architect Dmitry Chechurin) did not have time to be erected. By 1953, only the stylobate was ready.

After Stalin's death, the construction site was mothballed. Later, in the 60s, the Rossiya Hotel was built in its place, which was then demolished.

So how many Stalinist skyscrapers are there in Moscow? Seven. And each of them deserves special attention. After all, this is the history of the capital.

One of the most impressive projects in the entire practice of Soviet architecture can rightly be called the construction of the “Stalin skyscrapers” - seven of the eight designed structures crowned Moscow. An architectural manifesto for the world - a statement of power, strength, significance and unquestioned authority Soviet power– got its start on January 13, 1947. Then the Council of Ministers signed a resolution “On the construction of multi-storey buildings in Moscow.” In September of the same year, eight foundations were simultaneously laid for future high-rise buildings - according to the number of centuries of Moscow's existence.

There was no experience in high-rise construction in the Soviet Union at that time. Except for the only project (the progenitor of future high-rises) - the building of the Palace of Soviets, designed by the architect Dushkov in Zaryadye. The monumental structure according to the project was 420 m in height and was crowned with a statue of V.I. Lenin (for scale – index finger Lenin was six meters long). The palace was never completed - construction was frozen after Stalin's death.

A little about the origin of Stalin's skyscrapers:

Fast forward one hundred and fifty years ago to New York. Fellow Otis installed the first elevator in a five-story building on Broadway in 1857. The elevator is still working.

Elevators inspired the idea of ​​building taller buildings. After the invention of steel frames, things took off. This beautiful building of 1884 in Chicago is considered the first skyscraper (at first it was 10 floors high):

At that time it was still impossible to say where real estate in the 21st century would be more expensive - in New York or Chicago, so they rushed to build skyscrapers in both places.

New York style was like this (1900):

People began to complain that the skyscrapers made the streets dark even during the day. They complained, complained, complained, complained, until in 1914 the capitalists built a 40-story office building the size of a block.

The people finally howled, so in 1916 it was necessary to introduce a ban on the construction of large flat surfaces, and instead it was ordered that all skyscrapers be built with ledges (setbacks). Thus, a compromise was found between dense and high buildings and sunlight and air on the streets.

Without ledges:

With ledges:

In 1914, the building for municipal services in a neoclassical style was completed.

Comrade Stalin, when he saw this building, fell in love with it at first sight. Constructivism, avant-garde, art deco (which did not have time to reach the USSR) were rejected by the leader of the peoples. Instead, all architects had to study the Municipal Building and learn to do the same.
In 1937, a team of Soviet architects went to New York to learn from the experience of American skyscraper builders.
It’s unlikely that even a single Soviet person knew why Stalinist architecture was the way it was. And where did she get the ledges from?
After the war, it was necessary to build new buildings that would instill confidence in Soviet man. By the way, after the war and before Stalin’s death, it was forbidden to build residential buildings below eight floors in Moscow.
Apart from the high-rise buildings, other Stalin-era buildings were built in the same spirit as the neoclassical New York buildings.
Similar buildings later appeared in Riga, Kyiv, and Warsaw.

In 1961, the city planning law in New York was changed, requiring that instead of ledges, the top and first floors be provided to the public for observation decks and restaurants.
And nothing more beautiful has been built in Moscow since then.

Appearance New York skyscrapers in 1930:

Implementation stages:

The tallest building of this large-scale project was the main building of MSU (Moscow State University) state university) on Vorobyovy Gory. It has 36 floors (240 m including the spire). The central block houses faculties, an assembly hall for 1500 people, a museum, scientific library. In the side buildings there is a dormitory for students and apartments for teaching staff. Initially, the building was designed as a large residential complex. The decision that the country's main university would be built instead on Vorobyov was made personally by Stalin.
It was built in 1949-1953 by architects L.V. Rudnev, S.E. Chernyshev and others).

The building is the center of a huge complex of Moscow University, which initially consisted of 27 buildings.
The Main Building houses the faculties of mechanics, mathematics, geology and geography, administration, scientific library, museum, and assembly hall for 1,500 people. In the side wings there is a residential area (dormitory for students, apartments for teaching staff). Like other high-rise buildings of an administrative and residential nature, it was conceived as a house with a closed public utility infrastructure (cinema, post office, consumer services, etc.)
The original design of the building did not have a spire; instead, a monument to Lomonosov should have been placed on the roof. The architects, showing the drawings to Stalin, hinted that the sculpture could receive a portrait resemblance to the leader. However, he ordered the construction of a spire instead of the statue, so that the upper part of the Moscow State University building would be similar to the other seven high-rise buildings being built in the capital.

The building is also shrouded in several legends, that supposedly there is a bunker nearby where one can hide in case nuclear war party elite, that the area near the building is “phoning” because of what was previously there nuclear reactor etc. One way or another, today MSU is one of the most important universities in the Russian Federation.
And the monument to Lomonosov was installed on the side of the main building. Now it is temporarily under restoration.

The second tallest building is the Ukraine Hotel, crowning Kutuzovsky Avenue. Its central volume consists of 34 floors. This high-rise building was built in 1953-1957, i.e. already under Khrushchev, who named it in honor of his beloved Ukraine. It was built by architects Mordvinov and Oltarzhevsky. The central part of the building is a hotel, the side wings are residential, there are apartments there.
On April 28, 2010, the Ukraine Hotel opened after a major restoration under the new name Radisson Royal (Radisson-Moskovskaya), because was purchased by this hotel chain. By the way, it was not possible to buy the side wings because the residents privatized their apartments in time. It is noteworthy that the hotel houses an interesting exhibit that everyone can see: this is a model of Moscow in 1977.

A special place among the new high-rise buildings was occupied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building under construction on Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square. It was built in 1948 - 1953 by architects V. Gelfreich and M. Minkus. The central part has 27 floors, the building height is 172 m.

When the work was already completed, Stalin demanded that the building be crowned with a spire. The authors of the project, Professor Gelfreich and architect Minkus, tried to object, but in vain. It was impossible to erect a spire from capital materials - this would violate all load calculations. Then it was decided to build a fake spire from sheet metal and painted with ocher (therefore it was noticeable that the color of the spire differed from the color of the building’s decoration). To install it, the builders had to break through the floors of 5 floors to install supports.

There is also a widespread story that after Stalin’s death, the architect Minkus wrote a letter to Khrushchev asking him to dismantle the spire, to which Khrushchev allegedly replied: “Let the spire remain a monument to Stalin’s stupidity.”
The Foreign Ministry building is the only one of the seven high-rise buildings whose spire is not topped with a five-pointed star. The likely reason for this is that the building's spire was very fragile and could not support the weight of the star.

One more amazing story associated with the construction of a high-rise residential building at the Red Gate, 1951. This is an administrative residential building. Its construction was supervised Ministry of Communications(or MPS for short).
According to the architect Dushkin’s plan, the entrance hall of the metro station, located right at the base of the future building, would certainly have to be connected to its basement level. To accomplish this, the technology of preliminary freezing of the soil was used - the 100-meter frame had to be held on the edge of another construction pit.

In order to level out the soil subsidence that follows defrosting and, as a consequence, the tilt of the entire building, the high-rise was erected with a reverse slope. At the spire it was 16 cm. The first and unique case such a bold engineering technique ended successfully. Over the course of several months, the building took its correct position. And although a slight deviation did occur, it fit well into the established norms.

The building has 284 apartments, all of which were provided for management. Previously, M.Yu was born and lived on the site of this house. Lermontov, as is now evidenced by the memorial plaque on the house.
The height of this building is 130 m, it has 24 floors. This is the highest point of the Garden Ring, which, in fact, they decided to mark with a Stalinist high-rise building. Actors N. Gundareva and B. Chirkov lived here.

The next object is the High-rise on Shvivaya Gorka or the House of Artists on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment.
Architects Chechulin and Rostkovsky. The central volume has 26 floors. Like all buildings of this architectural project, the high-rise building has a closed infrastructure and includes shops, a post office, and a cinema.

A high-rise building was added to the “Chekist” residential building already standing here, successfully fitting it into the overall architectural ensemble.
The house is made in the Stalinist Empire style; before the war, classicism prevailed, and after the war this style was called Stalinist Empire. The house was given to the creative intelligentsia.
The house was considered elite, the rent was high, and not everyone could afford to live in such a house.
At various times, the residents of this house are considered to be: Evgeny Evtushenko, Alexander Shirvindt, Galina Ulanova, Faina Ranevskaya, Klara Luchko, Lyudmila Zykina, about whose pickling of cucumbers and cabbage legends were made in the house! Fadeev, Mikhail Zharov, Andrei Voznesensky and Nonna Mordyukova, Nikita Bogoslovsky, Marina Ladynina with Ivan Pyryev, Yuri Lyubimov and many others lived here.

Since a security corps already stood on this site, the construction was supervised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Previously there were barracks here.
In 1949, construction began on the House on Kotelnicheskaya. The house was built mainly by prisoners. And they posed for sculptures on the house! The house is very beautiful and located in a very good and beautiful location, this is my favorite high-rise building in Moscow!

176 m. Bird of happiness on Shvivaya Hill, as it was called then.

A special conversation about the Leningradskaya Hotel (now Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya).
This high-rise building was built by Polyakov and Boretsky, and the construction was supervised by the Ministry of Military and Naval Construction. The high-rise building was erected as the front façade of the city, which, by the way, combined ancient Russian architecture and modern style. It was the most luxurious building in terms of interior decoration at that time. Equipping it cost the state more than 21,000 rubles per 1 sq. m. m, compared to the high-rise building on Kotelnicheskaya - 5,500 rubles. Unique types of stone were used for construction and interior decoration; for example, the interior was decorated with huge chandeliers listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
By the way, two rivers flow under the building, so during construction the technology of vibratory pile driving was used - at that time an innovative type of construction.
Among Stalin's high-rise buildings, the Leningradskaya Hotel is the smallest - only 17 floors and 136 meters in height.

The project clearly shows the motifs of the “Naryshkin baroque”. This circumstance later outraged Khrushchev and by his decision the architects Polyakov and Boretsky were deprived of the Stalin Prize. This happened, of course, after the death of the “leader of the peoples.” A new era was beginning, and it was setting its own rules.

The high-rise building is located next to the beautiful Komsomolskaya Square of three stations: Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky and Kazansky. By the way, the square, as well as the metro station of the same name, was previously called Kalanchevskaya, and then it was renamed Komsomolskaya in honor of those Komsomol builders who died during the construction of the metro station here. Several years ago, the hotel was acquired by the owner of the Hilton hotel chain, after which it was completely rebuilt inside, however, the owners were asked to leave part of the previous name, so now the hotel is called Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya.

The House of Aviators on Kudrinskaya Square was previously called “The High-Rise on Vosstaniya Square”, because Kudrinskaya Square was formerly called Vosstaniya Square. This house was built in 1948 - 1954 according to the design of architects M.V. Posokhin, A.A. Mndoyants and designer M.N. Vokhomsky.

The building is 156 m high, has 24 floors and more than 450 apartments. It was also an elite house where pilots, astronauts, etc. lived. It is famous for its grocery store No. 15, which used to offer good shopping. Elina Bystritskaya, Lev Prygunov, and Evgeniy Vestnik lived here.
I will omit here the technical features of the architectural appearance of the building and note only that on the first and ground floors of the building there were originally shops and a cinema "Plamya" (currently not operating), in the basement there were underground garages. Part of the basement was converted into a casino, which ceased operation in 2004. The basements of the building are connected to a system of underground structures, in particular, to a bomb shelter that extends far beyond the above-ground part of the building.

The administrative building in Zaryadye was the last, eighth, of the Stalinist skyscrapers founded on the day of the eight hundredth anniversary of Moscow. It was supposed to be built by the architect Dmitry Chechulin. But the building was not completed - the death of Stalin prevented it. However, work on the construction of the stylobate was almost completed by the spring of 1953. Under the stylobate there was a technical floor, and under it a two-tier concrete bunker, which was probably planned to be used as a bomb shelter. They wanted to place the People's Commissariat of Heavy Engineering of the USSR in the eighth high-rise building. But the construction was mothballed, and 1954 already brought clarity to further plans for high-rise construction. In 1964-1967, the Rossiya Hotel was built on the existing stylobate, which has now been “safely” demolished.

Now there are plans to build a huge park and entertainment area on this site, which could function both in summer and winter. The project is still at the development stage, but the Americans have already won the tender.

Moscow at the time of the construction of the high-rise buildings did not look very majestic. At their feet huddled barracks, huts, and dilapidated houses. The fantastic costs of new construction and the stark contrast between the environment and the project are stunning. For example, the cost of building the Moscow State University building alone is equal to the amount that was allocated for the restoration of the entire hero city of Stalingrad. Labor force in the post-war years, of course, there was not enough. That’s why prisoners worked on the most expensive construction site in the country. And yet this “frozen anthem to Victory” inspired the Soviet people new hope for a peaceful and necessarily happy life.

Text: Nina Belaya