Let me lead you through the streets of Moscow

by Anni Pelmeni

Today I continue the topic of Moscow development in Sovjet time.

Stalin’s regime had left ineffaceable traces in all the aspects of life. Urban planning is not an exception. Moscow as we know it now was mainly pre-shaped at that time.

Moreover, if the Kremlin is the hallmark of historical Moscow, the parts of the city known as Stalin’s Empire are the trademarks of modern Moscow.

It started in 1935 with the new urban plan of Moscow reconstruction which settled the strategy and schedule of building new quarters. But that time the first lines of Moscow Metro were already launched. And the newly shining down-below contrasted with nearly ramshackle up-above. The new Soviet regime required new Soviet living standards. The primary needs were the living space not the architectural variety, that’s why there are whole quarters of alike-looking buildings and streets that just imitate each other.

By the beginning of the 20th century Moscow had already a distinct radial- circular structure. It is obvious on the Metro plan which mirrors the up-above. Soviet city architectors have insisted on making the streets more straight and broad. Old wooden houses were torn down and new pretentious high buildings erected instead. These buildings are still to see on Leninsky prospect, Frunzenskaya naberezhnaja and Boulevard koltso.

Stumbe it!