Soviet Avant-Garde Architecture in Moscow

Moscow is changing for better

 Russia’s capital has begun a transformation of the city’s public spaces.  Pedestrian areas, new parks, cycle lanes – the fabric of the city is being completely reworked. An increased awareness of the significance of Soviet avant-garde architecture in recent years has drawn new attention to Moscow’s landmarks of that time.

Soviet Avant-Garde Architecture in Moscow 

Finally, Soviet Avant-Garde Architecture in Moscow is undergoing preservation and renovation. Only a few years ago, the monuments of the Soviet avant-garde that were being restored or repaired in Moscow, were very few and far between.  This is really the beginning of a new era.

Most recently, restoration work was completed on the dormitory of the Moscow textile Institute, famous Ivan Nikolaev’s Communal House from 1929-31.

Konstantin Melnikov’s Rusakov Worker’s Club (1927-29) restoration is almost complete and his experimental house-studio is now open to the public; however, recently with pre−booked guided tours only (by Schusev State Museum of Architecture) – these tours are already fully booked out until end of the year.

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art opened

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art is drawing interest on Soviet avant-garde art and architecture, and a main driver to make Soviet avant-garde landmarks (like Melnikovs house-studio) open to public.

Garage is a philanthropic project aiming to create public interest for contemporary art and culture. It was initially housed in the renowned Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage (by Konstantin Melnikov). From 2012 Garage was located to a temporary pavilion in Gorky Park (by Shigeru Ban). In June 2015, Garage moved to its first permanent home — a preservation project by Rem Koolhaas that transforms the famous 1968 Seasons of the Year Modernist restaurant in Gorky Park into a contemporary museum.

Text by Peter Knoch, M-Plus Moscow

 

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