Stalin Empire: architecture in the service of the state

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The assertion of Stalin's sole power coincided with the emergence of a new architectural style known as "Stalin's Empire". Many people know this style under such names as “Soviet monumental classicism” and “Stalinist architecture”. The Stalinist empire occupied a leading position from the 30s to the 50s of the last century. After the end of the Great Patriotic War, Stalinist architecture spread to the countries of Eastern Europe. The use of styles of various peoples and eras is noticeable in the Stalinist Empire style, so I often compare it with eclecticism.

Stalin Empire in architecture

Stalin Empire, first of all, was the state architectural style, so it is quite natural that the main propaganda ideas of the Stalin era are clearly expressed in it. For example, the idea of expecting future happiness is guessed in the bas-relief of the library. Lenin, which depicts a procession of people with gifts (ears of wheat, corn and other symbols of abundance). Interestingly, similar compositions once existed in ancient Babylon.

Stalinist architecture is characterized by the following distinctive features:

• ensemble building of squares and streets;
• synthesis of architecture with sculpture and painting;
• use of elements characteristic of Russian classicism;
• bas-reliefs with images of workers and heraldic compositions;
• use of architectural orders;
• optimistic.

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One of the most famous buildings in the Stalinist Empire style was the building of the Moscow State University, located on the Lenin Hills. In the architecture of this building, precious stones coexist with papier-mâché and artificial marble. It is impossible not to recall such buildings as the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Leningradskaya Hotel, the Novokuznetskaya metro station, the Ukraine Hotel and a residential building located on Kudrinskaya Square. All of these buildings are architectural monuments of Moscow.

Stalin Empire in the interior

As for interior design, here the main distinguishing feature of the Stalinist Empire style is the use of bronze, marble, stucco and fine woods. At the same time, the interior gives the impression of massiveness and strict quality factor.

Internal doors are glazed and painted white. The windows are decorated in dark brown, and the bathroom is lined with plain ceramic tiles, which are sometimes decorated with a patterned border. Wooden wall decoration is welcome. The color scheme wasmore than restrained - such colors as black, green, brown and beige prevailed. Furniture, as a rule, is dark and bulky, designed in a strict, without any frills style. It is characterized by rounded shapes, veneer inlay, and in some cases carving. The latter illustrates elements of Soviet symbols: five-pointed stars, sheaves of ears of corn and laurel wreaths. In Soviet times, carving was considered a special chic. It will look no less original in a modern interior designed in the Stalinist Empire style.