The Moscow Photographs

Showcased below are interpretative photographs of 15 Moscow landmarks. To view larger images or to read more details about these Soviet structures, please scroll down to the eight previous posts featured here on Haute Vitrine.

Luzhniki Stadium architects: A. Vlasov, I. Rozhin, A. Ullas, A. Khryakov; 1954-56

Small Arena, Luzhniki Sports Complex architects: A. Vlasov, I. Rozhin, A. Ullas, A. Khryakov; 1954-56

Swimming Stadium, Luzhniki Sports Complex architects: A. Vlasov, I. Rozhin, A. Ullas, A. Khryakov; 1954-56

Lenin’s Tomb architect: A. Shchusev; 1929-30

Saint Basil’s Cathedral architects: Barma, Postnik; 1555-60

Bolshoi Theatre architects: O. Bove, 1821-25; A. Cavos, 1856; restored 2005-11

Red Army Theatre architects: K. Alabyan, V. Simbirtsev; 1934-40

City Hall architects: M. Kazakov, 1796; I. Fomin, 1930s; D. Chechulin, 1946

Dinamo Metro Station architect: D. Chechulin, 1938

Ukraine Pavilion architects: A. Tatsiy, K. Ivanchenko, 1938-39; renovated 1947-54

Main Entrance, Gorky Park architect of Gorky Park: K. Melnikov, 1928; entrance arch added 1955

Moskva Hotel architects: A. Shchusev, L. Savelyev, O. Stapram, 1935; demolished 2004; shown above as rebuilt 2012

Lubyanka Building architects: A. Ivanov, 1897; A. Shchusev, 1940-47, 1979-83

Russian White House architects: D. Chechulin, P. Shteller; 1965-81

Kotelnicheskaya Apartment Building architects: D. Chechulin, A. Rostkevsky; 1948-52

all photographs © Leslie Hossack 2012

The Moscow Photographs, a collection of limited edition fine art prints by Leslie Hossack, examine Joseph Stalin’s architectural legacy in Russia’s capital. The structures are linked to Stalin by era, architect and anecdote. Hossack painstakingly deconstructs these historic landmarks, revealing them as they appeared when the architects first put their designs on paper.

These images are part of Leslie Hossack’s larger body of work that explores Nazi architecture in Berlin, sacred sites in Jerusalem and a Cold War bunker in Ottawa. To view more images, please visit her website. lesliehossack.com

15 Moscow Landmarks – Part 8

Kotelnicheskaya Apartment Building, Moscow 2012

Russian White House, Moscow 2012

Both buildings above were designed by Soviet architect Dmitry Chechulin.

The Kotelnicheskaya Apartment Building is one of Stalin’s high rises. These Moscow landmarks, nicknamed the Seven Sisters or Stalin’s wedding cakes, were built from 1947-1953 employing the construction technology of American skyscrapers. Dmitry Chechulin, city of Moscow architect from 1945-1949, oversaw the construction of all seven skyscrapers and also designed Kotelnicheskaya where he later lived.

The Russian White House, constructed from 1965-1981, is a government building in Moscow. It is famous for the attempted coup of August 1991 and Boris Yeltsin’s speech from the top of a Soviet tank. In 1993 the building was attacked again; blasts broke windows and smoke blackened the facade. Today, the windows and marble exterior gleam in the sunlight.

The Moscow Photographs include: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow’s 1980 Olympic Stadium; the Small Arena and Swimming Stadium also located at the Luzhniki Olympic Sports Complex; Lenin’s Tomb and Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square; Bolshoi Theatre and Red Army Theatre; Moscow City Hall and Dinamo Metro Station; Gorky Park and Ukraine Pavilion; Lubyanka Building and Moskva Hotel; Russian White House and Kotelnicheskaya Apartment Building, one of Stalin’s high-rises known as the Seven Sisters.

15 Moscow Landmarks – Part 7

Lubyanka Building, Moscow 2012

Moskva Hotel, Moscow 2012

The Lubyanka Building was the headquarters of the KGB, the Soviet Secret Police. During Stalin’s purges, thousands of citizens were arrested as enemies of the people and imprisoned in the basement of Lubyanka. There they were interrogated, tortured, executed, or exiled to Siberia. The celebrated book The Gulag Archipelago, written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, described the system of Soviet prisons and labour camps.

In 1935, the Moskva Hotel was one of the first to be built in Stalin’s Soviet Moscow. The hotel’s second phase became operational in 1977, the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution. This historic hotel was demolished in 2004. The new hotel, shown above, is a replica of the original and is scheduled to open in 2014.

15 Moscow Landmarks – Part 6

Ukraine Pavilion, Moscow 2012

Main Entrance, Gorky Park, Moscow 2012

The Ukraine Pavilion, now Pavilion 58 at the All Russia Exhibition Centre, was originally constructed in 1938-39 for the All Union Agricultural Exhibition. Today, this massive exhibition space is still home to flamboyant pavilions from the 1930s that were designed to showcase various regions of the Soviet Union. The exhibition site, with its many historic pavilions, is a lasting example of Stalin’s architectural propaganda.

Gorky Park, the Central Park of Culture and Leisure dating back to 1928, was designed by Soviet constructivist architect Konstantin Melnikov. The Entrance Arch shown above was constructed in 1955; it is an impressive example of Stalinist classicism. Adorned with wreaths, stars, hammers and sickles, the arch is topped with the head of Lenin surrounded by flags.

15 Moscow Landmarks – Part 5

City Hall, Moscow 2012

Dinamo Metro Station, Moscow 2012

Moscow City Hall is one of the few bright spots of colour in a city of grey. Built as a palace in 1796 and rebuilt in the 1930s, Stalin had the structure redesigned yet again in 1945-46. Two stories were added by celebrated Soviet architect Dmitry Chechulin and the facades were totally changed.

Chechulin was also the architect of the vestibules of the Dinamo Metro station which opened in 1938. The Moscow Metro is arguably the most beautiful in the world; the stations were conceived by Stalin as palaces for the people. Today, the Moscow metro is the busiest metro system in the world with more than 9 million passengers every weekday. As of 2013, there were 12 lines and 192 stations and more opening every year.

15 Moscow Landmarks – Part 4

Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow 2012

Red Army Theatre, Moscow 2012

The Bolshoi Theatre, famous for its ballet corps, is also linked to Joseph Stalin. Here he made significant political speeches and attended Soviet party events; on one occasion, he stormed out of an opera by Shostakovich. Recently, the theatre was completely renovated and reopened in 2011 with much of its original splendor restored.

The Red Army Theatre is designed in the shape of a five-pointed star, the symbol of the Russian Red Army. Built in 1934-1940, it was one of the first theatres constructed after the revolution and was one of the largest, originally seating 1,950. The interior is full of army emblems; a huge picture of Stalin used to look down on the central staircase, but it is now covered over.

15 Moscow Landmarks – Part 3

Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow 2012

Lenin’s Tomb, Moscow 2012

Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Tomb are located in Moscow’s Red Square.

Red Square was famous for its massive military parades. Joseph Stalin wanted Saint Basil’s torn down so that troops could march out of the square en mass, rather than going around the church. Luckily, the cathedral built by Ivan the Terrible in 1555-1560 survived.

Parades in Red Square were reviewed by Soviet dignitaries from the balcony of Lenin’s Tomb. Lenin died in 1924 and his embalmed body still lies in the mausoleum. In 1953 Stalin was buried there too. Later, he was denounced by Khrushchev and his body was moved to the cemetery behind the tomb near the Kremlin Wall and its Senate Tower.

15 Moscow Landmarks – Part 2

Small Arena, Luzhniki Sports Complex, Moscow 2012

Swimming Stadium, Luzhniki Sports Complex, Moscow 2012

The Small Arena and the Swimming Stadium shown above are part of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Complex which also includes Luzhniki Stadium featured in yesterday’s post. Originally the main arena held 103,000 spectators, the small arena 16,000 and the swimming stadium 8,000.

The Soviet Union achieved its first post-war success at the 1952 Olympics and determined to upgrade its sports facilities to guarantee future medals. The Luzhniki Sports Complex was constructed from 1954-1956. It was completely rebuilt for the 1980 Olympics, the first games held in a communist country. Led by the United States, 65 countries boycotted the Moscow Games because of the Soviet War in Afghanistan; four years later the Soviets lead a boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

15 Moscow Landmarks

Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow 2012

This is the first in a series of posts featuring 15 iconic landmarks in Moscow.

The Grand Sports Arena shown above was officially opened in July 1956. It was the signature stadium during the 1980 Moscow Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies. In a 1996 renovation, the roof was added.

Recently, the 2018 FIFA World Cup was awarded to Russia, and Luzhniki Stadium will host the final match. It will then join Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, Munich’s Olympiastadion and London’s Wembley Stadium as the only stadia to have hosted the finals of the FIFA World Cup, UEFA’s FIFA World Cup and also featured as a main stadium of the Summer Olympic Games.

The Moscow Photographs, a collection of limited edition fine art prints by Leslie Hossack, examine Joseph Stalin’s architectural legacy in Russia’s capital. The structures presented are linked to Stalin by era, architect and anecdote. Hossack painstakingly deconstructs these historic landmarks, revealing them as they appeared when the architects first put their designs on paper.