Moscow Monumental: Soviet Skyscrapers and Urban Life in Stalin's Capital

The Stalinist skyscraper building project in Moscow during the early years of the Cold War transformed the city's skyline and reshaped daily life. Moscow Monumental explores how the project was rooted in the Soviet Union's engagement with Western trends in architecture and planning, and how it required the creation of a vast and complex infrastructure. The skyscrapers, completed in the mid-1950s, served as elite apartment complexes, luxury hotels, and ministry and university headquarters.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2020
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In the early years of the Cold War, Moscow's skyline underwent a remarkable transformation as a citywide skyscraper building project took hold. As towering steel girders soared into the sky, the centuries-old metropolis was reinvented to embody the grandeur and aspirations of Stalinist society. This captivating historical narrative, explored in depth in Moscow Monumental, delves into the profound impact of these iconic architectural works on the daily lives of the Soviet capital's inhabitants.

Katherine Zubovich, in her meticulous research, uncovers the intricate decisions and actions taken by Soviet elites, ranging from top leaders to master architects. She sheds light on the experiences of ordinary Muscovites who were uprooted by the ambitious skyscraper project, which required the creation of a vast and complex infrastructure. Zubovich demonstrates how the Stalin-era pursuit of monumentalism was deeply influenced by the Soviet Union's engagement with Western architectural and planning trends.

The skyscrapers, completed in the mid-1950s, emerged as seven ornate neoclassical buildings, serving as elite apartment complexes, luxurious hotels, and the headquarters of ministries and universities. These imposing structures not only symbolized the power and prestige of the Soviet government but also reshaped the city's landscape, creating a new skyline that still defines Moscow today.

Moscow Monumental unfolds a story that transcends local boundaries, taking readers on a journey from the bustling streets of interwar Moscow to the grand marble-clad halls of the postwar buildings that continue to shape the Russian capital. The book explores the political, social, and cultural implications of the skyscraper project, examining how it reflected the aspirations and tensions of a nation caught between tradition and modernity.

Through vivid descriptions and compelling anecdotes, Moscow Monumental offers a deep understanding of the architectural, social, and historical significance of the Stalinist skyscrapers in Moscow. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, historians, and anyone interested in exploring the complex and fascinating history of this iconic city.

Weight: 926g
Dimension: 184 x 264 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691178905