Soviet Architectural Avant-Gardes: Architecture and Stalin's Revolution from Above, 1928-1938

The book "Soviet Architectural Avant-Gardes" challenges conventional readings of the history of Soviet art and architecture by revealing how the architectural avant-garde persisted at a time when it was widely considered to have been driven underground. It explores iconic Soviet architecture and reveals the details of Frank Lloyd Wrights triumphant welcome in Moscow in 1937.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 13 January 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The study of Soviet architectural avant-gardes presents a groundbreaking reinterpretation of the history of Soviet art and architecture, challenging conventional narratives that suggest utopian modernism was effectively suppressed under Stalin's totalitarian regime by 1932. By radically reorienting the historiography of this period, the book unveils a complex and nuanced relationship between the Party and practicing architects, revealing a hitherto unseen level of complexity. Contrary to popular belief, the architectural avant-garde was not confined to the underground but rather managed to persist and thrive in a context where it was widely perceived to have been suppressed.

This book offers a vital new perspective on the analysis, evaluation, and reimagining of the global history of modernist expression. It sheds light on the ways in which 20th-century social revolutions and their totalitarian aftermath influenced the discourse of modernity and modernism. Through its exploration of iconic Soviet architecture, including the Palace of Soviets and the Soviet Pavilion at the Paris 1937 World Exposition, the book presents a revealing account of the "hidden modernism" that persisted amidst Stalinism.

In a captivating final chapter, the book also unveils the details of Frank Lloyd Wright's triumphant welcome in Moscow in 1937, at the height of Stalin's Terror. This chapter provides a unique insight into the complex interplay between architecture, politics, and artistic expression during a period of profound historical transformation.

Overall, Soviet Architectural Avant-Gardes is a groundbreaking work that contributes significantly to our understanding of the history of Soviet art and architecture. It challenges our preconceptions and offers a fresh perspective on a period that has been largely overlooked by architectural historians. By delving into the complexities of the relationship between the Party and practicing architects, the book provides valuable insights into the ways in which modernist expression was both shaped and constrained by political circumstances.

Weight: 584g
Dimension: 158 x 232 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350288423