Stalin's Empire: architecture in the service of the state

The assertion of Stalin's sole authority coincided with the appearance of a new architectural style, known as the "Stalin Empire". Many people know this style also under such names as "Soviet monumental classicism" and "Stalinist architecture". Stalin's empire took a leading position from the 30s to 50s of the last century. After the end of the Great Patriotic War, Stalinist architecture spread to the countries of Eastern Europe. In the Stalinist empire, the use of styles of different peoples and eras is noticeable, so it is often compared with eclecticism.

Stalin's Empire in Architecture

Stalin's Empire, in the first place, was a state architectural style, so it is quite natural that it expresses the main propaganda ideas of the Stalin era. For example, the idea of waiting for the coming happiness is guessed in the bas-relief of the library. Lenin, who depicts a procession of people with gifts (wheat ears, corn and other symbols of abundance). It is interesting that similar compositions once existed in ancient Babylon.

For Stalinist architecture, the following distinguishing features are characteristic:

• Ensemble building of squares and streets;
• Synthesis of architecture with sculpture and painting;
• The use of elements characteristic of Russian classicism ;
• Bas-reliefs with images of workers and heraldic compositions;
• Use of architectural orders ;
• Optimistic attitude.

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

Stalinist Empire in the interior

As for interior decoration, here the main distinguishing feature of Stalin's Empire style is the use of bronze, marble, stucco and precious wood. At the same time, the interior gives the impression of massiveness and strict Q-factor.

The apartment doors are glazed and painted in white. The windows are decorated in dark brown color, and the bathroom is laid out with a single-colored ceramic tile, which is sometimes decorated with a border with a pattern. Wooden walls are welcome. The color scheme was more than restrained - colors such as black, green, brown and beige prevailed. Furniture, as a rule, is dark and cumbersome, sustained in a strict, without any excesses style. It is characterized by rounded forms, inlay with veneer, and in some cases, carving. The latter illustrates the elements of Soviet symbolism: five-pointed stars, sheaves of ears and laurel wreaths. In the Soviet era, carving was considered a special chic. No less original, it will look and in a modern interior, decided in the style of the Stalin Empire.