The metro station "Rizhskaya" (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line)

It so happened that metro stations all over the world compete in their decor and architectural delights. There are among them and those who have long been classics and role models. Among them is the metro station "Rizhskaya", located in the capital of the Russian Federation.

A bit of history

May 1, 1958 was opened to visit the new metro station "Rizhskaya". It is named so in honor of the Riga railway station, to which passengers get through it. The construction itself began much earlier.

In the middle of the 50s of the last century the Moscow Metro has already established itself as an advantageous and convenient means of transportation. But he still could not cope with all the needs of the capital for the transportation of passengers to its various ends. Therefore, it was decided to develop the metro, increasing the length of the distances and the number of stations.

Since the presence of the Riga railway station required improvement of transport conditions for Muscovites, it was decided not far from it to open the next station, which became part of the "Prospekt Mira - VDNH" section.

Strengthening of friendship between peoples

To confirm the policy of the USSR aimed at developing friendly relations between the peoples, the Moscow government decided to offer design and construction of the station to the representatives of Latvia. Who, if not they had to know what this subway station should be like.

But they did not start right away. In 1956, a tender was announced for design work for the construction and finishing of a new station. 6 projects took part in it. The contest was held not only in Latvia, but also in Moscow. In the end, finally approved the version of the team of young architects, which were: A. Reinfelds, V. Apsitis, S. Kravets, Yu. Kolesnikova, G. Golubev.

A little later issued a decree on the inexpediency of architectural excesses. In the final version, we had to abandon the openwork aluminum grilles for ventilation and a huge panel with the image of Riga on the blind wall of the vestibule.

Features of the station

The entire Kaluga-Riga line runs underground with different depths of tunnels. In particular, the "Rizhskaya" itself is located 46 meters from the surface. This is a three-vaulted pylon station with a vestibule and two platforms. It has one access to the surface, to which are laid three bands of the escalator. Above the station there is an external vestibule.

This is one of the first stations that gave rise to the entire line. It was built using new technologies. Distances between tunnels were reduced to 8.5 meters in diameter, which allowed them to be laid parallel to the bustling Avenue of the World, but immediately below it.

The "Rizhskaya" metro station, which Moscow uses relatively often, is one of the features, built in honor of the capital of Latvia and taking into account its color.

Uniqueness of furnish

Initially, the metro station "Rizhskaya" was designed as a reflection of the characteristics of the country, in whose honor it was named. Therefore, it was decided to finish the finish in yellow-brown tones. The meaning of this color solution lies in the fact that the tile should imitate the color of the famous Baltic amber, which Latvia is famous for.

To add an interior to the splendor, the architects decided on the front of the pylons, finished with brownish-red tiles, to make small bas-reliefs depicting the iconic places for Riga.

It was planned that a deaf wall would be decorated with a beautiful panel depicting this city, but in the course of the struggle against "architectural excesses" this idea had to be abandoned.

Tunnels opposite the platforms are decorated with yellow-brown and black tiles, which from vibration and because of poor quality periodically falls off. Therefore, from time to time, we have to repair the metro station "Rizhskaya" in order to eliminate ugly bald spots.

The Legend of Tile

It is known that the erection of the station was done by masters from Latvia. Finishing materials were also ordered in this country. One potter was asked to make a batch of tiles, which would accurately simulate the amber color. He coped with the task just fine. It's only during the transportation and facing works that some of the tiles have broken, so the project was not completed.

Of course, the architects turned to the master potter again. But he was offended that to his work so carelessly reacted and refused to repeat the game. In addition, he said that it would not be possible to repeat the color exactly under any circumstances.

In order to somehow get out of the situation, an intelligent pupil was sent to him. But he could not find out the secret of the tile. To be able to hand over the station on time, he had to confess to the master in his "espionage" mission. And he took pity on the people working on the project. But the tile still turned out to be slightly different from that which has already been used. So the scheme of the Moscow metro was enlarged by the station with its legend.

The famous market

In the late 80s of the last century, the Riga market was very popular , it was possible to reach it with the help of the Moscow metro. Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line contributed to the fact that merchants from all over the city flocked to the market. It was from here that the famous nineties began. The matter is that on the Riga market for the first time in the city there was a commercial activity, and together with it and the first bandits who have started to "cover" new businessmen. In the market it was possible to buy imported jeans, jackets and sweaters, which in Moscow could not be done anywhere else.

Well illustrates this moment in history the famous gangster series "Brigade". Sasha Bely started his criminal career with his friends in this market. As can be seen from the film, not just a criminal authority and a thief in the law were born here.

The name line of the two cities

In 1950, it was not planned that the scheme of the Moscow Metro would have a new branch from the south to the north. In those days, thought to build several branches from the radial line. In the northern direction the Riga branch was established, which consisted of four stations. Toward the south, a branch was built from Oktyabrskaya to Novye Cheryomushki, and later to the station Kaluzhskaya, which is located in the Kaluga metrodepo.

The development of the city and the increase in the flow of passengers created such circumstances that it was necessary to connect two branches within the ring, as a result of which a single Kaluga-Riga line was obtained.

During its construction, the Moscow method was used for the first time, during which only metro stations were constructed by open excavations, and the tunnels between tunnels were punctured without opening the upper arch.

Due to the use of typical plant designs and cheap finishing materials, problems on the Kaluga-Rizhskaya line began almost immediately. The tile was constantly falling off, which required cosmetic repair. Over time, it was replaced by aluminum profiles and granite of the same color as the previously used tile.

The metro station "Rizhskaya" in our days

Today, the passenger traffic through this station is about 50,600 people a day, which is not the largest indicator in the city.

Near the wall, where there is free space after the cancellation of the panel, there is a banner on which the cities of the world and the metro stations of Moscow are depicted, to whose honor they are named: Bratislava, Rome, Kiev, Warsaw, Prague, Riga. This is a kind of tribute to these cities.

2004 was a tragic year for the Riga City Council. It was planned to commit a terrorist attack. The suicide bomber was on the subway with a bomb on herself, but she was frightened by the policemen who were on duty at the entrance to the station. Therefore, the woman went into the thick of people and blew up the device on the surface. In addition to her, that day, from an explosion equal to 2.5-3 kg in trotyl equivalent, nine people were killed.

The famous station was also thanks to the G. Gluhovsky's semi -ocalic novel "Metro 2033". It was she who was invented in the author's world by the center of trade, fraud and prostitution.