![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008669f901d4.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_600833b09fc3a.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008341576aab.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_600834189eb97.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008342b66f34.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_600833f3a132e.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60083401bad68.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60083412c25ce.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008341307cc8.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008342724172.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60083420aec31.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008343e08ed2.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008343e83284.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008342d81fbf.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008345d99ace.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008343ccc0dc.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008345aa8a93.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60083446038a2.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008343165157.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008349fe1bd6.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_600834ac19bda.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60083452ebd6b.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008344893c8e.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_600834526f934.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_60083425553df.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_600834ab8e785.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6008345d9c2df.jpg)
![Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_600834619e94b.jpg)
See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 28 Fotos
The Wedding Palace, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- This 11-story high building is a civil registry that covers 410,000 sq ft.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- This cultural and entertainment center, made with marble and gold, is a modern structure that incorporates many Stalinist architectural elements.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Bayterek Tower, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- The Bayterek Tower is a monument and observation tower in the capital city of Kazakhstan.
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- The pyramid is a 203 ft (about 62 m) high structure and was built as a venue for Congress.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Kazakh Eli monument, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- The monument overlooks the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and represents sovereignty, traditional culture, and history.
© Shutterstock
5 / 28 Fotos
The Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga, Latvia
- Located in Riga, the building is nicknamed Stalin's birthday cake by locals. It was originally decorated with a five-point star, which was removed when Latvia regained independence in 1991.
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
House of Government, Prague, Czech Republic
- This government building in the Czech Republic's capital city is heavily influenced by Soviet architecture.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Soviet War Memorial, Budapest, Hungary
- In Budapest, Hungary, very little exists representing Soviet-style architecture, despite Hungary's occupation by the Soviet Union for many years.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
House of the Free Press, Bucharest, Romania
- This building was constructed between 1952 and 1956, and is located in northern Bucharest. Today it serves as the offices of many newspaper headquarters.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
The Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania
- The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest serves, naturaly, as the seat of the Parliament of Romania.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Buzludzha Communistic Building, Bulgaria
- At the peak of the Central Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria lies the Buzludzha Communistic Building.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
Buzludzha Communistic Building, Bulgaria
- The building is crumbling away and not in use, but it is still structurally sound. It remains as a monument to the many successes of Soviet architecture.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
The Largo buildings, Sofia, Bulgaria
- The Largo is the former Communist Party Headquarters and remains in Sofia's city center.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
City of Minsk, Belarus
- The architectural planning throughout the city of Minsk was influenced by Stalinist architecture.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Ninth Fort, Šilainiai elderate, Kaunas, Lithuania
- The Ninth Fort was a stronghold for Soviet forces in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was used as a prison, and later by Nazi Germany for the execution of Jews.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- This "white house" in Kyrgyz is built with white marble, in a Stalinist style.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
The House of Soviets, Kursk, Russia
- The House of Soviets in Red Square in Kursk was built in the 1930s and features a monument of Vladimir Lenin in front of the building.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
The Opera and Ballet Theatre, Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia
- Construction was finished in 1944 on what is the largest theater in Russia today. It has a total area of 127,410 sq ft and holds 1,790 spectators.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
GUM department store, Moscow, Russia
- The shopping center's layout is a typical Soviet design.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
The Kudrinskaya Square Building, Moscow, Russia
- The Kudrinskaya Square Building is one of seven skyscrapers in Moscow built during the rule of Stalin.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw, Poland
- Known to locals as Stalin's skyscraper, standing 778 feet (about 237 m) high it is the tallest building in Poland.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
The Golden Gates, Kyiv, Ukraine
- This is the biggest tourist attraction in Ukraine and was originally built in the 11th century. However, it was torn down in the Middle Ages and then rebuilt by the Soviet authorities in 1982. No images of the original gates have survived.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Khrushchyovka style housing, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Constructivist economy-class housing in Kyiv, Ukraine. Uniform high-rise building blocks, mostly constructed with prefabricated concrete panels, serve as housing in most former Eastern Bloc countries.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Khrushchyovka style housing, Katowice, Poland
- This image shows typical Constructivist economy-class housing in Katowice, Poland.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Khrushchyovka- demolishing and refurbishing
- In former Soviet Union countries, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Belarus, tremendous efforts have been made to renovate and beautify these apartment blocks. They are being torn down in affluent areas of Russia too.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Soviet style skyscraper, Shanghai, China
- Built in 1954 by the Soviet Union as a Friendship Center in Shanghai.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
The Bank of China, Zhongshan Square, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- This building served as the Far East Bank for the Soviet Union after it was built in 1909. Sources: (Artsy)(Culture Trip) See also: The Berlin Wall falls: Recalling the collapse of Communism in Europe
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 28 Fotos
The Wedding Palace, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- This 11-story high building is a civil registry that covers 410,000 sq ft.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- This cultural and entertainment center, made with marble and gold, is a modern structure that incorporates many Stalinist architectural elements.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Bayterek Tower, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- The Bayterek Tower is a monument and observation tower in the capital city of Kazakhstan.
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- The pyramid is a 203 ft (about 62 m) high structure and was built as a venue for Congress.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Kazakh Eli monument, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
- The monument overlooks the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and represents sovereignty, traditional culture, and history.
© Shutterstock
5 / 28 Fotos
The Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga, Latvia
- Located in Riga, the building is nicknamed Stalin's birthday cake by locals. It was originally decorated with a five-point star, which was removed when Latvia regained independence in 1991.
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
House of Government, Prague, Czech Republic
- This government building in the Czech Republic's capital city is heavily influenced by Soviet architecture.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Soviet War Memorial, Budapest, Hungary
- In Budapest, Hungary, very little exists representing Soviet-style architecture, despite Hungary's occupation by the Soviet Union for many years.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
House of the Free Press, Bucharest, Romania
- This building was constructed between 1952 and 1956, and is located in northern Bucharest. Today it serves as the offices of many newspaper headquarters.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
The Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania
- The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest serves, naturaly, as the seat of the Parliament of Romania.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Buzludzha Communistic Building, Bulgaria
- At the peak of the Central Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria lies the Buzludzha Communistic Building.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
Buzludzha Communistic Building, Bulgaria
- The building is crumbling away and not in use, but it is still structurally sound. It remains as a monument to the many successes of Soviet architecture.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
The Largo buildings, Sofia, Bulgaria
- The Largo is the former Communist Party Headquarters and remains in Sofia's city center.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
City of Minsk, Belarus
- The architectural planning throughout the city of Minsk was influenced by Stalinist architecture.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Ninth Fort, Šilainiai elderate, Kaunas, Lithuania
- The Ninth Fort was a stronghold for Soviet forces in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was used as a prison, and later by Nazi Germany for the execution of Jews.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- This "white house" in Kyrgyz is built with white marble, in a Stalinist style.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
The House of Soviets, Kursk, Russia
- The House of Soviets in Red Square in Kursk was built in the 1930s and features a monument of Vladimir Lenin in front of the building.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
The Opera and Ballet Theatre, Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia
- Construction was finished in 1944 on what is the largest theater in Russia today. It has a total area of 127,410 sq ft and holds 1,790 spectators.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
GUM department store, Moscow, Russia
- The shopping center's layout is a typical Soviet design.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
The Kudrinskaya Square Building, Moscow, Russia
- The Kudrinskaya Square Building is one of seven skyscrapers in Moscow built during the rule of Stalin.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw, Poland
- Known to locals as Stalin's skyscraper, standing 778 feet (about 237 m) high it is the tallest building in Poland.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
The Golden Gates, Kyiv, Ukraine
- This is the biggest tourist attraction in Ukraine and was originally built in the 11th century. However, it was torn down in the Middle Ages and then rebuilt by the Soviet authorities in 1982. No images of the original gates have survived.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Khrushchyovka style housing, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Constructivist economy-class housing in Kyiv, Ukraine. Uniform high-rise building blocks, mostly constructed with prefabricated concrete panels, serve as housing in most former Eastern Bloc countries.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Khrushchyovka style housing, Katowice, Poland
- This image shows typical Constructivist economy-class housing in Katowice, Poland.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Khrushchyovka- demolishing and refurbishing
- In former Soviet Union countries, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Belarus, tremendous efforts have been made to renovate and beautify these apartment blocks. They are being torn down in affluent areas of Russia too.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Soviet style skyscraper, Shanghai, China
- Built in 1954 by the Soviet Union as a Friendship Center in Shanghai.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
The Bank of China, Zhongshan Square, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- This building served as the Far East Bank for the Soviet Union after it was built in 1909. Sources: (Artsy)(Culture Trip) See also: The Berlin Wall falls: Recalling the collapse of Communism in Europe
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
Soviet architecture in all its grand and gloomy glory
The USSR was established 100 years ago on December 30, 1922
© Shutterstock
Soviet architecture can be split into two categories. In constructivist architecture, prominent in the 1920s and early 1930s, buildings were abstract and reflected a modern industrial society. Stalinist architecture, prominent from the 1930s to the 1950s, condemned excesses and is anchored in the social realism school of architecture. Despite common conceptions of the entire architectural movement being wholly associated with brutalism, some of the buildings, structures, and monuments are stunningly beautiful. They have stood the test of time in the context of modern cities throughout Russia and former Eastern Bloc countries.
Click through this gallery to be taken through some of the most notable trials and triumphs of Soviet architecture.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![The essential guide to visiting Alaska](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a71b38c172.jpg)
![These churches are the last of their kind in the world](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6634cb1373c5f.jpg)
![The 30 places you must visit before you die](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a221964d69.jpg)
![Places in Europe where three countries meet](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_664760ce0aeed.jpg)
![On the right track: a history of the British railway system](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669cde7cb1d9d.jpg)
![Overlooked travel destinations to discover this year](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66984a29d9eb9.jpg)
![How does Venice manage to float on water?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6699fdba7a0ea.jpg)
![Europe's most underrated cities, according to travel experts](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66991c50f1dc1.jpg)
![Unmissable stops along Ireland's stunning Wild Atlantic Way](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6698020a43b76.jpg)
![The top 30 most-visited countries worldwide](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6697d71c4bd43.jpg)
![The unseen side of famous landmarks](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66963692260e2.jpg)
![Stunning and lesser-known Greek islands for escaping the crowds](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bcf60734f5.jpg)
![Going to Galicia? These are the best attractions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668fbdc4d48c9.jpg)
![The Brandenburg Gate: a symbol of division or unity?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668ce3e981e32.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668d3e384b9fe.jpg)
![Be a tourist in your own city and fall in love all over again](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668d270905bf7.jpg)
![The biggest mistakes tourists make at national parks](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663bb4b2ce984.jpg)
![Hiking the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bb92bc0a2b.jpg)
![Incredible filming locations to visit if you love ‘Star Wars’](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668befa2881e5.jpg)
![Exploring Suriname, South America's smallest nation](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668ba211bcec0.jpg)
![Things that will annoy any airport security agent](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bd707da037.jpg)
![Incredible destinations where the sun shines all night](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6687f507924df.jpg)
![The most dog-friendly national parks in the US](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668417654c65e.jpg)
![The 30 best historical destinations to visit in the US](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66866b577eb33.jpg)
![European road trips you need to try once in your life](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6682db0e9a474.jpg)
![The only country located in all four hemispheres](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6682915f24825.jpg)
![Europe’s most dangerous tourist spots for pickpocketing (and how to protect yourself)](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668292697149b.jpg)
![Incredible places from Greek mythology you can visit today](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66827be7eb410.jpg)
![The best beach towns in the USA](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667d58f120de0.jpg)
![The best beaches to visit on the Adriatic Sea](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667c1a8d156ed.jpg)
![The 30 most disappointing cities in the world for tourists](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667aca257797a.jpg)
![Extraordinary desert experiences for adventurous travelers](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66472d27e0d70.jpg)
![The 30 best mid-sized US cities for cultural experiences](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6675320070ea0.jpg)
![The best beach destinations on the Baltic Sea](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6675513b7724d.jpg)
![The European countries with the cleanest beaches](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667539d3e47ce.jpg)
![The best guys' trip destinations](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6672a48c63f48.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
LIFESTYLE Nature
-
3
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
-
4
TRAVEL Staycation
Be a tourist in your own city and fall in love all over again
-
5
HEALTH Covid-19
-
6
HEALTH Cognitive function
-
7
LIFESTYLE Bizarre
You won't believe these bizarre prison rules and regulations
-
8
HEALTH Bad habits
-
9
TRAVEL Destinations
-
10
TRAVEL Architecture