In the final years of the Soviet Union (1970-1990), unorthodox designs flourished as architects expressed their desire for independence and the end of the Communist regime. The Brezhnev-era buildings were also a response to the growing Western influence of the period, when architects were discovering modern styles and fostering rebellion through creative freedom.
Chaubin found these many of these monoliths on the outer edges of the USSR, in the Baltic states and central Asia, where the revolt against the central government was the strongest. Most of the buildings are isolated, which increases their eerie appeal — like lonely spaceships that landed in Soviet territory.
See more fascinating images at WASF or get the book for yourself at Taschen.
(Images: WASF)
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I love this stuff but I was always a fan of the Constructivist Movement.
If you like this, I also really recommend the Spomeniks of the Balkans.
http://medesignmag.com/arts/1214/monumental-photography-by-jan-kempenaers
That third one reminds me of something from Inception. Anyone else?
And the first one looks like a castle with an Evil Queen from a fairy tale.
These are beautiful images. I'm trying to figure out what the first one actually was...there appears to be no windows or doors. It looks like a giant, stylized boulder.
James Bond sets. Totally!
And if you like these, you should check out Buzludzha in Bulgaria. I've been lucky enough to travel there twice and photograph the building inside and out. It's one of my favorite places on earth to shoot! There are some photos on my blog: http://hola.coreybyrnes.com/2011/06/22/buzludzha/
The first two honestly kind of remind me of Isengard and the tower of Sauron. I like it!
Background music, the Volga Boatman?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WD0WVL-HjE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
@COREY.B, that is great!
Great photos. I'm no expert on architecture, but some of these look more like something from the 1930s than the 70s. The fourth one because of its streamlined design and the fifth one because it seems art deco. The first one looks Brutalist to me.
I've been jonesing to get hold of this book since I first saw one of my local indie bookstores post about it a few weeks ago on their FB page. I'd never want to own a place that looked like any of these, but there's a part of me that loves the Soviets' embrace of crazy concrete structures, particularly when it comes to the Constructivist and Brutalist style buildings.
@corey.b - I am so incredibly envious of your travels there - that monument is astounding and has taken up residence in a corner of my imagination ever since I discovered that it existed a few years back.
Wonderful book. My dad is an architect and I think I may just have to get it for his birthday. I love the brute force of Soviet architecture. @corey.b - wonderful shots.
I have traveled extensively in Russia and I love these buildings. They are amazing and so imaginative.
I'll say this for totalitarian governments: it's amazing what you can achieve when you don't have to worry about criticism :-)