From Amazing To Downright Scary, These 50 Design And Architecture Decisions Are Far From Boring

Article created by: Indrė Lukošiūtė

Socialist Modernism is an online initiative created by the Bureau for Art and Urban Research (BACU) to protect the monumental but decaying structures of central and eastern Europe erected between 1955-91.

“We aim to revitalize this heritage not only for symbolic reasons but because we believe in these elements that managed to defy some of the ideological requirements, giving the urban space a certain flavor so characteristic of those times,” says Dumitru Rusu of BACU. “Boulevards, public buildings, living units, and monuments, they all are a clear reflection of the social and cultural context of the socialist period.”

In the first phase of the project, BACU is documenting the architecture from the Eastern Bloc — it has mapped these socialist modernist buildings and monuments online in a community-driven tool, hoping to build a comprehensive database as well as create awareness and promote a desire to preserve them. The second phase aims to develop regulations for protection.

Overall, the project is an inspiring example of how preserving the past can also enrich the present.

#1 Monument To The Conquerors Of Space Moscow, 1964

#2 ”electrification”, Stainless Steel Sculpture, Vidraru Dam 1971. Arges County, Romania

#3 Stone Flower, Croatia

#4 The Monument To 1300 Years Of Bulgaria

#5 The National “Khabar” Television Studios And Administrative Offices. Almaty, Kazakhstan, Built In 1983

#6 Bus Stop No 37, Network Of Bus Stations, Tajikistan. Built In The Late 70s

#7 Housing Building On Bobur Street. Tashkent, Uzbekistan Built In 1974

#8 Slovak Radio Building, Bratislava, Slovakia, Built Between 1967-1983

#9 Former Ministry Of Transportation, (Now: Bank Of Georgia) Tbilisi, Georgia, Built In 1974

#10 The Former Wedding Cathedral, (It Was Used As A Private House, Now Event Place) Tbilisi, Georgia, Built In 1985

#11 Monument To The Revolution Of The People Of Moslavina – World War II Memorial. Podgarić, Croatia Unveiled In 1967

#12 The Aul Residential Complex, Tole Bi 286/1, Almaty, Kazakhstan Built In Stages Between 1986-2002 Architects: B. Voronin, L. Andreyeva, Yu. Ratushnyi, V. Lepeshov, V. Ve, M.rakhimbayev

#13 The Monument To Yu.gagarin Moscow. Russia

#14 Canteen For The House Of Recreation For The Writers’ Union Of Armenia Sevan Lake, Armenia, Built In 1967

#15 Bas Relief Sculptural Frieze On The Facade Of The Institute Of Communications. Yerevan, Armenia. (70s)

#16 The Hall For Lectures And Cinema Of The Institute Of Scientific And Technical Information, (Aka “Kyiv Flying Saucer”) Kyiv, Ukraine. Built In 1971

#17 Cafesjian Art Museum – Cascade, Yerevan, Armenia. Design 1975-1980 Built 1985-2000

#18 Nstitute Of Robotics And Technical Cybernetics, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Built Between 1973-1986

#19 Monument On Freedom Hill By Janez Lenassi In Ilirska Bistrica, Republic Of Slovenia, 1965

#20 Sports And Concert Complex, Aka Hamalir Yerevan, Armenia Built Between 1976-84

#21 Military Medical Academy Complex, Banjica, Belgrade, Serbia, Designed In 1973, Built In 1981

#22 The Monument To Yuri Gagarin Is Located On Gagarin Square In Moscow, Russia – It Was Unveiled On July 4, 1980

#23 Experimental Residential Building In Bratislava, Slovakia, Built Between 1968-74 Architect Štefan Svetko With J. Hauskrecht

#24 Block Of Flats, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Built In The 80s Architect Victor Breusenko

#25 Ilinden / Makedonium – A Monument Dedicated To The Fighters And Revolutionaries Who Participated In The Ilinden Uprising Of 1903

#26 Nova Scena Theatre, Prague, Czech Republic. Built Between 1977-1983, Architect Karel Prager

#27 Bridge Of The Slovak National Uprising, Bratislava, Slovakia, Built Between 1967-1972

#28 Concrete Toboggan Slide – Playground Floreasca. Floreasca Development. Bucharest, Romania. Built In 1959-1960

#29 Hotel Salyut. Kyiv, Ukraine. Built Between 1976-1982

#30 One Of The Two Halls Of Parting, Memory Park (Kyiv/Kiev) Ukraine. Built 1968–1981

#31 Few Of The Many Imposing Statues Located In The Center Of The Monument To 1300 Years Of Bulgaria

#32 House Of Fashion, Belarus, Minsk, Built In 60’s-70’s

#33 The Former Memorial House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party, (Buzludzha Monument), Shipka Pass, Bulgaria, Built In 1981

#34 Pearl Cafe, (Now Mirvari Cafe) Baku, Azerbaijan Built In 1961

#35 Palace Of Weddings, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Built In 1987

#36 Memorial Monument “The Defenders Of Stara Zagora” 1977. Chadir Moghila, Stara Zagora County, Bulgaria

#37 Monument To The Uprising Of The People Of Kordun And Banija / Spomenik Ustanku Naroda Banije I Korduna Petrovac, Petrova Gora, Croatia Unveiled In 1981

#38 Hotel “Cosmos” Moscow, Russia, Built In 1979

#39 Bus Stop No.12, Network Of Bus Stations, Near Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Built In The Late 70s

#40 Haludovo Resort, Malinska, Croatia, Built In 1972

#41 Lviv Bus Terminal Stryiska 109, Lviv, Ukraine Built In 1980

#42 Biotürme, Part Of Former Lauchhammer Coking Plant, (Decontamination Towers/Gdr-Heavy Industry.) Lauchhammer, 1957

#43 Apartment Building On Karowa Street, Warsaw, Poland Built In 1978

#44 Ferant Garden Residential Quarter Ljubljana, Slovenia, Built In 1975

#45 Pantheon To The Heroes In The Serbo-Bulgarian War, Gurgulyat, Bulgaria, Built In 1985

#46 Museum Of The Slovak National Uprising, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Built In 1969

#47 The Former Memorial House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party, (Buzludzha Monument), Shipka Pass, Bulgaria, Built In 1981

#48 Cafe In A Railway Station – Pkp Warszawa Powiśle, (Former Ticket Booth) And Main Entrance From The Puma Building; Warsaw, Poland, Designed And Built Between 1954-1963, Architects Arseniusz Romanowicz, Piotr Szymaniak

#49 Eastern Gate Of Belgrade, Rudo Buildings, (Istočne Kapije) Belgrade, Serbia, Built In 1976, Architect: Vera Ćirković Engineer: Milutin Jerotijević

#50 University Of Wroclaw, Building Of The Faculty Of Mathematics And Computer Science – Facade From The Odra River, With A Mosaic By Anna Szpakowska-Kujawska. 1971. Wroclaw, Poland