30 Design And Architecture Decisions That Range From Amazing To Downright Scary

Socialist modernism blends functionality with strikingly unusual designs, seen in imposing grey monoliths.

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• March 12, 2024

Modernist architecture has many styles, including Art Deco, Constructivism, Expressionism, and Metabolism. These styles have shaped how buildings looked in the 20th century.

Yet, there's a special style called socialist modernism that stands out. It was popular in Eastern Europe from the time of the Cold War until the Soviet Union fell apart.

This style is known for its simple, big grey buildings, which also have some really interesting and unusual designs. People have shared pictures and information about these unique buildings on online communities like r/SocialistModernism and r/SocialistModernism1.

Even though these buildings are cool, many of them are getting old and not taken care of well. In 2014, a group called the Bureau for Art and Urban Research (BACU) started working to save these buildings.

They wanted to keep them because they're important pieces of history and they add something special to the look of cities. Dumitru Rusu, who works with BACU, believes these buildings tell us a lot about the past and make our cities more interesting.

BACU is also trying to make more people aware of these buildings by mapping them online. This helps everyone realize how special these buildings are and why we should keep them.

Their work shows how cities change over time and why it's important to find a good balance between new ideas and what people need.

1. Genex Tower, a notable landmark.

2. Trade Fair Center in Accra, Ghana, designed in 1967 by Vic Adegbite, Jacek Chyrosz, and Stanislaw Rymasze­wski, showcases a collaboration between African and Eastern European planners of that time.

3. East Meets West

4. The Fontana Complex in New Belgrade, Serbia, was designed by architect Uroš Martinović in 1968.

5. Kazakhstan Bus Stop

6. Derzhprom - Iconic Soviet Constructivist Building in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

7. Time froze.

8. Hala Arena, constructed in 1974, is an indoor sports arena located in Poznań, Poland.

9. The Iron Fountain in Gyumri, Armenia.

10. The Unique Aesthetic of Soviet Bus Stops

11. Lake Sevan Viewpoint

12. Former-Soviet Central Asia's Mosaic.

13. In 1985, a Sanatorium/Rehabilitation Center was established in Dombay, Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

14. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Belgrade showcases modern art.

15. Soviet Chad Reaches Out to Your Girlfriend via Satellite

16. In 1965, a prefab elephant slide was installed in Dresden, East Germany. #sicmod

17. Home furniture retailer in Bucharest, Romania.

18. Spodek Arena, Katowice, Poland, built in 1971.

19. Sevan Writer's House is a cultural hub and residency program for writers located in Sevan, Armenia.

20. Bodiul's Viewpoint Platform near Chisinau, Moldova, constructed in the 1960s. Photo by Dumitru Rusu.

21. DDR-Era Communal Buildings in East Berlin

22. The Palace of Ceremonies in Tblisi, Georgia, is an iconic landmark known for hosting important events and ceremonies.

23. The State Museum of History in Uzbekistan, designed by Yevgeniy Rozanov and Vsevolod Shestopalov, was built between 1968 and 1970.

24. Tuzla Bank, now NLB, located in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, was constructed in 1977 by architect V. Stojanović. Photo credit: Dumitru Rusu.

25. Deserted Lakeside Structure, Chisinau

26. The Military Medical Academy Complex in Belgrade, Serbia.

27. Rudo Skyscrapers - Recent Photo

28. Mountain Kosmaj, Serbia. Constructed in 1971 by architect Gradimir Medaković and sculptor Vojin Stojić. (C) Bacu / Photo by Dumitru Rusu.

29. Hotel "Vrbak" in Novi Pazar, Serbia, constructed in 1976, reflects the local ethnicity with an Oriental touch.

30. Novi Sad, Serbia's Brutalist Architecture

Saving these buildings goes beyond merely preserving physical structures; it's about holding onto our collective history and ensuring our urban environments remain vibrant and multifaceted.

These architectural works are not just remnants of the past; they are tangible connections to the events, ideas, and aspirations that shaped societies during the Cold War and the era of the Soviet Union.

By maintaining them, we keep the stories of those times alive, allowing future generations to explore and learn from them.

Damjan