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"...an eye-opening experience for those who assumed that Soviet architecture died with the rise of Stalin." -The New York Times."
Product Description
Photographer Frederic Chaubin reveals 90 buildings sited in fourteen former Soviet Republics which express what could be considered as the fourth age of Soviet architecture. They reveal an unexpected rebirth of imagination, an unknown burgeoning that took place from 1970 until 1990. Contrary to the twenties and thirties, no "school" or main trend emerges here. These buildings represent a chaotic impulse brought about by a decaying system. Their diversity announces the end of Soviet Union. Taking advantage of the collapsing monolithic structure, the holes of the widening net, architects revisited all the chronological periods and styles, going back to the roots or freely innovating. Some of the daring ones completed projects that the Constructivists would have dreamt of (Druzhba sanatorium), others expressed their imagination in an expressionist way (Tbilisi wedding palace). A summer camp, inspired by sketches of a prototype lunar base, lays claim to its suprematist influence (Promethee). Then comes the speaking architecture widespread in the last years of the USSR: a crematorium adorned with concrete flames (Kiev crematorium), a technological institute with a flying saucer crashed on the roof (Kiev institute), a political center watching you like a Big Brother (Kaliningrad House of Soviet). This puzzle of styles testifies to all the ideological dreams of the period, from the obsession with the cosmos to the rebirth of privacy and it also outlines the geography of the USSR, showing how local influences made their exotic twists before bringing the country to its end.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A fine effort, painstakingly compiled from the author's photos. He has travelled all over the ex-Soviet Union to capture these crumbling gems of another era. The book is fabulously large, fabulously glossy and fabulously interesting. In the usual Taschen style, it is lavish in its pictures but minimalist in its text, save for an introductory chapter.
It's easy for Brits to be reviled by the reinforced concrete school of architecture - the brutalist style doesn't fit with the typical cramped British town centre. But in the Soviet Union, which was far from crowded, buildings and their surroundings were often planned together and so the monumental truly looks monumental. And with a surprising amount of creativity thrown in.
To add to the atmosphere, many of the buildings in the book are in the usual dismal state of repair which goes hand in hand with the ex-Soviet Union; many seem to be vacant, at least from the indoor shots; and some had already been demolished by the time of publication.
You don't have to be an architecture enthusiast to enjoy this book, nor necessarily a Cold War fan. It depicts the products of a past era; a different system of planning; an economy which lavished money on building showpieces, but never put anything aside to maintain them. In short, I think its appeal is that you will never see the like on a British High Street.
It's easy for Brits to be reviled by the reinforced concrete school of architecture - the brutalist style doesn't fit with the typical cramped British town centre. But in the Soviet Union, which was far from crowded, buildings and their surroundings were often planned together and so the monumental truly looks monumental. And with a surprising amount of creativity thrown in.
To add to the atmosphere, many of the buildings in the book are in the usual dismal state of repair which goes hand in hand with the ex-Soviet Union; many seem to be vacant, at least from the indoor shots; and some had already been demolished by the time of publication.
You don't have to be an architecture enthusiast to enjoy this book, nor necessarily a Cold War fan. It depicts the products of a past era; a different system of planning; an economy which lavished money on building showpieces, but never put anything aside to maintain them. In short, I think its appeal is that you will never see the like on a British High Street.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Fantastic images. Was highly anticipated when I found this through blogs. Shocked when it arrived and I found that it was such a huge book in terms of size. Cant be a bad thing when the every detail can be seen.
The images are stunning and worth it especially when some of the images have been torn down. There are enough interior views of the buildings and spaces and they give a good experience of the atmosphere. These buildings have long been abandoned but the photography still manages to capture the glory of the soviet era in full. As an architecture student, it will be amazig to have found the plans and sections of the buildings. However, some of these are remote enough as they are so its understandable they did not try do a half hearted job with the more technical drawings.
The book is split into functions and not chronological or geographical. Personally, I prefer this especially when the introduction has brought you throught the architecture chronologically. The graphics that accompanies the photo also tie the whole C.C.C.P theme really well. Downside if that a heavy book like this one, the spine does not open as much as you would like it to and the double spread images get distorted.
Very well thought out book and well worth it.
The images are stunning and worth it especially when some of the images have been torn down. There are enough interior views of the buildings and spaces and they give a good experience of the atmosphere. These buildings have long been abandoned but the photography still manages to capture the glory of the soviet era in full. As an architecture student, it will be amazig to have found the plans and sections of the buildings. However, some of these are remote enough as they are so its understandable they did not try do a half hearted job with the more technical drawings.
The book is split into functions and not chronological or geographical. Personally, I prefer this especially when the introduction has brought you throught the architecture chronologically. The graphics that accompanies the photo also tie the whole C.C.C.P theme really well. Downside if that a heavy book like this one, the spine does not open as much as you would like it to and the double spread images get distorted.
Very well thought out book and well worth it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Unbelievable buildings, balancing on the edge of kitsch and brilliance, from the undiscovered former USSR countries. Probably the book of the year!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
We were not so different
I'm not an architect, but I like history of art and this book caught my attention.
The book, as other reviewers point out, is a great showcase of the later soviet... Read more
The book, as other reviewers point out, is a great showcase of the later soviet... Read more
Published 12 days ago by RAMON
Good job
It's big and heavy book with lots of amazing pictures of Soviet non-standard architecture of buildings. Most of them are in Asia, which gives them the Asian flavor. Read more
Published 13 days ago by jtsuken
One big book....
Spotted this slab of hardback in my local Waterstones, quite by accident, whilst looking for bargains. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tim Kidner
great supplier
I am very pleased with the way I received my purchase, the book was in excellent condition still in its plastic wrap. i will order again from this supplier.
Published 3 months ago by B. B. El Okbi
fran
An excellent book according to the person that I bought it for. The photography is good and the book informative.
Published 4 months ago by frankie
Very good book
Very good book, beautiful collection of USSR architecture. The only thing that could be improved is the quality of publishing.
Published 4 months ago by AnnaSlesarchuk
"UFO" from CCCP ?
The most fantastic book . I did not know about these almost UFO-like buildings in the former Soviet.
I got it sheaper from Amazon than from Tashen. Read more
I got it sheaper from Amazon than from Tashen. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jostein Nęsheim
Great Buildings, Good Photos, Poor Page Layout
This is a fantastic collection of photos of some really interesting buildings. The only disappointment is that some of the photos are laid out across double page spreads... Read more
Published 7 months ago by firstTimer
Heavy stuff.
An excellent book for those interested in Russian architecture, large clear images and detailed commentry. A facinating piece of work, well worth the money. Read more
Published 8 months ago by janno
The Power of concrete
Large prints of superb graphical, powerful and unique concrete structures. Typically what your imagination would expect with a few suprises.
Published 14 months ago by Q
Listmania!
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