The experimental plastic house, built in the USSR. Photo

It was built in the USSR in 1961.

Modern architects are increasingly suggesting the use of unconventional materials, designed to replace the brick, wood and concrete. Some of these new items are called innovative, but in practice it turns out that they are long since known. So, in the Soviet Union half a century ago successfully built houses made of plastic.

The picture plastic at home.

Back in 1961, when rapid urbanization has forced the state to begin a massive campaign to provide people with housing, along with a small “Khrushchev”, discussed other options for dwellings. Some of them were considered incredibly innovative for the time. In St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) on the street Torzhkovskaya appeared single-family house that was made of… plastic.

Plastic house, built in Leningrad in 1961.

Thanks to Khrushchev’s “thaw” open the iron curtain has allowed scientists to learn from the experience of other countries and try to reproduce something on the Western model. One of these experiments was a plastic house. It was designed by architect Alex Sherbinka and engineer Leonid Levinski. The idea of such an individual dwelling borrowed from the French.

The parameters of the house from plastic.

The experimental prototype was a two-story structure. The ground floor area of 6 square meters and a height of 2.2 meters, made of glass, served as a space for engineering systems and other communications. The second tier is constructed of reinforced plastic with a thickness of 14 cm Thermal insulation properties of such walls were very high. Instead of the usual glass in the window frame inserted plexiglass. Wall replaced PVC film.

The plan of the house.

The living area was 49 square meters, which housed the living room/bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and storage room.

This plastic house has not found the owners. He served as the experimental object. Within three years, scientists watched as the plastic walls and Windows in ever-changing weather conditions. In the final report the developers came to the conclusion that the experiment was a success.

Building scheme of the plastic tubing.

But, despite the inexpensive cost and other positive aspects, the plastic house was never launched into serial production. Party officials felt that a separate building will be brought up in the Soviet people the spirit of individualism.

Plastic 5-storey building, built in Moscow.

Another attempt to build a house out of plastic was made in Moscow. The five-storey building, lined with plastic panels, was erected on the North of the capital in the 4th Vyatsky lane. In the late 1980s, the house was dismantled.

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