The photographer showed the unusual architecture of Minsk.
Welcome to the “hero City” of Minsk.
I youth interested in totalitarian architecture, which was built in the 20th century in the Soviet Union, Germany and Italy. In Minsk I was in for a surprise: the entire center is built up Stalin’s Empire style.
Photos and text by Denis Mukimov
1. This architecture leaves a strong impression at first sight. It was always a propaganda tool. The construction is aimed at creating a perfect future that is almost here.
3. Today, the buildings of this period real works of art. All maintained in excellent condition, beauty is not covered with advertising or signs.
Even the modern Palace of the Republic is also a clear representative of totalitarian architecture. Just as if it another state, previously located just a thousand kilometers West. There, too, liked to build buildings, pressing for its solidity and coldness. Minsk Palace of the Republic reminded me of a film center in Manila.
4. It is clear that, as elsewhere, only look pompous government buildings and public institutions, as well as houses for the item. For the common people was simpler. So what about the equality of all members of society were declared?
5. The historic quarter Trinity suburb so do a thousand times dearer propaganda decorations.
6. You can imagine how beautiful was Minsk before the war. It is a pity that the area is quite small.
7. Holy spirit Cathedral of the 17th century.
8. In the center still there are even now places like this. This is the area where we lived, near the metro station “Grushevka”.
9. The view from our window.
10. An interesting example of Khrushchev’s struggle with the Stalinist architectural frills. How funny balconies and downpipes breaks through the eaves!
11. A little excessively pretentious Central post office. Its interior looks much more modest.
12. As well as in Moscow near the Kremlin and Kiev on the independence square in Minsk on the main square of the country has built an underground shopping center.
13. Business center.
14. Lenin Street.
15. Residential house with a tower and a spire on the street Communist.
16. The old Cathedral of the virgin Mary sandwiched between two modern buildings.
17. The famous Minsk library! It has become one of the symbols of the city. Mostly, I think, people goes there not to read books, just to see how everything is arranged inside. At the entrance, even the tickets for these sell in the Museum. For variety, you can climb to the observation deck at the top.
Money from the curious to the contents of the library, apparently, is not enough, therefore, the external walls of the building are used as advertising space.
18. Around Minsk hung funny propaganda MOE, just pay attention to it. At bus stops:
19. On advertising structures along the sidewalks.
20. The bas-relief on one of stalinok.
21. In Belarus, on the sidewalks, preventing the exits from the arches, preserved in the set of the old signs “Beware of the car!”.
22. In flower beds for the winter stuck fir branches.
23. In Russia everyone is convinced that in Belarus the incredible cleanliness of the streets and order in the communal area. This is true, although in the winter after a snowfall is the same slush like everywhere else. At every bus stop is a box of sand for the bedding of the road.
24. On the streets quite a lot of street cleaners and snowplows. Paths in parks are cleaned with tractors.
25. Touching the statue at the checkpoint Suvorov military school.
26. Sculpture near the circus.
27. Their author.
28. Toilet “for lovely ladies” and “real men” in the restaurant “Own”.
29. The Airfield is the old Minsk airport. It was closed last year, all flights now depart from the international airport, located outside the city.
30. During the war the airfield as most of the city was destroyed. From the pre-war buildings, there remain some constructivist treatage.
31. But mostly the beginning of the street is built up in conventional homes with no frills, nothing special they are not. Mediocrity is diluted with graffiti only on the end walls.
33. A few hundred meters high-rise buildings over and begins the private sector, mainly it houses 50 years of construction.
34. The private sector along the sidewalk serves as the path. Pleased that the front garden is not fenced terrible fences made of profiled sheet (Yes, the red-brown color!), and left cute heart wooden picket fence.
35. In Minsk every house hangs a sheet. It is the year of building — very convenient for the tourist interested in history. This house was built in 1948 and I thought he was before the war.
36. This is Minsk, five to ten minute drive from the grandiose historical center.
37. Outside the airfield waiting for the big renovations on the site of the airport and the old houses will soon erect new quarters.
38. Here’s a he, Minsk!
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