10 Stunning Examples Of Soviet Brutalist Architecture

Waquar Habib

Brutalism

Brutalism is an architectural style that values raw concrete, geometric shapes, and functionality over ornamentation. It emerged in the UK and Europe after World War II due to limited resources. However, in Soviet Russia, it flourished and is featured in various buildings.

Hotel Panorama, Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia | Shutterstock

House of Soviets, Saint Petersburg

This unfinished building in Leningrad was meant to be the administrative centre, but financial and engineering issues halted construction. It was built from 1936-1941 and remains a notable example of Soviet architecture.

Statue of Lenin and the House of Soviets at Moscow Square at the background in St Petersburg | Shutterstock

Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga

Built by Lev Rudnev in 1961, this Stalinist-style building in Riga features a towering central tower and monumental façade. Originally designed as a skyscraper, it remains one of the tallest buildings in Latvia.

Latvian Academy of Sciences building | Shutterstock

Narkomfin Building, Moscow

Moisei Ginzburg designed a residential complex in 1932 for Narkomfin employees. Innovative design included communal living spaces, rooftop gardens, and terraces. It was influential in modernist architecture and urban planning in the Soviet Union.

Facade of Narkomfin Building | Shutterstock

Russian Center for Robotics and Technical Cybernetics, Saint Petersburg

This 1980s research centre specialises in robotics and cybernetics, with a Brutalist design featuring exposed concrete and geometric shapes. It houses labs and workshops for developing and testing robotic systems for industrial and military use.

View of Russian State Scientific Center for Robotics and Technical Cybernetics futuristic concrete tower | Shutterstock

Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Built in the 1970s by Boris Rubanenko on the hills of southwest Moscow., this Brutalist-style research facility for the Russian Academy of Sciences features a geometric façade. It houses various labs specialising in science and technology.

Academy of Science building in Moscow | Shutterstock

House of Nuclear Atomist, Moscow

The building, nicknamed Nuclear Plant or House of Nuclear Atomists, was built by the architect Vladimir Badad. With 14 floors, the building has 980 flats and three retail floors. Its walls are angled to withstand earthquakes, although none have occurred in Moscow.

A view of the House of Nuclear Atomist | haus_oft/instagram

Central Telegraph Building, Moscow

The central telegraph office for Moscow was completed in 1927 by architect Ivan Rerberg. It boasts an eclectic design that combines Art Deco, Constructivism and early Brutalism. The building is known for its distinctive clock tower, ornate façade, sculptures, and decorative reliefs.

Central Telegraph Building on Tverskaya street, Moscow | Shutterstock

Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building, Moscow

This is one of seven Stalinist skyscrapers completed in 1952. The main tower, designed by Dmitry Chechulin and Andrei Rostkovsky, has 32 levels and stands 176 metres tall, making it the tallest building in Europe at its construction.

A vertical shot of Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building Tagansky District, Moscow | Shutterstock

Kurpaty Health Resort, Kurpaty

The Kurpaty Health Resort in Crimea is a prime example of Soviet modernist architecture. Designed by Igor Vasilevsky in the late 1970s, it offers health treatments, spa services, and cultural activities.

A view of the mountains from the sea near the boarding house Kurpaty in the village of Gaspra | Shutterstock

Zvartnots Airport, Yerevan

Zvartnots Airport, designed in the 1970s, showcases Soviet modernist architecture. Located near Yerevan, Armenia, it served as a major hub. Its design combines functionality with grandeur.

A view of the Zvartnots Airport, Yerevan | Shutterstock

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