CCCP. Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed

Frédéric Chaubin's "Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed" was recognized as the architectural book of the year by the International Artbook and Film Festival in Perpignan, France. The book delves into 90 unique edifices across 14 former Soviet Republics, showcasing what Chaubin describes as the fourth era of Soviet architecture, spanning from 1970 to 1990. Unlike the distinct architectural movements of the 1920s and 1950s, this period is characterized by a lack of a unifying style, reflecting the disarray of a crumbling regime. Architects during this time broke away from strict modernist principles, either revisiting traditional roots or boldly innovating. Some audacious creations realized visions that the early Constructivists could only imagine, such as the Druzhba Sanatorium in Yalta, while others embraced expressionism, exemplified by the Palace of Weddings in Tbilisi. The Prometheus youth camp in Bogatyr, with designs echoing a prototype lunar base, demonstrates Suprematist influence. In the USSR's waning years, "speaking architecture" became prevalent, seen in structures like the crematorium in Kiev, adorned with concrete flames; the Institute of Scientific Research, also in Kiev, featuring a crashed flying saucer on its roof; and the House of Soviets in Kaliningrad, serving as a watchful political presence reminiscent of Big Brother.