Frederic Chaubin Cosmic Communist Constructions Phtographed

Awarded the title of architectural book of the year at the International Artbook and Film Festival in Perpignan, France, "Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed" by Frédéric Chaubin delves into 90 unique buildings across 14 former Soviet Republics. These structures embody what Chaubin identifies as the fourth era of Soviet architecture, a vibrant yet largely unrecognized phase emerging between 1970 and 1990. Unlike the uniform styles of the 1920s or the 1950s, this period lacks a unifying “school” or trend, instead reflecting the erratic creativity sparked by a crumbling system. Architects, seizing the opportunity presented by the disintegration of rigid norms, ventured beyond modernist confines to draw from historical roots or innovate fearlessly. Some, like those who realized projects echoing Constructivist dreams (e.g., the Druzhba Sanatorium in Yalta), and others who embraced expressionist flair (such as the Palace of Weddings in Tbilisi), illustrate this inventive spirit. In Bogatyr, a youth camp draws on Suprematist influences, inspired by lunar base prototype sketches (Prometheus camp). As the Soviet Union neared its end, “speaking architecture” became commonplace: a crematorium adorned with concrete flames (Crematorium, Kiev), an institute topped with a crashed flying saucer (Institute of Scientific Research, Kiev), or a Big Brother-like political center (House of Soviets, Kaliningrad). Through their eclectic styles and radical approaches, these buildings serve as remarkable remnants of a disintegrating system. Their diversity and exoticism not only showcase the vast expanse of the USSR but also symbolize its inevitable collapse, highlighting the widening gaps within the nation. They capture the ideological dreams of an era, from cosmic fascinations to the reawakening of national identity.