The fourth age of Soviet architecture
In this volume photographer Frédéric Chaubin reveals 90 buildings sited in fourteen former Soviet Republics which express what could be considered as the fourth age of Soviet architecture. They reveal an unexpected rebirth of imagination, an unknown burgeoning that took place from 1970 until 1990. Contrary to the twenties and thirties, no “school” or main trend emerges here. These buildings represent a chaotic impulse brought about by a decaying system. Their diversity announces the end of Soviet Union.
Taking advantage of the collapsing monolithic structure, the holes of the widening net, architects revisited all the chronological periods and styles, going back to the roots or freely innovating. Some of the daring ones completed projects that the Constructivists would have dreamt of (Druzhba sanatorium), others expressed their imagination in an expressionist way (Tbilisi wedding palace). A summer camp, inspired by sketches of a prototype lunar base, lays claim to its suprematist influence (Promethee). Then comes the speaking architecture widespread in the last years of the USSR: a crematorium adorned with concrete flames (Kiev crematorium), a technological institute with a flying saucer crashed on the roof (Kiev institute), a political center watching you like a Big Brother (Kaliningrad House of Soviet). This puzzle of styles testifies to all the ideological dreams of the period, from the obsession with the cosmos to the rebirth of privacy and it also outlines the geography of the USSR, showing how local influences made their exotic twists before bringing the country to its end.
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"...an eye-opening experience for those who assumed that Soviet architecture died with the rise of Stalin." -The New York Times."
About the Author
About the photographer:
Frédéric Chaubin was born in Phnom Penh in 1959. For the last fifteen years, he has been editor-in-chief of the French lifestyle magazine Citizen K. Since 2000 he has regularly featured his photographic works combining architecture and travel. The CCCP collection research was carried out from 2003 to 2010 in an intuitive process.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By ok
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I obviously LOVE grand, cubist, concrete design! Growing up in Russia might have something to to with it... This book has been praised all over international media, and I will join the movement. The book contains a loot of buildings and the pictures are big and interesting. However, I am a only a humble engineer with a personal interest in architecture, this is in no way to be considered "professional" recommendation.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By D. Ennis
Format:Hardcover
I can understand why Chaubin embarked on this project. These structures are awe inspiring and sometimes haunting. The presentation is beautiful - I am grateful that Chaubin has brought this little known architectural legacy into the light.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By c.larch
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
On each page, you receive what you pay for: large photographs that are well composed with a decent amount of supporting text. (Every page is almost completely covered in images) As an architecture student, I often referred to this book for some base point ideas for designs or circulation or program elements during studio and it really did aid my design style to see so many different pieces of architecture (the book is far from one note regarding architecture, even though it does have a brutalist-modernist focus). I believe this book to be a good volume for any architect's private collection.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
I really like the aesthetics of the architecture displayed in the book. The book is full color with large detailed pictures. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gaddijj
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous
I saw these photos at a show in London - they are absolutely beautiful. Quite an amazing period of architectural history, and one which the photographer documents in colorful... Read more
Published 3 months ago by parisNewt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Excellent work from Chaubin, nice photos from these unique buildings from the former USSR. It is a big heavy (highly recommended) book full of images and information...
Published 4 months ago by Ivan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Illustration on Soviet Photography
Great illustration on Soviet Architecture in former soviet republics and Russian Federation. The book has a very good foreward explaining the soviet style of construction and a... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Gene M Brosius
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely fascinating!
This is the most unique book - great gift for artists in your life, or anyone fascinated with Soviet era history. Read more
Published 5 months ago by glicker
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful photos, marred by editorial slant
The book delivers on its promise of incredible photography of amazing structures. The buildings here are otherworldly, alien, and remarkable in a way that will make you wonder how... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Chris Paris
5.0 out of 5 stars
cosmic communist constructions photographed
it's one of the most beautifull albums that i have bought last year and is 3 times chepaer from amazon than here in Russia!
Published 14 months ago by Olya
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quality isn't incredible, but very cool series, interesting as hell.
About half the images in the book are a little lacking in quality/detail, as if the majority of this project wasn't shot in large format film, which is almost a requirement for the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Sean Foulkes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
Very interesting photos.
But some pictures are placed on two pages. They are folded in center and it's not pleasant to look at them. I don't like this style in any book. Read more
But some pictures are placed on two pages. They are folded in center and it's not pleasant to look at them. I don't like this style in any book. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Igor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great pictorial, good descriptions
Very nicely done book, interesting and weird. A nice coffee table book to flip through (and looks good), but also a lot of great information and history.
Published 19 months ago by lasheliz
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