These magnificent monumental buildings, giving Moscow a unique look, still attract the eyes of visitors, cause a feeling of amazement and delight. But many of these high-rise buildings of the capital are over 70 years old! The last 2-3 decades were marked in the architecture of the main city of the country by the appearance of new multi-story buildings, which also received the status of "skyscrapers".
History of the first high-rise buildings
The very first skyscrapers of Moscow is a complex of multi-story buildings with a height of more than 100 meters, erected on the territory of the capital in the forties and fifties of the last century.
Initially, it was planned to build eight multi-story buildings: in the very center of the city the Palace of Soviets was to be located, surrounded by seven representative buildings in the style of Soviet monumental classicism. This trend in architecture is better known as the Stalinist Empire. The number of structures erected was intended to symbolize the 800th anniversary of Moscow, which was supposed to be celebrated on a grand scale in 1947.
In January of the same year, a decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR was adopted, which allowed the construction of a series of architectural structures, later called the "Seven High-Rises of Moscow" to begin. However, the construction of one of the buildings was never completed - the process was interrupted due to the death of I.V. Stalin. The legendary hotel "Russia" was later built on the stylobate of this building.
Seven old Moscow high-rise buildings
The skyscrapers of Moscow are, first of all, the constructions of the Stalin era. These include:
- The building of Moscow State University, located on the Sparrow Hills.
- Multi-storey residential building built on Kudrinskaya Square.
- A tall building erected in the Red Gate area.
- Residential building located on Kotelnicheskaya embankment.
- The building of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
- Hotel complex "Ukraine".
- The hotel, known as the "Leningradskaya".
What is interesting about the skyscrapers of Moscow?
The location of the most monumental buildings of the capital allows you to see all the buildings at the same time. To do this, you need to climb the Vorobyovy Gory - it is from there that a stunningly beautiful view opens, allowing you to admire all the tall buildings of Moscow at the same time. From the area of Free Russia, located in the Presnensky district of the capital, you can see simultaneously four high-rise buildings of seven.
The old skyscrapers of Moscow, included in the seven of the Stalinist structures, have common features. These are buildings consisting of 17-36 floors, with a height of 136 to 235 meters. Cladding blocks for all legendary buildings were made at a factory near Moscow (in Lobnya) using special technology. The interior decoration of buildings is dominated by natural stone.
Moscow State University - a leader among Stalinist skyscrapers
This majestic skyscraper remains a symbol of the city of Moscow. The building of Moscow State University rises above the level of the Moscow River by 75 meters, the spire of the architectural ensemble rises to a record high (310 meters).
The project for the construction of the main building of Moscow State University did not initially have a spire. Instead, it was planned to erect a monument to Mikhail Lomonosov on the roof. However, I.V. Stalin did not support this idea, as a result of which the building of Moscow State University turned out to be similar to other high-rises of Moscow.
A tour of the huge university complex allows you to determine what is located on the territory of the main building:
- three faculties in such areas as geographical, geological and mechanical-mathematical;
- administrative part;
- assembly hall with a capacity of 1,500 people;
- scientific Library;
- university museum.
The side parts of the building were designed as living quarters. A significant part of the faculty lives here, as well as hostels for students and graduate students of the university. The architectural complex consists of 27 different structures.
Modern multi-story buildings
New skyscrapers of Moscow can be found now in any area of the capital. These original buildings perform completely different functions. In high-rise buildings are comfortable modern living quarters, as well as all kinds of offices, shopping centers and hotels.
We can distinguish such buildings as:
- business center "Moscow City";
- Triumph Palace building;
- numerous housing complexes ("Tricolor", "Edelweiss", "Continental", etc.);
- Gazprom building;
- Sokolinaya Gora business center and many other facilities.
The most famous architectural project of modern Moscow
The Moscow City Business Center (MIBC) is considered one of the largest construction projects in the capital. The construction of buildings is on Presnenskaya embankment. During the construction of the Moscow business center, it is planned to combine such spheres as business, accommodation and entertainment in one place.
The initiator of the project was B.I. Thor, who back in 1992 proposed creating an international business center in Moscow. CITI OJSC was established - a Moscow management company that exercises control and control functions in creating a modern complex with the same name.
The most complex object of the MIBC is the “Central core”, which is divided into underground and aboveground parts. Underground there will be 3 metro stations, a huge shopping complex and a large parking lot. One of the metro stations and parking for cars have been operating since 2005.
Terrestrial territory includes three functional zones:
- A hotel.
- Shopping and entertainment complex.
- Huge concert hall.
The architecture of the city, thanks to this complex, has replenished with many other structures. The project includes such skyscrapers of Moscow as:
- Tower 2000 is an office building on the banks of the Moskva River (construction completed in 2001).
- Expocenter is an exhibition complex (year of completion of construction - 2008).
- "Tower of Evolution" is a multifunctional center (completed in 2014).
- "Empire" - a business complex (year of commissioning - 2011).
- “City of Capitals” is a modern multifunctional architectural ensemble (construction completed in 2009).
Of course, this is an incomplete list of buildings included in the complex MIBC. The old skyscrapers of Moscow delight local residents and tourists with their monumentality. From year to year, new structures appear, surprising in their size and originality. Due to this, the appearance of the capital is changing for the better, acquiring more modern features.