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".
The 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, the construction of eight multi-story buildings was planned: 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 Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR was adopted, which allowed the construction of a series of architectural structures, subsequently 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 four high-rise buildings of seven at the same time.
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 75 meters above the level of the Moskva River, 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 skyscrapers in 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, and hostels for students and graduate students of the university are also located. 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 comfortable modern living quarters are located, 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.
