Of Soviets — Palace

: The site chosen was that of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour , which was dynamited in 1931 to make way for the new "secular cathedral". From Avant-Garde to Socialist Realism

: The winning design by Boris Iofan abandoned modernist "functionalism" for a tiered, wedding-cake aesthetic that defined the "Stalinist Gothic" style. palace of soviets

If you'd like to dive deeper, we could explore the from the competition or the political purge of architects that occurred during the project's development. To See (Like) a Crowd - Architectural Histories : The site chosen was that of the

The project was designed as a gigantic administrative center and political convention hall located in the heart of Moscow, meant to serve as the physical manifestation of the Soviet Union's global triumph. To See (Like) a Crowd - Architectural Histories

: Over 160 entries were submitted, ranging from the radical geometric Rationalism of the ARU group to American-style Art Deco skyscrapers.

: The structure was to be topped by a 100-meter statue of Vladimir Lenin , his finger alone measuring six meters.

: The project signaled the end of the Russian Avant-Garde's influence, favoring an "oppressive monumentality" intended to evoke awe and submission. The Weight of Failure