The model of the Palace of the Soviets at the exposition "The Birth of Scale": when even unrealized dreams inspire
As part of
the new architectural exposition "The Birth of Scale," the National
Centre RUSSIA presents a model of the Palace of the Soviets — one of the most
ambitious architectural projects of the 20th century.
The object
tells the story of how architecture reflects the ideology and ambitions of
society and clearly demonstrates that even unrealized projects can influence
urban development both in the country and worldwide. The palace was conceived
as a symbol of the new Soviet era. The project, developed in the 1930s by Boris
Iofan, one of the leading figures of Stalinist architecture, was meant to
showcase the power and grandeur of the Soviet Union. It was intended to host
assemblies, congresses, and other significant events. The building was planned
to be erected on the site of the demolished Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in
Moscow.
The palace,
which was to be crowned with a statue of V. I. Lenin, was designed to be over
400 meters tall. It could have become one of the tallest structures not only in
Russia but also in the world — standing alongside the Eiffel Tower and the
Empire State Building. The
building, designed in the Stalinist Empire style with elements of
monumentalism, would have been visible from any point in the capital. According
to the project, the palace’s Grand Hall was designed to accommodate 21,000
spectators and had an amphitheater layout with a massive dome. The project also
included a smaller hall for 5,000–6,000 people, halls dedicated to the Stalin
Constitution, the Heroics of the Civil War, and the Heroics of Socialist
Construction, as well as private offices for distinguished guests. The exterior
of the building was to be crowned with a 100-meter statue of Lenin.
The project
was never realized, but it remains in world history as one of the most
ambitious and daring architectural concepts.
The model
of the Palace of the Soviets presented at the exposition "The Birth of
Scale" is an exact miniature replica of the project, created at a 1:120
scale. Visitors to the exposition note that the model invites reflection on how
dreams and ambitions shape our reality and project the future.
"This
is simply breathtaking. Even in model form, you can feel the full power and
grandeur of this project. It’s a pity it remained only on paper. It’s
fascinating to imagine how such a monumental building could have transformed
the architectural landscape of Moscow," said Maria Golovanova, a regular
visitor to the National Centre RUSSIA’s expositions.
The
exposition "The Birth of Scale" has been open at the National Centre
RUSSIA since March 1. Visitors can attend for free every day except Monday,
from 10:00 to 20:00. Registration is available on the russia.ru website in the
"Events" section.
Event photobank
The children's workshop "Houses and Little Homes in the City" was held on 19 April at the National Centre RUSSIA.
