There are many different branches of modernist architecture, from Art Deco and constructivism to expressionism and metabolism. However, not all 20th-century buildings get the care and attention that they might deserve. Enter, stage left, what’s known as socialist modernism—brutalist buildings that were erected in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, right up to the fall of the Soviet Union.
Imposing grey monoliths. Functional yet also possessing gorgeous but deeply bizarre designs. These are just some of the ways that you can describe these buildings. We’ve collected some of the most impressive examples of socialist modernism designs from the r/SocialistModernism and r/SocialistModernism1 online communities to share them with you. Scroll down, upvote the pics that impressed you the most, and let us know if you’ve seen any of these architectural marvels in person.
#1 Rudo Skyscrapers, Just Took The Photo Now
Image credits: Firkin117
#2 When The East Meets The West
Image credits: lancerne
#3 The Iron Fountain - Gyumri, Armenia
Image credits: redditorpondering
Modernist architecture, as a whole, tends to focus on minimalist, functional designs that reject over-the-top decorations. These buildings are also defined by the materials used, namely lots of glass, steel, and reinforced concrete.
But with so many different ‘flavors’ of modernism, no two architectural subgenres are exactly alike, even if there’s significant overlap between them. Socialist modernism, for instance, is very brutalist and functional, and you won’t mistake it for, say, the De Stijl or the post-war Japanese ‘metabolism’ styles.
#4 Museum Of Contemporary Art, Belgrade [oc]
Image credits: hadron_enforcer
#5 State Museum Of History, Uzbekistan (1968-70) By Yevgeniy Rozanov And Vsevolod Shestopalov
Image credits: joaoslr
#6 Tuzla Bank, (Now Nlb) Tuzla, Bih, Built In 1977, Architect V.stojanović © B.a.c.u. / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: lancerne
Socialist modernism is the style of architecture erected in Central and Eastern Europe between 1955 and 1991. However, these ancient Eastern Bloc designs aren’t all given the care that they deserve. As time marches on, many of these giant slabs of history are falling into disrepair.
However, there are some that aim to preserve these shards of peculiar design. The Guardian notes that the Bureau for Art and Urban Research (BACU, aka the Birou pentru Artă şi Cercetare Urbană) began to document and preserve these buildings and their heritage in 2014.
#7 Pov: Soviet Chad Calling Your Girl Over Satellite Phone
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#8 Time Stopped
Image credits: Dnthaveone
#9 Hotel "Vrbak", Novi Pazar, Serbia. Built In 1976 With A Bit Of An Oriental Touch To Suit The Ethnicity That Lives In This Area
Image credits: Grumpy_Developer
“We aim to revitalize this heritage not only for symbolic reasons but because we believe in these elements that managed to defy some of the ideological requirements, giving the urban space a certain flavor so characteristic of those times,” Dumitru Rusu from BACU told The Guardian.
“Boulevards, public buildings, living units, and monuments, they all are a clear reflection of the social and cultural context of the socialist period.”
#10 Sanatorium/Rehabilitation Center, 1985, Dombay, Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Image credits: lancerne
#11 Abandoned Lakeside Building, Chisinau
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#12 Military Medical Academy Complex - Belgrade, Serbia
Image credits: lancerne
The initiative kick-started by BACU also maps socialist modernist buildings that can be found in Europe, using an online tool on their website. This way, they’re promoting awareness of countries’ architectural heritage that many people might have walked past a hundred times without realizing what they were looking at in the skyline.
#13 Bus Stop In Kazakhstan
Image credits: _The_Professor_
#14 Brutal Buildings In Novi-Sad, Serbia
Image credits: ssinchenko
#15 Moscow, Russia
Image credits: lancerne
The r/SocialistModernism1 subreddit appears to be a branch of the BACU project to raise awareness of this style of architecture on various internet and social media platforms. Their goal is to protect, monitor, research, and preserve various socialist modernist buildings, monuments, parks, squares, as well as “entire districts and green areas.”
#16 Spodek ("Saucer") Multipurpose Arena Complex In Katowice, Poland. Built In 1971
Image credits: stimmen
#17 [oc] Fontana Complex, New Belgrade, Serbia. Built In 1968, Architect Uroš Martinović
Image credits: ssinchenko
#18 "Karaburma" Dorm, Belgrade, Serbia [oc]
Image credits: hadron_enforcer
The first phase of BACU’s project is all about analysis and research while the second one focuses on regulations and educating the authorities and locals about the socialist modernist cultural heritage. The project also aims to unite everyone who is interested in architecture and preservation, from architects and urban planners to artists, activists, historians, and anyone else.
#19 Genex Tower
Image credits: Dnthaveone
#20 Palace Of Rituals, Tbilisi [oc]
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#21 The Palace Of Ceremonies, Tblisi, Georgia
Image credits: lancerne
As time moves on, the philosophy of how we build and shape our cities shifts as well. It’s important to find compromises between the artistic visions of capable designers and what the people who will be living in the area truly need. Every new project is an opportunity to do better and better. Of course, what the 'better' means will depend on what society as a whole values at the moment.
#22 Mountain Kosmaj, Serbia. Built In 1971 Architect Gradimir Medaković And Sculptor Vojin Stojić (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#23 Lviv Bus Terminal Stryiska 109, Lviv, Built In 1980 Architect: V. Sahaydakivsky, M. Stoliarov Engineer: V. Boykiv, A. Yefremov. (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: lancerne
#24 Bodiul's Viewpoint Platform, Near Chisinau, Moldova, Built In The 60s (C) Bacu/ Photo Bu Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
Architectural innovation doesn’t have to be radical, as Dr. June Komisar from Ryerson University told Bored Panda during an interview, previously. “[It] can be an incremental change that will benefit the users and society at large. At the moment we have a huge opportunity to build sustainable buildings that approach or attain a 'net zero' energy cost. By using local and/or sustainable materials, designing for passive and/or active solar and wind power, designing for very low energy usage, and renovating and adapting existing buildings we can help to mitigate climate change,” the expert in architectural design and the history and theory of architecture said.
#25 The Former Memorial House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party, (Buzludzha Monument), Shipka Pass, Bulgaria, Built In 1981, Architect Georgi Stoilov (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#26 Derzhprom
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#27 Iaşi, Romania
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
According to the expert, it’s important to balance the aesthetics of the building and its relationship to the site with its structural integrity and sustainability. “Understanding the site conditions and evaluating other buildings using the same construction techniques and materials can help avoid problems,” she pointed out how architects can aim to avoid at least some issues during the actual building process.
#28 One Of The Two Halls Of Parting, Memory Park (Kiev) Ukraine. Built 1968–1981 Architect: A. Miletsky Concept, Design, Architectural Plastic Copyright Modeling Of Wall Of Remembrance By Artists Ada Rybachuk And Vladimir Melnichenko (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#29 Chisinau State Circus
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#30 Communal Buildings In Berlin's Eastern Half From The Ddr
Image credits: Nickyworld45
What do you think about socialist modernism, dear Pandas? Does this architectural style appeal to you and do you think it's heritage that is worth saving? Which of these photos left the biggest impression on you? Have you ever seen any of these buildings in person? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
#31 Livezeni Coal Mine. One Of The Largest Underground Mining Exploitation In Romania Located In Petroşani - One Of Six Cities In The Jiu Valley Mining Exploitation Region Of Hunedoara County. It Was Built In 1980
Image credits: lancerne
#32 Vojni Soliter (Military Skyscraper), Belgrade
Image credits: potpukovnik
#33 Panorama Resort - Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia
Image credits: lancerne
#34 Nis, Serbia
Image credits: nije_toliko_bitno
#35 Mosaic In Former-Soviet Central Asia
Image credits: Apart-Sky6447
#36 Town Square View Towards "Zlatibor Hotel" In Užice, Serbia [oc]
Image credits: hadron_enforcer
#37 [oc] Entrance Group With Concrete Decor Elements In New Belgrade, Serbia
Image credits: ssinchenko
#38 Prefabricated Elephant Slide In Dresden, East Germany, Cca 1965 #sicmod
Image credits: lancerne
#39 Brace Jerkovic, Belgrade, Serbia
Image credits: Dnthaveone
#40 Detail Of The Skyscraper And The Stormy Sky In Novi Sad [oc]
Image credits: hadron_enforcer
#41 The Blinov Sports And Concerts Complex - Omsk, Russia
Image credits: lancerne
#42 Lenin V. Palace Of Sports - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Image credits: lancerne
#43 Prague, Cz
Image credits: Branik77
#44 Palast Der Respublik (Palace Of The Republic), East Berlin, Ddr
Image credits: FlameHunterCCCP
#45 Mykolajiv Train Station, 2049 [oc]
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#46 [oc] Random Facade In Suceava, Romania
Image credits: bombalau
#47 The Business Building Of "Energoprojekt" In Belgrade, Serbia. Built In 1982
Image credits: ssinchenko
#48 The Strange Beauty Of Soviet Bus Stops
Image credits: anticafard
#49 The Monument House Of The Bulgarian Communist Party - Buzludzha, Bulgaria
Image credits: lancerne
#50 Lamela Bilding -Blocks 61,62 (Aka Panonian Sailboats), Belgrade, Serbia, Built In Sistem Rad-Balency - Between 1974-80 Architect Milan Miodragovic. Urban Design Josip Svoboda. (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#51 "Romanița" Collective Housing Tower For Small Family Units, Chisinau, Moldova, Built Between 1978-86, Architect: Oleg Vronsky With O. Blogu, S. Crani, N. Rebenko And P. Feldman. Engineer A. Marian. © Bacu/ Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#52 The Immaculate Conception Roman-Catholic Church, (Biserica Romano-Catolică "Neprihănita Zămislire") Orșova, România. Built Between 1972-1976 Architect Hans Fackelmann. © Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#53 Publishing House, 100 Stefan Cel Mare, Chisinau, Moldova Built In 1980, Architects: V. Zakharov, L. Gofman, A. Jinkin (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#54 Cafesjian Art Museum - Cascade, Yerevan, Armenia. Design 1975-1980 Built 1985-2000 Architects Sargis Gurzadyan With Jim Torosyan, Aslan Mkhitaryan (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#55 Bank Of Georgia
Image credits: lancerne
#56 Centrum Department Store At Suhl, East Germany, (1969)
Image credits: stimmen
#57 Tuzla Bank, (Now Nlb) Tuzla, Bih, Built In 1977, Architect V.stojanović © B.a.c.u. / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: lancerne
#58 Central Station - Sofia, Bulgaria
Image credits: Bakelite51
#59 Trade Fair Center, Accra, Ghana, Designed By Vic Adegbite, Jacek Chyrosz, And Stanislaw Rymaszewski In 1967. One Of Many Collaborations Between African And Eastern European Planners From This Era
Image credits: archineering
#60 Omldinskih Brigada Street, Belgrade, Serbia
Image credits: ssinchenko
#61 [oc] The Stunning Hotel Roman: Baile Herculane, Romania. Built 1974-76. Architect Salumita And A. Mureșan. Hotel/Sanatorium, Still In Use. Built Over A Roman Baths From 107ad
Image credits: lancerne
#62 [oc] Building In New Belgrade, Serbia
Image credits: ssinchenko
#63 Home Furniture Store In Bucharest, Romania
Image credits: Acrobatic-Emotion-44
#64 Residential Building In Tbilisi [oc]
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#65 Sports And Concert Complex - Yerevan, Armenia
Image credits: lancerne
#66 Former Passenger Port On The Dniestr
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#67 Post-Soviet Modernist Architecture In Central Asia
Image credits: redkoicarp
#68 Hala Arena In Poznań, Poland. An Indoor Sporting Arena Built In 1974
Image credits: Snoo_90160
#69 New Belgrade Under Construction, 1980's. #socmod Photo Via #socialistmodernism #socheritage #socmodernism #brutgroup #isc20c
Image credits: lancerne
#70 Monument On Freedom Hill By Janez Lenassi In Ilirska Bistrica, Republic Of Slovenia, 1965. (C) Bacu © Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#71 Leipzig Gewandhaus, Germany, Designed By Rudolf Skoda In 1975
Image credits: archineering
#72 Lviv Bus Terminal Stryiska 109, Lviv, Built In 1980 Architect: V. Sahaydakivsky, M. Stoliarov Engineer: V. Boykiv, A. Yefremov. (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#73 Sanatorium/Rehabilitation Center, 1985 #brutgroup Photo Unknown Via #socmod #socialistmodernism Dombay, Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Image credits: _di_ma
#74 Glavna Posta / The Central Post Office Of Skopje (Part Of The Ptt Telecommunications Center), Detail Skopje, Republic Of North Macedonia Built In 1972-74. Urban Planning: Kenzo Tange (1960s) Architect Janko Konstantinov (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#75 Residental Block In Moscow, Russia
Image credits: lancerne
#76 Hotel Panorama Resort. Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia
Image credits: lancerne
#77 The Aul Residential Complex, Tole Bi 286/1, Almaty, Kazakhstan Built In Stages Between 1986-2002 Architects: B. Voronin, L. Andreyeva, Yu. Ratushnyi, V. Lepeshov, V. Ve, M.rakhimbayev Designers: S. Matveyev, G. Klochkovskaya, V. Zinstein, S. Kainarbayev (C) Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#78 The Hall For Lectures And Cinema Of The Institute Of Scientific And Technical Information, (Aka “Kyiv Flying Saucer”) Kyiv, Ukraine. Built In 1971, Architects: F. Yuryev, L. Novikov Engineers: A. Pechenov, L. Kovalev, L. Kovtun, N. Coffman (C) Bacu/ Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#79 Lower Cable Car Station In Chisinau, Moldova
Image credits: lancerne
#80 Abandoned Hotel Near Lake Balaton, Hungary
Image credits: lazajnd
#81 Cerak Vinogradi, Belgrade, Serbia. Picture Taken In The '80s
Image credits: Radman1804
#82 The Bank Of Georgia’s Headquarters - Tbilisi, Georgia
Image credits: lancerne
#83 Dnipro Bus Station [oc]
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#84 Lake Sevan Viewing Platform [oc]
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#85 Kej Oslobođenja 8, Belgrade, Serbia
Image credits: ssinchenko
#86 [oc] Theater In New Belgrade, Serbia
Image credits: ssinchenko
#87 Hotel & Restaurant "Naţional"
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#88 Sevan Writer's House
Image credits: longwaytotokyo
#89 Olympic Mascot Mishka (1980) On An Apartment Block In Osh, Kyrgystan. © Bacu / Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: lancerne
#90 Parliament Garage, Chisinau, Moldova, Built In 1978, Architect S. Homa Et Al. (C) Bacu
Image credits: lancerne
#91 Cerak Vinogradi, Belgrade, Serbia. Picture Taken In The '80s
Image credits: Radman1804
#92 The Hall For Lectures And Cinema Of The Institute Of Scientific And Technical Information, (Aka “Kyiv Flying Saucer”) Kyiv, Ukraine. Built In 1971, Architects: F. Yuryev, L. Novikov Engineers: A. Pechenov, L. Kovalev, L. Kovtun, N. Coffman ; (C) Bacu Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#93 Former Ministry Of Communications Of The Lssr, (Now: Ministry Of Health Of The Republic Of Lithuania), Vilnius, Lithuania, Built In 1979. Architect: Justinas Šeibokas. (C) Bacu/ Photo By Dumitru Rusu
Image credits: _di_ma
#94 Auditorium Of Faculty Of Chemistry Of Wrocław University, Poland. Built In 1971
Image credits: Snoo_90160
