I was unbelievably lucky to have a chance to visit the Tsentrosoyuz building - the only house built by the famous architect Le Corbusier in Russia. His project won the international competition in 1929 and he visited Moscow two times in two years, but later after the failure in another competition he finished his relations with the Soviet Union, the building was finished without him for 1936.
Although he inspired the whole unique style in architecture known as soviet avantgarde or the constructivism, some architects corresponded with Le Corbusier. We can see some of his ideas closer or not to what he meant in other places, but Tsentrosoyuz is the only place he planned himself. Let’s see what’s inside!
There are several independent volumes of space - with three floors and with seven floors. They’re connected, but they have their own entrance from two streets. Fun fact - building was 180 degrees rotated while projecting.
On the pictures above you can see the first floor looks different than others. Le Corbusier always left a free walk under the building, but while developing or even after some time most of the owners filled the first floors with offices or something. Here happened the same story.
He also voted for open spaces everywhere it is possible for having more light and air circulation. Now there’re huge halls, but the offices on the floors are all separated. But the whole house still has a lot of light.
All the furniture are very minimalistic art-deco style. No useless decorations at all. Only handrails and lamps. It sounds boring but it changes attention point to the incredible geometry of the building itself. What a light and color play! What a feeling of something great!
Now the building is occupied by the State Statistic Department and it’s closed for visiting, only rare tour organizations can get an agreement for several hours for excursions. I felt like winning a lottery. And it was more than worth seeing. Maybe even this house was worth a year of working in the Statistic Department.
I also love the monument of Le Corbusier in front of the House. He looks so relaxed as he just left the building to have a break outside.
Have anyone seen any of his houses anywhere? Would you like to work in space like this?
