Soviet Cities: Labour, Life & Leisure

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The architectural heritage of the Soviet period remains largely unacknowledged, leading to the destruction or alteration of many unique modernist buildings in Russian cities. Photographer Arseniy Kotov aims to document these structures and their surroundings before they disappear. He prefers to shoot in winter during the "blue hour," when warm yellow lights from apartment windows contrast with the twilight gloom outside, evoking an idealized vision of the Soviet era. Kotov imagines a great civilization built on a fair society, aspiring to explore nature and conquer space. His work spans locations from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the stark high-rise dormitory blocks of Volgograd, capturing the essence of the post-Soviet landscape. He reflects on the remnants of the USSR, showcasing outstanding buildings that once housed Soviet citizens and illustrating how cities appeared: devoid of decoration, bright colors, or luxury, characterized instead by bare concrete and powerful forms. This beautifully designed volume is part of Fuel's inspiring series on Soviet-era architecture, revealing the enduring legacy of a bygone era.