Moscow's Seven Sisters

Moscow's Seven Sisters

Moscow's Seven Sisters are an architectural legacy of the most ambitious building program ever conceived. They were built at the orders of Jozef Stalin. These towers were built for the glorification of the Soviet State after WW-II. The sisters were intended to rival the USA's skyscrapers that had gone up in the 1930's. Each Sister was designed according to Stalin's personal specifications & wishes. The architectural beauties are constructed in what is known as a 'wedding-cake' style, that concentrates the eye's focus tow the central tower. Stalin mandated that each and everyone be given a spire, to differentiate them from their American counterparts. these huge buildings are distinctive in their design as wll as thier history.

Ironically, the structure that served as the blueprint model for the Seven Sisters, The Palace of the Soviets, was never actually conctructed. Conceived of prior to the 2nd World War, The Palace was to be the ultimate symbol of Soviet power aas well as the crowning glory of Moscow. it was to be a vast structure of 415 meters of which the last 100m of which was to be a giant statue of Lenin. It would have been the tallest building in the world, if it have been completed. Although a construction site was prepared for the Palace on the site of the sacred Cathedral of Christ. tthis holy sobor (cathedral) was desmolished especspecifically for the chosen ground but the ground proved to be much too soft for the foundation pilings of such a monsterous edifice so a public swimming pool was built upon the site instead. It was in use until 1994.

Even though Stalin lost interest in the Palace of Soviets, he nonetheless wasted no amount of money on the construction of the Seven Sisters, or 'Vysotniye Zdaniye''The High Buildings' as they were officially designated. Located in kmajor & key areas in & around Moscow, these towering edifices are still dominant features of the Moscow skyline. There is no total greement as to whether or not they are beauties or beasts. it cannot be denied that they are impressive. When you stand directlyin front of any one of these magnificient towers you will be cloaked within her gigantic shadow. It is very easy to understand how these vast buildings were effective & powerful tools for state propaganda as well as for fostering a belief in Russian national superiority.

The 7 Sisters are as follows:

1) Moscow State University is a well know & often photographed architectural landmark in the russian capital.

2) Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also known as 'Bely Dom' the White House, is situated on the Old Arbat.

3) Ministry of Transport is a well known landmark as well in the Russian ca[ital.

4) Hotel Ukraina a famous & luxurious hotel in the heart of Moscow

5) Hotel Leningradskaya another famous & luxurious hotel in the heart of Moscow

6) Kudrinskaya Square apartment block known as an exce[tionally prestigious Mosocw address.

7) Kotelnicheskaya Embankment is another apartment block also known as a prestigious Mosocw address.

Is There An 8th Sister?
There are two other buildings that are sometimes considered the 'Eighth Sister', due to their similarity in scale and design to the other seven. The 1st is the Palace of Culture & Science in Warsaw, poland. It was part of Stalin's attempt to 'Communize' Poland and the 2nd is the recently-completed Triumph Palace in Moscow. At 264 metres, it is tallest ilding in Europe & 59th in the world as it contains a 1000 luxury residential apartments.

Last a 3rd similar building, the Academy of Science, exists in Riga, Latvia. It actually is not really large enough to be in contention for the coveted title of 8th sister but it undoubtedly springs from the same gene pool.

Source:

Stalin's Dreams
By: Andrey B. Litsov, 1995, Russian pamphlet

http://retro.samnet.ru/skyscrapers/moscow_skyscrapers_2.htm

http://www.seattleluxury.com/encyclopedia/entry/Seven_Sisters_(Moscow)