I absolutely love this painting by Mikhail Nemtsov of The Communal House of the Textile Institute in Moscow.
Designed by Ivan Sergeevich Nikolaev and completed in 1931, it is one of the seminal buildings of the Constructivist era, and is often referred to simply at Nikolaev's House. It embodies the radical approach to communal living and education that gained popularity in the post-revolutionary fervent, when all social institutions became open to re-examination. The painting by Nemtsov doesn't just represent the building but also tries to capture the multitude of social relations that would have taken place in the building.
Since 1968, when it was last repaired, the building has fallen into disrepair, and although Nemtsov likes the fact that it still supports a variety of uses, a renovation is planned.
Watch this video interview with Nemtsov from the excellent Ogino Knauss site here:
MIKHAIL NEMTOV from OGINO KNAUSS on Vimeo.
I have the original article Nikolaev wrote with the blueprints and floor-plans of this building, if you'd be interested.
Posted by: Rosswolfe.wordpress.com | March 22, 2011 at 03:29 PM
Thank you! You also made me discover Ogino Knauss. Very good stuff. All the best, Christian
Posted by: Architectuul | April 14, 2011 at 12:08 PM
So if Mikhail Okhitovich and Moisei Ginzburg are the patron saints of Kosmograd, where do Leonid Sabsovich and the Vesnin brothers fall into the hagio-hierarchy?
Posted by: ROSS LAURENCE WOLFE | April 23, 2011 at 10:31 PM