Moscow Manege (Moscow)

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  AkilinaL

  Built by Augustin Betancourt in 1817 to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the departure of the French. Notable for having no internal supports despite its size of 7500 square meters. The roof rested on the external Doric columns. Originally it was designed for military reviews and parades and a riding school. Unfortunately the design was not as successful as expected and within a few years several of the wooden trusses showed cracks. In 1823 engineers renewed the roof by increasing the number of wooden supports from thirty to forty-five. In 1825 Osip Bove designed the decoration of fasces, swords, helmets and other military regalia in the cornice frieze. In the mid 19th century concerts and other exhibitions took place. In early 1868, Hector Berlioz conducted a performance arranged by Nikolai Rubinstein, director of the Moscow Conservatory that included 500 performers and a crowd police estimated to be over 12,600. After the 1917 Revolution, it served as the Kremlin Garage. In the 1930s steel supports were added to hold up the sagging ceiling. In the 1950s the space was renovated and subsequently known as the Central Exhibition Hall. In 1962 at a modern art exhibition, Nikita Khrushchev made his famous comment referring to avant-garde art as degenerate. In 2004 the building burned and by the time the flames were extinguished, two firemen had died, the roof collapsed and only the external walls remained. In 2006 a newly built Manezh opened.

  14 years ago | reply | hide comment