Communal House (Moscow)

 interesting place, apartment building, 1952_construction, 1932_construction, constructivism (art), 17th century construction, 19th century construction, object of cultural heritage of regional importance (Russia)

Experimental public residential complex built for workers of the residential construction society. Built from 1929-1933 by architects M. O. Barsch, V. N. Vladimirov, I. F. Milinis, S. V. Orlovsky, A. L. Pasternak and L. S. Slavin.

The complex consists of three building: for individuals, families and the public one-story structure with a dining room, laundry, kindergarten and club house/game room. The unique layout of multilevel apartments-honeycombs ("cells") with only a bedroom, a drawing room, a hall and a toilet.

On a floor was an original material called xylolite made of magnesite cement and sawdust. This material mainly was used for modular floor coverings. Its advantages are its low coefficient of heat absorption, hygiene, adequate hardness, low abrasion, non slip and the possibility of various colors.

The walls were made of fiberboard which was a new construction material at the time. Another distinctive feature was the flat roof on which a sun deck was arranged.

The complex was built on over the basement of the Church of the Rzhev icon of the Mother of God which had been constructed in honor of the transfer from Rzhev to Moscow in 1540 of wonder-working icons. The church was closed and demolished in 1929.