Conclusion

I hope that everyone enjoyed the tour and came away from a good idea of the influence of Constructivism on Moscow, and ultimately on the Russian state at the time. As you can see, Constructivism was a form that allowed Russian architects to flaunt the nation’s upcoming technological, industrial, and political prowess, while also providing for communist ideals and practicality. The emphasis rested on Russia’s modernity through the use of concrete, glass, and steel, and much of its practical form focused on individuals: uniting people under communal houses, providing workers with social spaces, and providing for accessible shops and government centers. 

While some of these sites remain fully functional, many are in need of great repair. The Constructivist structures, once modern ideological and physical innovations, now sit as antiques throughout the city. Likewise, the goals associated with these sites for modernity and improvement for the workers and consumers withered and never returned as Stalin took control of the USSR years later. With the failure of a world wide communist revolution, and with the failure of the USSR, the functional goals of many of these sites became antiquated, and were replaced with other functions.

Nevertheless, the historical context of these sites at the time from the 1920s and into the 1930s reveals the political and social changes that Russia and Moscow were undergoing at the time. The city and the nation were becoming centers for the communist movement, and structures were needed to demonstrate its practical use and benefits. Moscow was thus the hub for communist experimentation through Constructivist art and architecture. As you can recall, each of these sites that we visited today held a greater practical purpose and usage that could contribute to a greater and more modern communist society. Thank you for joining me today!