The Upper Trading Rows--GUM
At the end of the 19th century, the Upper trading rows (a trading institution) played a tremendous role in the economy at the time. The mall itself was the center of commercial life. The mall’s physical location in the heart of the city ended up laying the way for a very involved presence as a physical building. Most trade and business was conducted in Red Square by the 17th century anyway, but it took until November 15, 1888 for the all-Russian competition for the new design of the Upper Trading Rows to be announced. Twenty-three submissions were considered, but A. Pomerantsev came away the winner. The main building, GUM, constituted the front-facing facade of the building, in its revival style. (1)
May 21, 1890 was the day of the first stone laying for the building, and just about three-and-one-half years later, on December 2, 1893, the grand opening took place. Over the course of its early life, the mall featured both retail shops, but also specialty shops that offered services to its customers, including dental offices, hairdressers, a post office, and a restaurant. (1)
The history of the mall itself goes on, but as for the facade of the building itself, it is simply stunning. Modern day decorations light up the piped edges of the building, showing off the incredible structure of the mall, yes, but it is in daylight that the “truly-Russian” details show themselves. A wooden facade, typical of the revival style, shows itself off to the passers-by in Red Square, and the GUM has become somewhat of an icon for the people of Moscow as a result. Its arches and adornments are Russian—for they emulate a past version of the country in a thoughtful and careful design that we see today. (1)
1. "History of GUM." History of GUM. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.