On July 10, 1935, a document was adopted that radically transformed the face of old Moscow — the resolution “On the General Plan for the Reconstruction of Moscow,” prepared by special commissions under the leadership of architecture academicians V. Semyonov and S. Chernyshev.
The plan aimed to create a new ideological image of the Soviet capital. According to the document, most of the central streets of the capital — which had for centuries formed the historical ensemble of the city — would practically disappear. Old streets were to be straightened and widened by demolishing “unnecessary” buildings or radically reconstructing them.
Some historic mansions were destroyed or rebuilt beyond recognition, while others were moved deeper into courtyards to make room for the pompous giants of “Stalinist Empire” style.
In the resolution of the Joint Plenum of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU (b) and the Moscow Soviet dated July 11, 1935, which approved the master plan, a clear program for the architectural design of the city was laid out. The Palace of the Soviets and the House of Industry were given top priority.
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