Архитектура

In recent years Russian cities have changed, but the architectural heritage of the Soviet period has not been fully acknowledged. As a result, many modernist buildings have been destroyed, while others have become almost unrecognisable following insensitive renovations.

Russian photographer Arseniy Kotov intends to document these buildings and their surroundings before they are lost forever. He likes to take pictures in winter, during the ‘blue hour’, which occurs immediately after sunset or just before sunrise. At this time, the warm yellow colours inside apartment block windows contrast with the twilight gloom outside. To Kotov, this atmosphere reflects the Soviet period of his imagination. His impression of this time is unashamedly idealistic: he envisages a great civilization, built on a fair society, which hopes to explore nature and conquer space.

Stunning photographs of Soviet Metro Stations from across the former states of the USSR and Russia itself, many of which have never previously been documented

For us, said Nikita Khrushchev in his memoirs, there was something supernatural about the Metro. Visiting any of the dozen or so Metro networks built across the Soviet Union between the 1930s and 1980s, it is easy to see why. Rather than the straightforward systems of London, Paris or New York, these networks were used as a propaganda artwork a fusion of sculpture, architecture and art, combining Byzantine, medieval, baroque and Constructivist ideas and infusing them with the notion that Communism would mean a communal luxury for all. Today these astonishing spaces remain the closest realisation of a Soviet utopia.

Following his best-selling quest for Soviet Bus Stops, Christopher Herwig has completed a subterranean expedition photographing the stations of each Metro network of the former USSR. From extreme marble and chandelier opulence to brutal futuristic minimalist glory, Soviet Metro Stations documents this wealth of diverse architecture. Along the way, Herwig captures individual elements that make up this singular Soviet experience: neon, concrete, escalators, signage, mosaics and relief sculptures all combine build an unforgettably vivid map of the Soviet Metro.

The photographs are introduced by leading architecture, politics and culture author and journalist Owen Hatherley.

Table of Contents

Essay by Owen Hatherley Soviet Metro station photographs from: Moscow
St Petersburg Tashkent Kiev Baku Tbilisi Minsk Yerevan Novosibirsk
Yekaterinburg Samara Nizhny Novgorod Kryvyi Rih Dnipro Kharkiv

In recent times, Soviet architecture in Ukraine has been rather in vogue abroad. At home, however, it is a different story: due to various political and economic factors and the stigma that is attached to everything Soviet, many buildings from the Soviet period are not maintained or even destroyed. The Ukrainian authors Alex Bykov and Ievgeniia Gubkina have decided to fight to save modernist architecture. Based on large-scale research, this book offers a rethinking of postwar Soviet architecture, with Bykov’s photographs documenting buildings in their current state and Gubkina’s criticism and analysis giving an unexpected spin on the multi-faceted modernist architectural movement, putting it in its correct global, historical, and political context. Gubkina also offers a revision of the term Modernism, which is most widely used in Ukraine, and the terms brutalism and post-modernist architecture. This lavishly illustrated title leaves us to question whether we should remain neutral to the steady destruction of these urban ruins and the attempt to wipe this legacy from our memory and whether this Soviet past that is portrayed is really past.

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Новая книга «Советский Модернизм. Брутализм. Постмодернизм» стала кульминацией комплексного исследования архитектуры советского модернизма на Украине. Авторы – архитекторы Алексей Быков и Евгения Губкина – посвятили многие годы изучению интернационального стиля. В этом издании они исследуют уникальность модернистских проектов во всех возможных формах (от дизайна интерьера до планировочной структуры города) на всей территории Украины и в течение трех десятилетий. Кроме того, в этой публикации анализируются основные понятия и идеи, фигурирующие в дискуссиях о позднесоветской архитектуре, в которых термин «брутализм» до сих пор понимался как исключительно западное явление.

200 color photographs

In a time and place where the modern lifestyle often takes its toll on both body and mind, it is no wonder that the concern for personal health has become increasingly palpable in all sectors of society today. Gyms, spas and wellness centers are no longer merely places to exercise but carefully created environments where aesthetics and design are extremely important. Health Club Design gathers an impressive collection of contemporary health club establishments that testify to this new trend. This book features a wide variety of installations that incorporate the latest equipment, treatments and therapies devoted to the improvement of health, designed by a host of international contemporary architects and designers.
* Another great addition to the innovative Designfocus series
* An unique and in-depth look at a section of design that is constantly growing in importance

Not too long ago, plain fitness rooms with a plethora of equipment were the epitome of wellness in hotels or studios. That is now a thing of the past. Today, day spas are the "place to be" when it comes to relaxation and regeneration. The best day spas are components of holistic wellness and relaxation concepts, located in the most beautiful regions on Earth, with spacious guest rooms and suites, excellent cuisine, as well as a discriminating design and interiors. This book presents over 50 projects and gives and overview of innovative ideas for designing Spa’s and wellness clubs. An index with contact information of the designers and architects is enclosed.

The highly acclaimed "SPA-DE: Space & Design" series focuses on the interior design of commercial spaces from around the world. This tenth volume pays particular attention to lighting in spatial design, drawing on the best designs, by the most accomplished architects and designers from around the world.

This volume pays particular attention to lighting in spatial design, drawing on the best designs, by the most accomplished architects and designers from around the world.

The highly acclaimed 'SPA-DE: Space & Design series' focuses on the interior design of commercial spaces from around the world. This volume pays particular attention to restaurants, drawing on the best designs, by the most accomplished architects and designers from around the world.

SPA-DE is a newly emerging series for interior architecture and design, focusing on commercial spaces. SPA-DE presents an international selection of distinctive restaurants, bars, cafes, boutiques, speciality shops, hotels, beauty salons, offices, museums, space installations, display designs, etc., by the worlds hippest interior designers and architects.
Описание: Part of a series for interior architecture and design, focusing on commercial spaces, this title presents an international selection of distinctive restaurant, bar, cafe, boutique, speciality shop, hotel, beauty salon, office, museum, space installation, and display design, by some of the world`s hippest interior designers and architects.

Пролистать книгу SPA-DE Space & Design на Google books

An international selection of distinctive enviromental displays and products from the world's hippest interior designers and architects.

The mere mention of the word 'spa' conjures up images of relaxation, therapy and luxury; over the last decade, contemporary society has readily embraced 'spa culture'. In order to meet increasing public demand, institutions worldwide have opened their doors to provide their own definition of a spa - from medical day spas in mid-Manhattan to five-star destination spas in the south of France.

The concept of the spa: healing waters, massage and body treatments - has now pervaded our way of life and leisure in a manner never witnessed before.

Spa: The Sensuous Experience provides a timely exploration of 40 of the very best spas created over the years, from more recent examples to traditional destinations that have become classic icons in the spa world. New York based architect and professor, Robert D. Henry, a recognised authority in the field of spa design both in the USA and overseas, provides a comprehensive foreword to the unprecedented publication.