“When you can’t do anything, but you really want to”: Soviet modernism in Zhukovsky

Science city Zhukovsky is a city of lovers in the sky. Here, in closed institutes, since the early 1930s, airplanes were created and the latest developments of the Soviet aviation industry took to the skies for the first time. The architectural heritage of the science city has been perfectly preserved: constructivism, the neoclassical center, and, of course, post-war modernism. Together with the SovModno project team, we are publishing a guide to the city’s modernist treasures.

Dispensary of the Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant © SovModno

The city received its modern name in 1947 in honor of Nikolai Zhukovsky, the founder of Russian hydro- and aerodynamics. It was assumed that Zhukovsky would become the capital of the Soviet aviation industry, so the best designers worked on its architecture: the first master plan of the city was developed in the workshop of the constructivist architect Viktor Vesnin in 1935. The project was partially implemented: the blocks are organized along wide straight streets and a pedestrian boulevard. The core of the city consists of buildings with arches leading to courtyards.

Steles with airplanes

Stela “Zhukovsky”, Galina Rubina, Igor Vasiliev, 1981–1984
Stele "Airplane", Igor Gonchar

Anyone who arrives in Zhukovsky by train is immediately greeted by two steles depicting an airplane - since the late 1930s, the latest developments in the field of aircraft construction have been carried out here. One of the steles is located on the roof of the Otdykh railway station, and the other is located nearby on the roundabout.

Steles with airplanes © SovModno

Addresses: Moskovskaya Square, 1 and Otdykh District (circular traffic)

Dispensary of the Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant

Igor Maksyutin, Viktor Belov, Oleg Fedulov, 1986

The largest mosaic in the city is located on the facade of the former canteen of the Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant. The panels are called “Heavenly Routes” and “Family”. Their author, Igor Maksyutin, also came up with a decorative design for the interior spaces of the dining room. Wooden carved panels with plant motifs still decorate the premises.

Dispensary of the Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant © SovModno

Wooden carved panels © SovModno

Address: Nizhegorodskaya Street, 2

Playground

Victor Bokarev, 1974–1975

Sculptor Viktor Bokarev, a student of Ernst Neizvestny, came to Zhukovsky in 1973 and created a number of wonderful works for the city. His playgrounds with concrete animals can today be seen at two addresses in Zhukovsky - in a city park and in the courtyard of a residential building near the center. Children still enjoy climbing on concrete animals.

Addresses: Pushkin Street, 2 (in the center of the courtyard) and Komsomolskaya Street, 9 (in PKiO)

Central Hospital for the Examination of Flight Test Staff

Lydia Orlova, Zoya Bakaeva, 1986

The construction of a hospital for the examination and treatment of test pilots was financed by the USSR Ministry of Aviation Industry. This was reflected in the quality of construction and finishing materials: the hospital’s interiors still look expensive today. Interestingly, the intersecting bars were inspired by the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris.

Central hospital for examination of flight test personnel © SovModno

Address: Dzerzhinsky Street, 16

Kindergarten No. 7 “Ship”

Oleg Ovsiy, 1981

The kindergarten for the children of employees of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) could have become a completely standard building if not for the initiative of the architect Oleg Ovsiya. He changed the layout, added a swimming pool and came up with three-dimensional brick images on the main façade: an unusual pattern, an antique car and a ship. The author himself describes his work on the “Korablika” project as follows: “When you can’t do anything, but you really want to, this is how it turns out!”

Kindergarten No. 7 “Ship” © SovModno

Address: Semashko Street, 12

Painting in the former cinema "Vzlet"

Igor Maksyutin, Viktor Belov, 1981–1984

The reconstructed building of the Vzlet cinema does not reveal its Soviet origins until you go inside and see a mural dedicated to the history of aviation. It is made using a rare and complex hot encaustic technique, in which the design is literally burned into the surface. In the 2000s, the painting was covered with plywood and wallpaper. Only in 2019, the new owners of the building decided to restore the painting and invited its author Igor Maksyutin to do this! An exemplary example of the revival of sovmod in the city.

Mural in the former cinema "Vzlet" © SovModno

Address: Gagarina Street, 24

Useful links:

We prepared this text together with the SovModno project team. The guys make guides on Soviet modernism, print their own postcards and lead architectural tours. Subscribe to them and come for a walk and watch co-mod!

On an excursion with the SovModno project © SovModno