я не понедельник: коммунальные квартиры в СССР

Усадьба Измайлово (Izmaylovo Estate) was once the country residence of the House of Romanov, dating as far back as the 17th century. Re-populated by peasants and tradesmen, the site was originally used by Tsar Alexis after the fall of the Romanovs to create a center for the technological advancement of the Russian economy. His goal was to perfect agricultural technology and crafts to the point of rendering obsolete imported goods and strengthening the production and trade of wheat and linen -traditional Russian produce . His experiments in growing exotic fruits such as grapes and melons were a success, yet other projects were less so; it seems that silk worms turned out to be a failed venture.

barbican tower

Cathedral of Intercession

Усадьба Измайлово’s varied past includes a retreat and playground for young nobility -most notably Peter the Great- housing model farms, a menagerie, workshops and a hunting reserve. The site eventually became an almshouse for veterans of the Napoleonic Wars during its later years. During the Soviet era, these almshouses became common housing, providing communal living quarters for an enormous number of labourers and their families. The space is no longer used as dwellings but has been preserved as a museum of culture.

Birch forest in the grounds of the Усадьба Измайлово

View across the pond of the Измайлово market

Pond on Усадьба Измайлово grounds

On the grounds of the communal living quarters

Stalin had shallow bunkers like these installed in order to protect the residents from potential chemical warfare attacks by the Germans. The underground space was only 200m² yet upwards of 2000 people lived in the compound at any given time.