Khrushchyovka

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The khrushchovka (Russian: хрущёвка) is a type of panelled or brick three to five-storied apartment building which was introduced in Nikita Khrushchev's time in the USSR.

This was an early attempt at industrialised and prefabricated building, the elements (or panels) being made in factories. Elevators were considered too costly and time consuming, and according to Soviet health/safety standards, five storeys was the maximum height of a building before an elevator had to be installed. The Khrushchyovkas also introduced the combined bathroom. Where as before the toilet and washroom would have been separate, to save on space and time they were now in one room.