Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building

Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building
Котельническая набережная
General information
Location Tagansky District, Moscow, Russia
Coordinates 55°44′50″N 37°38′34″E / 55.74722°N 37.64278°ECoordinates: 55°44′50″N 37°38′34″E / 55.74722°N 37.64278°E
Completed 1952
Height
Architectural 176 m (577 ft)[1]
Technical details
Floor count 32
Design and construction
Architect Dmitry Chechylin, Andrei Rostkovsky

Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building is one of seven Stalinist skyscrapers laid down in September, 1947 and completed in 1952, designed by Dmitry Chechylin (then Chief Architect of Moscow) and Andrei Rostkovsky. The main tower has 32 levels (including mechanical floors) and is 176 metres (577 ft) tall.

The building also incorporates a 9-story apartment block facing Moskva River, designed by the same architects in 1938 and completed in 1940. Originally build in stern early Stalinist style, with wet stucco wall finishes, it was re-finished in terra cotta panels in line with the main tower and acquired ornate pseudo-Gothic crowns over its 12-story raised corners and center tower. By the end of World War II, the side wing was converted to multi-family kommunalka housing, in a contrast to the planned elite status of the main tower.

The main tower, of a conventional steel frame structural type, has a hexagonal cross-section with three side wings (18-storeys, including two mechanical floors). While it is not exceptionally tall or massive, the "upward surge" of five stepped-up layers, from a flat 9-storey side wing to the spire, produce a visual image of a far superior structure. The structure hides behind itself a so-called "Shvivaya Gorka", a hill with historical architecture and a maze of steeply inclined streets. Chechulin was initially criticized for complete disregard of this area, but his bureaucratic influence brushed off any criticisms.

Ukrainian flag

Wikinews has related news: Four arrested after building spire in Moscow painted in Ukrainian colors

On the morning of August 20, 2014 at 7:15 am a Ukrainian flag was spotted hanging on the spires of the skyscraper. At 10:05 the same day operations ended with the removal of the flag, which hung over Moscow's skyline within sight of the Kremlin for about three hours. This was done by a person going after the name of Mustang Wanted in celebration of the Ukrainian independence day.[2]

Notable residents

Notable residents of the building include(d):

Notes

External links

Records
Preceded by
River House Apartments
Tallest Residential Building in the World
1952—1964
176 m
Succeeded by
1000 Lake Shore Plaza
Preceded by
Peter and Paul Cathedral
Tallest Building in the Soviet Union
1952—1953
176 m
Succeeded by
Moscow State University Main Building
Preceded by
Peter and Paul Cathedral
Tallest Building in the Russian SFSR
1952—1953
176 m
Succeeded by
Moscow State University Main Building
Preceded by
Ivan the Great Bell Tower
Tallest Building in Moscow
1952—1953
176 m
Succeeded by
Moscow State University Main Building