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[SOVIET ARCHITECTURAL: 14 YEAR-RUNS] Arkhitektura SSSR = L'Architecture de l'URSS = Architecture of the USSR = Architektur der UdSSR. Organ soiuza sovetskikh arkhitektorov [i.e. Architecture of the USSR. Organ of the Union of Soviet Architects]. Overall 248 issues

Item #2371

Moscow: Zhurgazob’edinenie; Izd. Akademii Arkhitektury SSSR, 1933–1975. Size varies: from 29x22 cm to 32x24 cm. In original wrappers with letterpress design and illustrations. Issues 1-6, 1939 in a period binding, issue 11, 1939 in a modern binding. The rest of the lot in original bindings, unbound. Ocasional tears and minor water damage, but overall in a very good condition. Please reach out for the detailed description of the collection.

248 issues, including 6 year-runs for the first 6 years of magazine’s existence and lacking only 8 issues for the full run of the years 1933–1941. The year-runs for the years: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1961, 1962, 1966. The nearly complete years: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1956, 1957, 1965. The separate issues from the years: 1959, 1960, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975. Rare as a huge collection including early issues. Table of contents of early issues in Russian, French, German.

The magazine represents the whole epoch of Soviet architecture from the early 1930s to the early 1990s. It became the only official architectural periodical when it emerged in 1933, shortly after the collapse of small art groups, the prohibition of formalism, and the founding of unified Unions for Soviet architects, artists, writers, and others. In particular, this periodical had been published as the organ of the Union of Soviet Architects for six decades, until 1992. Being a monthly magazine in the start, the edition alternated its frequency during World War II, then made a pause in publication and later continued to release 12 issues per year. The editor in chief was a graduate from VKHUTEMAS, Karo Alabian.

The cover design and layouts of early issues were created by El Lissitzky. In those years, he was also engaged in the design of “The USSR in Construction”. These particular issues are profusely illustrated with photographs, plans, sections, renderings, schemes depicting buildings of various styles and purposes. Many articles include contemporary analysis of works by prominent 1920s architects: I. Golosov, N. Kolli, I. Zholtovskii, K. Melnikov, I. Fomin, B. Iofan, et al. Criticizing projects for formalism (as authorities required), authors of the articles carefully analyze details and depict innovative ideas in illustrations.

Throughout decades, the magazine raised relevant architectural topics. In the early 1930s, they were about reconstruction of Moscow and Kharkov, kitchen factories, power plants, the Palace of Soviets, urban plans for social cities, Moscow metro stations, housing construction, stadiums, schools, decorative details of exterior designs, theses by graduates from architectural institutes, etc.

In all, a grand collection of materials representing all aspects of architecture during the Soviet era.

Price: $12,500.00