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Stefan Rudu (ed) |
New from DOM publishers:
Stefan Rudu (ed)
Architectural Guide Chisinau
Chisinau, today the capital and cultural centre of the Republic of Moldova, has undergone tumultuous changes under the successive political regimes that marked the twentieth century. Once part of the territory seized by the Russian Empire, it was integrated into the Romanian Kingdom during the interwar period. After the Second World War and largely in ruins, it was then annexed by the USSR – like all of Bessarabia – and radically transformed into a socialist city.
The Architectural Guide Chisinau focuses on this latter period, leading up to the founding of the young republic following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. The distinct urbanistic and architectural tendencies after the Second World War are reflected in the five segments of the book: the Stalinist Empire, Soviet Modernism, Postmodernism, Soviet Brutalism, and the Industrial City. Each phase reflects the essential Soviet mandate to build not only a new city, but also a new society following Soviet doctrine.
In addition to extensive photographic documentation and critical analysis of socialist architecture, the guide also includes essays on Chisinau’s development between 1945 and 1989. The authors of these essays devote their contribution – among other things – to the city’s parks and public spaces, as well as life in the ‘microrayons’, but also the cinemas that were used as an instrument for political and cultural education by the Soviet state. Insights are also provided on the industrial heritage, and the future prospects of this Eastern European metropolis, whose appearance is significantly shaped by the Soviet era.
This guide is published in the context of the Histories of Ukrainian Architecture series, which was initiated by DOM publishers. The series will include books on current and historic topics involving architecture, urban design, planning methods, and portraits of architects. These titles are published in cooperation with Kyiv-based Osnovy Publishing, in Ukrainian, English and German language editions. Among the Architectural Guides are also those of Kyiv, Kharkiv and the Georgian capital Tbilisi. They are intended to enable a better understanding of Central and Eastern Europe
The Architectural Guides by DOM publishers are handy travel companions for readers interested in architecture and culture. Projects are carefully selected and researched to make each individual book a ready work of reference, while background information and attractive design inspire armchair travellers to imaginary journeys. The series has received several awards which led to DOM publishers being presented with the Deutscher Verlagspreis (German Publisher Award) in 2020 and 2022. Further information at: dom-publishers.com
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