Narkomzem Building, Regional heritage office building in Krasnoselsky District, Moscow, Russia
The Narkomzem Building is an administrative structure in Moscow's Krasnoselsky District defined by its half-cylindrical facade at the intersection of Sadovaya-Spasskaya Street and Orlikov Lane. Its three sections wrap around a trapezoidal courtyard, with distinctive horizontal window bands that emphasize the building's form.
Construction of this administrative building began in 1928 and was completed in 1933 under architect Alexey Shchusev's direction. The project emerged during a period when the Soviet state was creating new government facilities and testing modern architectural approaches.
The building reflects early Soviet ideals about modern architecture, where clean lines and geometric simplicity were meant to express efficiency and progress. This design approach shaped how Moscow's administrative buildings looked during that era.
The building's entrance sits at the street corner where the curved facade is most prominent and easy to spot. Visiting on a clear day works best, as sunlight highlights the horizontal window lines and lets you see the building's geometric form more clearly.
The building houses one of Moscow's first continuously operating elevators, with its original 1930s mechanism still working today. This early lift is a functioning relic of Moscow's modernization era and demonstrates how well Soviet engineering was built to last.
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