Здание Наркомата обороны, Art Deco military administration building in Khamovniki District, Russia
The Defense Commissariat Building is an Art Deco administrative complex in Moscow topped by a prominent tower crowned with five-pointed stars. The structure rises above surrounding buildings and currently houses the Central Broadcasting Studio of Russia's Defense Ministry.
The complex was built between 1934 and 1938 under architect Lev Rudnev's direction as the headquarters for the People's Commissariat of Military Affairs. It emerged during a period of major Soviet transformation and reflects the architectural ambitions of those decades.
The building displays a blend of modernist design with Soviet symbols that emerged during the 1930s. Five-pointed stars and military insignia shape its appearance and reflect the values of that era.
The building sits at 18 Gogol Boulevard near the Arbatskaya and Kropotkinskaya metro stations. The location is centrally placed in Moscow and easy to reach, with the exterior visible from the street.
The visible tower represents only one-seventh of the original ambitious plan that intended to create a sprawling complex facing Arbat Square. This incomplete state speaks to the grand plans of that era and their practical limitations.
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