Pokrovka Street 20, Postconstructivist apartment building in Moscow, Russia.
The building at Pokrovka Street 20 is an eight-story residential structure with symmetrical facades, square columns, and simplified neoclassical details. The interior layout follows a clear pattern with internal staircases and shared common areas.
The building was completed in 1936 and marks the transition from experimental Soviet design to a new architectural direction under architect L. Z. Cherikover. This period was characterized by a move away from radical experimentation toward more conventional forms.
The building emerged during a period when Soviet architects moved away from strict geometric modernism and began reintroducing formal design elements. This shift in design principles is visible in the details that visitors notice when passing by.
The residential building is part of an existing neighborhood and can be viewed from outside to observe its architectural features. Morning and afternoon hours offer the best light for photographing the facade details.
The building represents a rare intermediate phase in Soviet architecture that lasted only briefly and is less known than the radical movements before it or the classical Stalinist style that followed. For architecture enthusiasts, this is an example that documents this short-lived period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.