Rusakov Workers' Club, Constructivist workers club in Sokolniki, Russia
Rusakov Workers' Club is a constructivist building of red brick with three large cantilevered auditorium sections protruding from the main facade in a gear-like shape. The interior contains movable partition walls that allow the main auditorium to transform from a smaller 250-seat space to a larger 1,300-seat venue.
Architect Konstantin Melnikov designed this workers club in 1929 as part of Soviet Russia's push to provide cultural spaces for factory employees during a period of radical social change. The building underwent comprehensive restoration between 2010 and 2015 and now functions as a theater venue.
The building reflects the vision of worker culture from the 1920s, bringing together artists and craftspeople in one space for shared experience. The flexible design supports theater performances that bring communities together for contemporary artistic expression.
The building sits at 6 Stromynka Street in the Sokolniki District and is easily accessible by public transport. It now operates as a working theater venue with regular performances, so planning your visit around the performance schedule will ensure you experience the space as intended.
The building's revolutionary design featured concrete tribune sections weighing several tons that could be mechanically moved using an electric motor system built into the structure. This innovative engineering allowed the interior to be quickly reconfigured for different performance styles.
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