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I have a fascination with the Soviet Union and Soviet History. I would like to know what city (cities) in eastern Europe retains that "soviet feel".... large, brutalist style apartment blocks? drab, somewhat depressing places.. people just wandering around aimlessly... drunkards, not much maintenance of yards, gardens and landscaping... large smoke stacks billowing out sulfer dioxide, etc...
Are there cities in eastern Europe that still look and feel very "soviet?" or is that quickly becoming a thing of the past? I did a google search and Moscow kept coming up, but Moscow it too big of a city, it's too international and it's too commercial.... I'm talking cities like perhaps Minsk Belarus? Or cities in other parts of russia that are in the arctic circle... or out in Siberia?
There's more brutalist architecture in the UK than just about anywhere. Followed by the USA, Brazil, and France.
Brutalism isn't a "Soviet" style.
You never see them in tourist photos, but many german apartment buildings have a very stark and utilitarian vibe which look and feel pretty USSR. These can also be found in Scandinavia, Finland and Slovakia.
There's more brutalist architecture in the UK than just about anywhere. Followed by the USA, Brazil, and France.
Brutalism isn't a "Soviet" style.
You never see them in tourist photos, but many german apartment buildings have a very stark and utilitarian vibe which look and feel pretty USSR. These can also be found in Scandinavia, Finland and Slovakia.
Perhaps I shouldn't say "brutalist" architecture...i was trying to convey that soviet block style, drab look. Cement...
Perhaps I shouldn't say "brutalist" architecture...i was trying to convey that soviet block style, drab look. Cement...
Interesting about Germany.
Your thread reminds me of Goodbye, Lenin.
Whole cities? I don't know. Parts of cities are stuck in their Soviet past. I was impressed with Karosta, Latvia (roughly the northern 1/3 of Liepaja).
I have a fascination with the Soviet Union and Soviet History. I would like to know what city (cities) in eastern Europe retains that "soviet feel".... large, brutalist style apartment blocks? drab, somewhat depressing places.. people just wandering around aimlessly... drunkards, not much maintenance of yards, gardens and landscaping... large smoke stacks billowing out sulfer dioxide, etc...
Are there cities in eastern Europe that still look and feel very "soviet?" or is that quickly becoming a thing of the past? I did a google search and Moscow kept coming up, but Moscow it too big of a city, it's too international and it's too commercial.... I'm talking cities like perhaps Minsk Belarus? Or cities in other parts of russia that are in the arctic circle... or out in Siberia?
People wandering around aimlessly?? Do you mean, cities of high unemployment? You have a weird vision of the Soviet era. There was full employment, you know. People didn't wander around aimlessly.
Not much maintenance of yards? Who had yards? People lived in apartments. Where do you get this stuff?
It's true, generally, that there aren't the big maintenance crews for some public parks and "landscaping" associated with some buildings, that there are in the US. (Though even that statement isn't universally true. Some parks around apartment buildings were very well-kept, lawns mowed, etc.) But that's not only a "Soviet" or E European thing. "Landscaping" looks overgrown and unkempt by our standards in parts of Scandinavia as well, and I'm guessing--other parts of Western Europe, too.
Your vision of Soviet cities has a lot more to do with propagandistic imagination than with reality. Just saying.
Come here to Minsk, there are plenty of Soviet apartment blocks indeed, if that's what you are looking for.
But Minsk is clean (all foreigners say so) and well-kept in general. It has Soviet feel but doesn't look brutal, except maybe some lousy buildings, some of which were actually built in the recent years.
Come here to Minsk, there are plenty of Soviet apartment blocks indeed, if that's what you are looking for.
But Minsk is clean (all foreigners say so) and well-kept in general. It has Soviet feel but doesn't look brutal, except maybe some lousy buildings, some of which were actually built in the recent years.
I would love to visit Minsk, I hear it's very very clean and very low-crime as well.
People wandering around aimlessly?? Do you mean, cities of high unemployment? You have a weird vision of the Soviet era. There was full employment, you know. People didn't wander around aimlessly.
Not much maintenance of yards? Who had yards? People lived in apartments. Where do you get this stuff?
It's true, generally, that there aren't the big maintenance crews for some public parks and "landscaping" associated with some buildings, that there are in the US. (Though even that statement isn't universally true. Some parks around apartment buildings were very well-kept, lawns mowed, etc.) But that's not only a "Soviet" or E European thing. "Landscaping" looks overgrown and unkempt by our standards in parts of Scandinavia as well, and I'm guessing--other parts of Western Europe, too.
Your vision of Soviet cities has a lot more to do with propagandistic imagination than with reality. Just saying.
like u know what I mean.... those late soviet years in the 80s when factories were closing, drunkeness was rampant...dilapidated apartment blocks with like 4 families in each apartment,...babushka women making borchst ....idk,
Sofia, Bulgaria is 100% what you're describing (especially outside the historic city center).
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