The underground as architectural sight of the russia’s cities.

THE UNDERGROUND AS ARCHITECTURAL SIGHT OF THE RUSSIA’S CITIES.

Medvedeva Olga,

Teacher of English in “NITT”

Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov region

In the beginning of the nineteenth century in Europe, the sharp rise of urbanization is foreshadowed and increase of population’s industrialization that prove to difficulties of movement of people. When the masses of people and local transport fully filled the streets of Paris, Berlin and London the metropolis began to seek a way out of the situation. In 1860 the foundation of construction of the first subway has been laid. In London, the Metropolitan company, on Euston Square has dug the first tunnel. The name "metro" appeared from there. The first who invented and developed the metro project was Londoner Charles Pearson. After the successful London project other major cities also took up the construction of such vehicle. The underground message has played a huge role the organizations of movement of the population for development of big cities and capitals. The entire city blocks were taken into attention and calculated with the development of the metro. It’s appeared the ability to place production for the city center.

In Russia the metro project began to talk about 40 years before the construction of the first line. The active construction of the metro began in the major cities of the Soviet Union in the postwar years. These were: Leningrad (Saint Petersburg), Kiev, Tbilisi, Baku, Kharkov, Tashkent, Yerevan, Minsk, Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) Novosibirsk, Kuibyshev (Samara), Sverdlovsk (Ekaterinburg). The metro was constructed in million cities then and now. Today the status of million cities have 15 ones, but only 7 of them have got an operating underground.

Originally metro appeared as a necessity. So constantly expanding and growing, underground communication solves traffic problems in the capitals and big cities. The underground is functionally organized and rather comfortable for people, therefore it has unshakable authority in society. However, metro was the representative and founder of the new art culture. In response to numerous allegations about the ruthless destruction of cultural heritage by international competitors, the Soviets were presented the Metropolitan as a symbol of a new culture. Architects were faced by an important task for the organization of the material and spiritual environment for the person of socialist time and, of course, the leading role in construction of the underground was assigned to them. In the period of 1935-1950 metro stations differ in abruptness of interpretation of property of world classics and wealth embodiment of architectural and art decisions with using of magnificent arts and crafts kit: carvings on a stone, fresco, majolicas, sculptural statues, a mosaic, bronze casting, and also sugary gilding. Despite the fantastic images of underground life, they are called architecture of socialist realism, once again confirm the existence of the socialist dream that the world of luxury and culture now belongs not only to the elite, but also to the working people. In the mythology of the formation of our art a prominent place was given to metro. Among the variety of "faces" of architecture, one of the highlights was the "face" of subway, and the history of its design and construction - one of the most important and triumphant chapters in the history of socialist development of the state.

Several large cities of Russia with rich history of construction of the subway will be presented in this article.

Factory-plant industry rapidly grows in Moscow with a population of 1.2 million inhabitants in the beginning of XX century. Because of the city needed a radical reorganization of the existing methods of promotion. The transport problem is not solved even with appearing the tram on the streets in 1903 because the tram carriages moved slowly and the tram stops were far from the stations. The first project of Moscow urban electric Railways as metro was in 1901 with a length of Sokolniki-Paveletskiy train station. The authors of the project were: the architect-engineer P. I. Balinsky, an engineer E. K. Knorre, N. N. Karazin. Mutual creativity of these famous people has left their mark in the development of the economy and culture of Russia. They detail have thought over and have developed the plan of the first Moscow subway. Such ideas have generated a lot of sensation on pages of newspapers and sheets among the Moscow businessmen. The Moscow subway which is passing through itself a huge number of passengers was nobly trimmed by granite, bronze, marble, precious smalt and semi-precious stones. People left the boring and unreliable world above, left the gray communal flats and poor housing, going down on "wonderful ladder" to the underground kingdom. From it the Soviet person felt a part of the faultless world of the terrific temples and palaces giving a variety of esthetic and cultural senses at each station. So for example, at the Oktyabrskaya station is created the expressive image of the underground sky, thanks to blue luminescence.

Some stations remind temples: Gothic stained-glass windows on the Novoslobodskoy stations, the solemn arches on "Arbat". Most the stations can be considered the underground museums in which marble bas-reliefs, bronze sculptures, mosaic panels, figured carpets from a natural stone and various precious wonders are harmoniously combined. the real fountain beats between the Ilyicha Square and Rimskaya stations, and there are 76 unique bronze pedestals at the Revolution Square station. Some of the metro stations are decorated with marble, you can find fossils of extinct animals: ammonites, corals, nautiluses, sea urchins and mollusks. Architectural decisions, during the development of the metro was aimed at the creation of the capital brands. At first it was carried out in architecture of pavilions, sprouting from underground life to the urban environment. These objects are built in the best complete orthodoxy of architectural heritage. Secondly, construction of the subway has given an impetus for reconstruction of municipal economy of the city and its general planning. Despite constructive difficulties which the Soviet architects have faced at them after all it has turned out to remove at people of feeling of discomfort of stay underground, indoors without windows and natural lighting. Because of, the special attention was given to the artificial light as an important psychological factor in the perception of architectural environment. Spacious, plentifully and generously decorated halls and transitions reminded palaces with gilding and sculptural reliefs. Polychrome colours which are present in most stations also promote to the creation of a special festive atmosphere. "Our metro will be the best decoration of the proletarian capital", "No equal in the world", "the Whole country is building a metro", "the best and the most beautiful underground in the world" - these are slogans and the ideas which tried to wake up feeling of hope for bright future and technical progress at the population. The Moscow Metro was a great example of an important socialist construction, which was keep watched over the whole country.

The idea of construction of the subway in the capital of the Russian Empire has arisen at the end of XIX-the beginning of the 20th century of century. However, it was not so easy. Known historical events, World War I (the 1914-1918th.), the October revolution (1917) have rejected implementation of this plan for many years. But despite this, the beginning of metro construction was in 1938 in Leningrad (Saint-Petersburg), which continued after the end of World War the Second. The long-awaited opening of the metro took place in 1955. The event was so expected that has caused kilometer turns. People were ready to stand for hours at the entrance to admire the first stations and ride the trains. Originally only 8 stations have been opened which were located on the same branch. Almost all of them have brilliant architectural decorating, in Stalin architecture style. As well as in Moscow Metro, the St. Petersburg stations have the magnificent furniture reminding interiors of palaces and castles. Also St. Petersburg subway is the deepest in the world. In 40-50 years the Stalin style was the main direction in architecture and art which combines luxury, grandeur and monumentalism. The architecture of such style on the one hand admires, but with another suppresses the greatness. In an interior of stations materials from bronze, marble, crystal are widely used and one of popular decorations is a mosaic. Also bas-reliefs, sculptures, sheaves of ears, stars and laurel wreaths often occur among a decor. The separated and important part of each station are heavy magnificent chandeliers, palace and castle type. The feelings of Leningrad residents about the local subway are very well given in the visitors' book:

• "The Leningrad subway is beautiful! It is impossible to examine its palaces without nervousness. It is far better than the best fairy tale!";

• - "We, the people of Leningrad, survived the blockade, we thank heartily the party and the government for the gift to the hero-city";

• - "I have visited the subway - as in paradise. Now it isn't terrible to die";

Impressions of people from the "underground palaces" were so bright that they contributed to the emergence of a new "part of the metro era" when "together with the city improved and people who live there". The veneer columns with decorative glass was first used in the design of the vestibule of the station "Avtovo". This station is a part of the 12 most beautiful stations in the world. The Central column are situated in the middle of the room, which are lined with faceted glass, and gives the crystal impression. Cut each column was done perfectly, in a practical sense it allowed to hide concrete core inside the towers. Theme "Avtovo"- the defense of Leningrad. The Institute of technology station isn't less interesting; its central hall is made of white marble. On the walls you can see the 24 bas-relief of Russian scientists: Lomonosov, Zhukovsky, etc. The major historical event - the October revolution was reflected in the interior of the Central hall of the station "Ploschad Vosstaniya". Illustrations of highlights of an event can be seen on the medallions located on the arches of walls. For the visiting dignitaries the excursion on the Leningrad subway which it was perceived on an equal basis with visit of the museums and theaters was an obligatory part of the cultural program. The first turnstiles were tested at the station "Narva". It was a door-turntables that opened when lowering the token cost 50 cents. A monument to A. S. Pushkin is at the end of the hall of the station “Pushkinskaya”. In space behind a monument it is possible to see a panel, with the image of the park in Tsarskoye Selo, where the young poet exactly liked to walk. The Narvskaya station is devoted to workers. The pictures of various professions: farmers, textile workers, doctors, teachers, artists, etc. are on the walls. "Narva" is one of the richest stations in the decoration of the Leningrad underground. The development of Soviet industry disclosed very well in the design of the station "Kirov plant". Graceful room lined with grey marble, but special attention should be paid to the eyelet punching the coverage. It represents a through lattice which consists of Plexiglas strips. The "daylight" lamp are mounted at a certain distant from it.

The subway extended gradually, occupying various regions of the country. The extensive geographical region in a northeast part of Eurasia – Siberia hasn’t avoided by metro. The first subway in Siberia has opened the doors for inhabitants in 1985. Novosibirsk metro is the most Eastern in Russia. The construction and operation of the subway was held in a rather harsh conditions due to temperature and climatic features of the area. The construction of the metro in Novosibirsk, as in the largest industrial and scientific center, was discussed for a long time. In the 70s the usual land transport for the inhabitants didn’t cope with the passenger flow no longer, so the decision was made to build a subway. Today the subway has only 2 operating lines: Lenin and Dzerzhinsk and 13 working stations. Novosibirsk metro can’t boast of pomp and luxury of the interior, as the architects worked in a very difficult economic situation and they had to save on materials, but it does not mean that stations do not have its own architectural style. They are characterized by the predominance of wide open architectural volumes and the restraint interiors. There is a dominance of functionalism. Marble and granite inconspicuous colors was used in the finishing materials of the passenger rooms. The bridge connects the two banks of the Ob river, is 2145 km in length. It's the longest metro bridge in the world. The bridge will connect the city center with the districts on the left Bank , which led to the development of settlements on the two banks of the river.

Not less interesting subway is in other part of our country, in Kazan. It is considered to be the youngest, since it opened in 2005, when the city celebrated its Millennium. The designers tried to create a station is not only safe, but comfortable for all passengers, including people with disabilities. The station is equipped with elevators and hoists. However, despite the comprehensive work of experts, the Kazan metro is the most unpopular among the locals. Most commonly tourists use it to enjoy the beauty of the stations. Therefore, the Kazan metro is one of the cleanest in the world. Today the metro has 10 stations, which are famous for the variety of architectural styles. For example, the main theme of the interior of the station "Prospect of Victory" is the victory of the USSR in the great Patriotic War. The walls and pillars of the hall is lined with marble and granite slabs. Columns created the impression of triumphal arches, with the walls are lined with granite and marble slabs. Magnificent chandeliers between arches imitate a victorious salute. 22 mosaic panels executed in the equipment of the Roman mosaic are settle down on walls of the Tuqay Square station. There is illustrated the characters of the works of Gabdulla Tukai and the author himself. The interior of the station is made of white and green marble. The theme of the Kazan Kremlin is revealed at the station "Kremlin". It can be seen in the interior of the hall is stylized under the castle and is decorated with mosaics with folk images. The station "Kozya Sloboda" and "Aircraft" are some of the modern ones because they are made in the style of hi-tech. Composite, ceramic-metal and other modern materials was used in the halls.

The birth of the underground led to a birth of a new industry architecture. At the beginning of a way, the Soviet architects had no anything that would become a starting point in development and creation of figurative representation of new transport constructions. Metro was the guarantor of the bright future in the representation of socialist society. Besides the importance of the subway was confirmed by responses published in the press, many famous scientists, political figures, masters of art. At the present stage the development of the architecture of the metro is controversial, because there is no single dominant direction and purpose. There is a certain confrontation of ideas and different traditions. For half a century metro’s existence, people have used it as an everyday transport, however, metro does not lose its former reputation of "miracle"- a miracle of technology and art.

The list of literature

1. I. V. Chepkunova, M. A. Kostyuk, E. Y. Zheludkova. The Moscow subway. An underground monument. 17.03-17.07.2016, 11

2. Drummer metrostroya. 1935. No. 1 614; Architectural newspaper. 1935. No. 5; Soviet art. 1935. No. 6 232

3. I. Ilf, E. Petrov. Metropolitano ancestors - in the book: the Days and years of subway construction, "Moscow worker", 1981, 27