Stalin was responsible for commissioning many grand scale buildings during his reign as dictator. One of the most elaborate is the apartment complex that literally comprised a small city to house the communist party elite.

In the late 20s Moscow was packed with communist activists arrived from all over the USSR and abroad. The city was in full swing with lots of activity and people piled up in communes, guest houses or any habitable place. Soviet elite didn’t escape from such overpopulation and also lived stacked in apartments, hotels or even the Kremlin, where about 1,300 people lived.

As a result of this situation, in 1927 was decided to build an apartment block to shelter in good conditions the main figures of the soviet regime: from party leaders to military commanders, as well as writers, engineers, and so on. The location chosen was the islet situated in front of the Kremlin. The place was functional, as it was close to all official buildings, and privileged, because of its excellent location in the Moskva river.

The architect appointed to carry out the works was Boris Iofan, who may be considered Stalin’s architect, as he was chosen under his personal command to be in charge of the Palace of Soviets construction, the emblematic building of the huge metropolis dreamed by the dictator. (from Soviet Russia)

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