Ulan-Ude is a real treasure for architecture connoisseurs. The historical center with merchant houses, their courtyards and platbands is well preserved here. Soviet standard buildings of different years feature the bright national flavor. And against this background, a modern city with high-rise buildings and shopping centers is growing rapidly. In this material we will tell about the architecture of Soviet Ulan-Ude.
In Soviet times, residential buildings were constructed according to standard designs. "Stalin-era buildings", "Khruschev-era houses", and "Brezhnev-era apartments" are similar to those in other cities and at the same time unlike each other. The architects continued the tradition established by the architect Ludwig Minert (we will talk about him a little later), and introduced traditional Buryat motifs into the designs of even the most ordinary apartment buildings. So, the "ulzy" symbol appeared on balconies, panels, roof railings — ancient braided ornaments symbolizing happiness, and other patterns. The tradition has continued in modern construction as well — often high-rise buildings have rounded roofs, like Buddhist datsans; patterns and ornaments decorate not only houses, but also road fences, bus stops, and lamp posts. These elements give a special style to the city, making it memorable and unusual.
Celebration of the Stalinist Empire style on Soviet Square
All trips around Ulan-Ude almost always begin from Soviet Square. The buildings around it look like a single ensemble, but not all of them were built at the same time. One of the first to appear here was the House of Soviets, which is located behind the Lenin’s head. Construction ended in 1933, the author of the project was Leningrad architect Andrei Ol. Later, the building was supplemented with two extensions and a bas-relief with a slogan made of display letters. This is the first building of the late constructivism era in Buryatia. TPP-1 with a portrait of Lenin and the main building of the Ulan-Ude Locomotive Repair Plant were built in the same style.
Let's return to Soviet Square. Construction of the CPSU Regional Committee building, which is now occupied by the People's Khural of the Republic of Buryatia, began in 1938. By this time, the main post office and several other buildings have been already built nearby, but the new building became a key element in the appearance of the city’s main square. This was also noted by the architect Ludwig Minert. It was he who developed the projects (both his own and together with other architects) for construction of the most famous buildings of the city — the House of Political Enlightenment, the Radio House, the Zabaikalles Plant, the City Automatic Telephone Exchange Building, the air terminal, the House of the Artist, the Republican Hospital, interiors for clubs of a glass factory, a meat processing plant and an aircraft factory, as well as residential buildings.
Being a just-graduated student of the Novosibirsk Institute of Civil Engineering, Ludwig Minert arrived in Ulan-Ude in 1950 and became the chief architect of the "Buryatmongolproekt". He deeply researched the basics of the Buddhist temple architecture and successfully incorporated their features into the designs of new buildings, which was encouraged in the national republics of those times. Thus, the majestic Stalinist Empire style acquired unique features due to additions in decoration, rounded shapes and the use of symbols and ornaments. After five years of work in Buryatia, Minert moved to Novosibirsk, and later to Berlin.
The Radio House and the Zabaikalles Plant building (now the State Television and Radio Company "Buryatia" and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic) were originally designed as a single architectural ensemble. The corner tower pays tribute to the times — it is decorated with a spire with a star in a wreath of ears. There are two dials on the tower, facing the Soviet Square and the building of the Opera and Ballet Theater. For a long time, the clock did not work, but now it has an electronic mechanism and regularly shows local time.
The majestic House of Political Enlightenment (now it is the building of the Buryat Philharmonic) is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The entrance is framed by columns and Soviet symbols, the doors are richly decorated with floral patterns. The interiors of the auditorium, entrance foyer and auditorium foyer have retained their appearance — here you are greeted by large mirrors, luxurious chandeliers, massive columns, stucco molding and gold decorative elements.
The Baikal Plaza Hotel is located next to the Buryat Philharmonic. During the war, the medical building of the evacuation hospital was located here. And nearby, the tallest hotel in the republic, "Buryatia", stands with its back to the hotel, construction of which began back in the 70s and ended only in 1993. This building is perhaps the only one in the city center created in the Soviet modernism style.
All trips around Ulan-Ude almost always begin from Soviet Square. The buildings around it look like a single ensemble, but not all of them were built at the same time. One of the first to appear here was the House of Soviets, which is located behind the Lenin’s head. Construction ended in 1933, the author of the project was Leningrad architect Andrei Ol. Later, the building was supplemented with two extensions and a bas-relief with a slogan made of display letters. This is the first building of the late constructivism era in Buryatia. TPP-1 with a portrait of Lenin and the main building of the Ulan-Ude Locomotive Repair Plant were built in the same style.
Let's return to Soviet Square. Construction of the CPSU Regional Committee building, which is now occupied by the People's Khural of the Republic of Buryatia, began in 1938. By this time, the main post office and several other buildings have been already built nearby, but the new building became a key element in the appearance of the city’s main square. This was also noted by the architect Ludwig Minert. It was he who developed the projects (both his own and together with other architects) for construction of the most famous buildings of the city — the House of Political Enlightenment, the Radio House, the Zabaikalles Plant, the City Automatic Telephone Exchange Building, the air terminal, the House of the Artist, the Republican Hospital, interiors for clubs of a glass factory, a meat processing plant and an aircraft factory, as well as residential buildings.
Being a just-graduated student of the Novosibirsk Institute of Civil Engineering, Ludwig Minert arrived in Ulan-Ude in 1950 and became the chief architect of the "Buryatmongolproekt". He deeply researched the basics of the Buddhist temple architecture and successfully incorporated their features into the designs of new buildings, which was encouraged in the national republics of those times. Thus, the majestic Stalinist Empire style acquired unique features due to additions in decoration, rounded shapes and the use of symbols and ornaments. After five years of work in Buryatia, Minert moved to Novosibirsk, and later to Berlin.
The Radio House and the Zabaikalles Plant building (now the State Television and Radio Company "Buryatia" and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic) were originally designed as a single architectural ensemble. The corner tower pays tribute to the times — it is decorated with a spire with a star in a wreath of ears. There are two dials on the tower, facing the Soviet Square and the building of the Opera and Ballet Theater. For a long time, the clock did not work, but now it has an electronic mechanism and regularly shows local time.
The majestic House of Political Enlightenment (now it is the building of the Buryat Philharmonic) is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The entrance is framed by columns and Soviet symbols, the doors are richly decorated with floral patterns. The interiors of the auditorium, entrance foyer and auditorium foyer have retained their appearance — here you are greeted by large mirrors, luxurious chandeliers, massive columns, stucco molding and gold decorative elements.
The Baikal Plaza Hotel is located next to the Buryat Philharmonic. During the war, the medical building of the evacuation hospital was located here. And nearby, the tallest hotel in the republic, "Buryatia", stands with its back to the hotel, construction of which began back in the 70s and ended only in 1993. This building is perhaps the only one in the city center created in the Soviet modernism style.
The noble monumentality of Victory Avenue
The houses on the Victory Avenue are considered a striking example of Stalinist architecture in Ulan-Ude. This street was completely cleared of wooden buildings for implementation of a large-scale project in the 60s. High-ceilinged houses are located in its place, in which the creative and scientific intellectuals and prominent party workers lived. The avenue is lined with monumental, richly decorated buildings on one side only. On the other side, exactly in the middle of the avenue, there is a monument in the form of a T-34 tank. Two stairs in the form of wings descend from it. An eternal flame burns in front of the monument, and at the foot there is an alley, which is now considered one of the most comfortable places to relax in the city center.
The houses on the Victory Avenue create a single ensemble, but if you look closely, each of them is a special building with unique details. For example, residential building No. 16 with the "Yantar" store has a tower, while the facade of house No. 9 is decorated with an antique vase. On each of the buildings there are many memorial plaques indicating names of the famous residents who once walked along the same flower-filled avenue many years ago.
The houses on the Victory Avenue are considered a striking example of Stalinist architecture in Ulan-Ude. This street was completely cleared of wooden buildings for implementation of a large-scale project in the 60s. High-ceilinged houses are located in its place, in which the creative and scientific intellectuals and prominent party workers lived. The avenue is lined with monumental, richly decorated buildings on one side only. On the other side, exactly in the middle of the avenue, there is a monument in the form of a T-34 tank. Two stairs in the form of wings descend from it. An eternal flame burns in front of the monument, and at the foot there is an alley, which is now considered one of the most comfortable places to relax in the city center.
The houses on the Victory Avenue create a single ensemble, but if you look closely, each of them is a special building with unique details. For example, residential building No. 16 with the "Yantar" store has a tower, while the facade of house No. 9 is decorated with an antique vase. On each of the buildings there are many memorial plaques indicating names of the famous residents who once walked along the same flower-filled avenue many years ago.
Practicality and austere beauty of the LCRP socialist city
In the 30s, a socialist city was built for the employees of the Locomotive Repair Plant. It was a whole “city within a city” in a harsh style of post-constructivism with wide alleys, hospitals, a school, kindergartens and a cultural center. Now not only plant workers live here, but both Ulan-Ude residents and tourists walk along the famous 104-step staircase and enjoy the picturesque view. The cascading staircase is harmoniously built into the architectural ensemble and leads from Slava Square to the House of Culture, which in Soviet times served as a gathering place for youth, a children's creativity house, and a cinema with a library. At the head of the stairs, there is a monument to Lenin, far from the only one in the city, but perhaps the most dynamic.
A house with two through arches at 21 Oktyabrskaya Street was one of the first buildings that appeared in the socialist city. Engineering and technical workers of the plant settled here, for which people called it the "house of specialists." This is a huge complex, including several blocks of different layouts — from communal to multi-room apartments. It also had a canteen and even a children's music school — everything was thought out for the comfort of the residents.
Along with the socialist city, a park named after S.N. Oreshkov appeared. Spacious walking paths, numerous benches, a dance floor, a fountain surrounded by sculptures of factory workers, swing boats and drinking fountains in the shape of stone squirrels — this is how residents remember it. For some time the park was abandoned, but has now found new life. There are several playgrounds, a skatepark, walking and cycling paths, cafes and a lot of life.
In the 30s, a socialist city was built for the employees of the Locomotive Repair Plant. It was a whole “city within a city” in a harsh style of post-constructivism with wide alleys, hospitals, a school, kindergartens and a cultural center. Now not only plant workers live here, but both Ulan-Ude residents and tourists walk along the famous 104-step staircase and enjoy the picturesque view. The cascading staircase is harmoniously built into the architectural ensemble and leads from Slava Square to the House of Culture, which in Soviet times served as a gathering place for youth, a children's creativity house, and a cinema with a library. At the head of the stairs, there is a monument to Lenin, far from the only one in the city, but perhaps the most dynamic.
A house with two through arches at 21 Oktyabrskaya Street was one of the first buildings that appeared in the socialist city. Engineering and technical workers of the plant settled here, for which people called it the "house of specialists." This is a huge complex, including several blocks of different layouts — from communal to multi-room apartments. It also had a canteen and even a children's music school — everything was thought out for the comfort of the residents.
Along with the socialist city, a park named after S.N. Oreshkov appeared. Spacious walking paths, numerous benches, a dance floor, a fountain surrounded by sculptures of factory workers, swing boats and drinking fountains in the shape of stone squirrels — this is how residents remember it. For some time the park was abandoned, but has now found new life. There are several playgrounds, a skatepark, walking and cycling paths, cafes and a lot of life.
Practicality and austere beauty of the LCRP socialist city
In the 30s, a socialist city was built for the employees of the Locomotive Repair Plant. It was a whole “city within a city” in a harsh style of post-constructivism with wide alleys, hospitals, a school, kindergartens and a cultural center. Now not only plant workers live here, but both Ulan-Ude residents and tourists walk along the famous 104-step staircase and enjoy the picturesque view. The cascading staircase is harmoniously built into the architectural ensemble and leads from Slava Square to the House of Culture, which in Soviet times served as a gathering place for youth, a children's creativity house, and a cinema with a library. At the head of the stairs, there is a monument to Lenin, far from the only one in the city, but perhaps the most dynamic.
A house with two through arches at 21 Oktyabrskaya Street was one of the first buildings that appeared in the socialist city. Engineering and technical workers of the plant settled here, for which people called it the "house of specialists." This is a huge complex, including several blocks of different layouts — from communal to multi-room apartments. It also had a canteen and even a children's music school — everything was thought out for the comfort of the residents.
Along with the socialist city, a park named after S.N. Oreshkov appeared. Spacious walking paths, numerous benches, a dance floor, a fountain surrounded by sculptures of factory workers, swing boats and drinking fountains in the shape of stone squirrels — this is how residents remember it. For some time the park was abandoned, but has now found new life. There are several playgrounds, a skatepark, walking and cycling paths, cafes and a lot of life.
In the 30s, a socialist city was built for the employees of the Locomotive Repair Plant. It was a whole “city within a city” in a harsh style of post-constructivism with wide alleys, hospitals, a school, kindergartens and a cultural center. Now not only plant workers live here, but both Ulan-Ude residents and tourists walk along the famous 104-step staircase and enjoy the picturesque view. The cascading staircase is harmoniously built into the architectural ensemble and leads from Slava Square to the House of Culture, which in Soviet times served as a gathering place for youth, a children's creativity house, and a cinema with a library. At the head of the stairs, there is a monument to Lenin, far from the only one in the city, but perhaps the most dynamic.
A house with two through arches at 21 Oktyabrskaya Street was one of the first buildings that appeared in the socialist city. Engineering and technical workers of the plant settled here, for which people called it the "house of specialists." This is a huge complex, including several blocks of different layouts — from communal to multi-room apartments. It also had a canteen and even a children's music school — everything was thought out for the comfort of the residents.
Along with the socialist city, a park named after S.N. Oreshkov appeared. Spacious walking paths, numerous benches, a dance floor, a fountain surrounded by sculptures of factory workers, swing boats and drinking fountains in the shape of stone squirrels — this is how residents remember it. For some time the park was abandoned, but has now found new life. There are several playgrounds, a skatepark, walking and cycling paths, cafes and a lot of life.
Soviet monuments
It’s hard to believe, but once upon a time the Soviet Square was not a center, and all public events were held on Revolutsii Square. On November 7, 1926, the Monument to soldiers who died for communism was opened on Soviet Square, back then called Nagornaya. For a long time it was the only monument in the city.
Forty years later, the monument was moved to its current location, on Revolution Square, and on November 2, 1971, the most famous monument to Vladimir Lenin was unveiled, because of which Ulan-Ude is now called "the city with a head." Two parts of the huge monument were cast in Mytishchi and delivered here by rail. This completed the formation of the ensemble of the main square of the city.
In Soviet times, in Ulan-Ude, as in many other cities of the country, much attention was paid to monuments dedicated to military topics. The most memorable ones include the monument in honor of the soldiers of Buryatia who died during the Great Patriotic War on Komsomolskaya Square. The figures by the sculptor Alexander Timin, depicting two soldiers, a Russian and a Buryat, are full of determination and courage. By the way, behind them there was another cinema, popular at that time, "October", which has now been replaced by a new building.
Not many monuments dedicated to writers and scientists have survived. The sculpture of the first Buryat scientist Dorzhi Banzarov was installed near the Buryat State University in 1957. At the same time, a figure of the great poet Alexander Pushkin was created — now the sculpture is in the courtyard of the Choreographic College at 3 Erbanov Street. Another literary figure adorned the Soviet Park of Culture and Recreation, which was called the City Garden. Now the restored sculpture can be seen in the courtyard of School No. 35.
It’s hard to believe, but once upon a time the Soviet Square was not a center, and all public events were held on Revolutsii Square. On November 7, 1926, the Monument to soldiers who died for communism was opened on Soviet Square, back then called Nagornaya. For a long time it was the only monument in the city.
Forty years later, the monument was moved to its current location, on Revolution Square, and on November 2, 1971, the most famous monument to Vladimir Lenin was unveiled, because of which Ulan-Ude is now called "the city with a head." Two parts of the huge monument were cast in Mytishchi and delivered here by rail. This completed the formation of the ensemble of the main square of the city.
In Soviet times, in Ulan-Ude, as in many other cities of the country, much attention was paid to monuments dedicated to military topics. The most memorable ones include the monument in honor of the soldiers of Buryatia who died during the Great Patriotic War on Komsomolskaya Square. The figures by the sculptor Alexander Timin, depicting two soldiers, a Russian and a Buryat, are full of determination and courage. By the way, behind them there was another cinema, popular at that time, "October", which has now been replaced by a new building.
Not many monuments dedicated to writers and scientists have survived. The sculpture of the first Buryat scientist Dorzhi Banzarov was installed near the Buryat State University in 1957. At the same time, a figure of the great poet Alexander Pushkin was created — now the sculpture is in the courtyard of the Choreographic College at 3 Erbanov Street. Another literary figure adorned the Soviet Park of Culture and Recreation, which was called the City Garden. Now the restored sculpture can be seen in the courtyard of School No. 35.