880. Exposition des Arts Decoratifs. Pavillion des Republiques Sovietiques

Estimado Santiago,

Tu, como Oscar y tantos otros
compañeros, luchastes por un ideal,
un sueño de igualdad y tolerancia.
Este pabellon, que se levanto en
Paris cuando tu eras solo un niño,
represento de alguna manera ese
sueño, que desgraciadamente
despues se trunco.

Gracias por todo.
R

861. The Russakov Municipal Workers' Club

Dear Katja,

"I was called to breathe new life into the dying sense and 
speak in a new language of architecture" 
(Konstantin Melnikov)

Regards,
R

751. Moscou. Club au nom de Roussakoff

Dear Maurizio,

"It was immediately and forever decided that the project for the building of a club in the name of Rusakov should be a festal salute to Compressed Beauty, a volley aimed at the Future" (Konstantin Melnikov)
This contemporary picture still shows on the right front side of the upper auditoriums inscription letters designed by Melnikov himself that read Skola Kommunizma (School of Communism)

Yours faithfully,
R

420. Moscou. Club de l'usine Caoutchouc

Dear Alexandra,

The Kauchuk Factory Workers Club, located near the
historical Devichye Pole Park in Moscow, was designed
in 1927 by Konstantin Melnikov. He followed here the
model of his previous and popular Rusakov Club. The
building seems to be much larger of what actually is due
to its cylindrical shape.

Best regards.
R

97. Moscow. The Rusakov House of Culture. 1929. Konstantin Melnikov, architect

Dear Enric,

This magnificent building is a culture
center for workers that houses a a total
of three auditoriums with a total capacity
of 1400. The reinforced-concrete
construction was designed based on
geometry volumes with sharp angles and
diagonal lines that somehow resemble a
gigantic mechanical gear.

All the best.
R

87. Pavillon de l'URSS (K.Melnikoff, Arch)

Dear Enric,

This is the back side of the Pavilion.
Above, the roof-like red colored awnings
of the stairs soared like wings. Down, the
staircase crosses the building diagonally
allowing views on to the exhibits on either
side.

Take care.
R

86. Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs Pavillon de URSS

Dear Enric,

Konstantin Melnikov's Soviet Union
Pavilion for the 1925 Exposition des
Arts Decoratifs in Paris was a masterly
propaganda instrument: a celebration of
the factory aesthetic. As I know you'll
love this image I will be sending you
soon another postcard that shows the
back side of the pavilion.

Best.
R