Chapter THREE: Remains Facing demolition

Facing Demolition

After the fall of communism in the early 1990’s, many countries that were part of the Eastern Bloc, managed to catch up the Western world, as well as adapt to it. However, predominantly in smaller countries like the Baltics, these housing blocks remained, due to the countries struggle to catch up to the growth of the Western world’s economy, firstly, these were already existing homes, so the buildings remained to accommodate thousands, the countries used what they had for accommodation (Lieven 2005). Progressively over time, all of the Soviet builds are now at different phases of their lifespan, in a few eastern European cities the brutalist architecture is being celebrated and have become a desired form of accommodation.

However, there are a few cases where these blocks face the threat of demolition entirely. In 2017 there was an extensive resettlement program proposed for the residents of first and second generation Krushchyovka apartments, announced by Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin, that would involve demolition of said buildings (Mikhaylyuk 2017). The program expands to countries who were in the former Soviet Union, there were no further details other than the first draft, whether this program will take action, it raised worry for many current residents as there were mixed reactions to the news. Russian journalist: Vitaly Mikhaylyuk, conducted a series of interviews with Moscow residents of a Krushchyovka apartments, there were long term residents who had lived there for nearly 20 years, that wanted to stay there, as their apartment had qualities

12. + 13. Two living rooms in Krushchyovka apartments in Moscow, Russia 2017.

such as high ceilings, good sound insulation (musicians) and the resettlement program could mean never finding such a space again or even be able to stay in the same neighbourhood. On the other hand, there were residents who lived in much dire apartments, such as a resident from the fifth floor, that have leaks through the ceiling every time it rains, accompanied with pigeons who lived in the ceiling. The interview feedback revealed the reality of living in mass produced housing, especially privatised apartments, which limited the repair the buildings needed. This program whether it will take place, will take roughly 15-20 years, during that period 1.6 million people will need to be re-accommodated, roughly 8,000 homes demolished (Mikhaylyuk 2017).

In Vilnius, Lithuania, residents voted against the demolition as they were happy with their apartments, regardless of the need of renovation (The Economist data 2020). For many these housing blocks have become cheaper living alternatives and the threat of demolition will enforce them to either move further out

of the city or succumb to out of financial budget housing. If it keeps coming to this point of threat of demolition, it seems that unless there’s an already existing space to live in for the current residents, the residents will vote to stay. The existing living standards are not the best, however if there were inexpensive refurbishment options to keep them safe, the housing blocks would not need to face the fall. This program is uncertain when it will be ‘greenlighted’ by officials, but it all falls on a vote by the residents who live there right now.