(Source: http://milportal.ru)

Stalin's Empire  - one of the leading directions in architecture, monumental and decorative art of the USSR from the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s. In the media, it is used as an informal designation of the whole variety of Stalinist eclecticism.

The symbol of Stalin's empire is the famous Stalinist skyscrapers in Moscow. The Stalin Empire in the decoration of the rooms is, in particular, massive wooden furniture, stucco molding under high ceilings, carved cabinets, bronze lamps and figurines.

The period of the 1930s - early 1950s in the history of Russia is strongly associated with the name of Joseph Stalin. This complex, controversial historical figure had a significant impact on all spheres of the life of the state. The period of his rign is a special historical era, when an  architectural style known as "Stalinist Empire" was formed.

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The best examples of the Stalin Empire style

The Central Theater of the Red Army (now - the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army on Suvorovskaya Square, 2). It is a huge solemn building surrounded by a portico of tall columns around the perimeter. Architects K. Alabyan and V. Simbirtsev designed such a big theater stage  that even tank battles were reproduced on it. The building has the shape of a five-pointed star - a symbol of the Soviet army.

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VDNKh   (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, 119 Mira Avenue) in Moscow is a unique architectural ensemble that is completely designed in the "Stalin Empire" style.  Its history began in 1939. On the vast territory, many luxurious pavilions were carefully planned and rebuilt for the first All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. The new opening of the VDNKh after the Great Patriotic War took place in 1954. Each of the Union republics and each of the major sectors of the national economy had its own pavilion. For many Muscovites, VDNH has become a symbol of post-war reconstruction and a favorite walking place; its appearance always created a sense of celebration.

Gorky Park (St. Krymsky Val, 9) occupies the territory of the former All-Union Agricultural Exhibition and part of the territory of Neskuchny Garden. It opens with a grand entrance gate - another monument of Stalinist architecture (1955, architect Yu. Shchuko). Strict, concise forms, majestic scale, tall columns, and  stucco reliefs.

Special attention was paid to the Moscow Metro. The “Komsomolskaya” station of the Koltsevaya Line, designed by A. Shchusev, became the apotheosis of the style - light, elegant arches, stucco molding, and mosaics depicting outstanding people of Russia. “Kievskaya”, “Belorusskaya”, “Ploshchad Revolutsii”, “Novoslobodskaya” - each of these stations was created as a work of art.

A special attention should be paid to residential buildings. Despite the urgent need for rapid construction, each house was designed individually, decorated with columns, balconies, and spectacular arches. This was most clearly manifested in the central part of the city: on Frunzenskaya Embankment, Tverskaya Street, and Leningradsky Avenue.