Russian Architecture

Religion has had a great influence on Russian architecture. Sharp-sloping roofs, dome-like structures, tent-shaped spires, etc, are some of the common characteristics of this architecture. Onion-shaped domes was the most distinctive feature of Russian architecture. Its shape is similar to a candle flame, which was believed to be the flame of faith reaching up to heaven. These domes help to shed rain and prevent snow build-up. Another characteristic of this architecture is that the church's icons are mounted on the altar in a hierarchical fashion.

Architecture during 15th - 18th Centuries
Till 1477, there were few noted architectures in Moscow. Italian architects and craftsmen like Aristotele Fioravanti were invited by Ivan III, the Grand Prince of Moscow, to construct some magnificent multi-domed buildings such as Cathedral of the Dormition, Archangel Cathedral, Palace of Facets and Cathedral of St. Basil. They mainly followed the Russian style but utilized Italian methods of building.

Architects employed in 1703 were Russian, Italian, French and German. The style adopted by them was Renaissance rather than Byzantine tradition. During the reign of Empress Elizabeth, the architects were mainly Italians. Their work included royal palaces and buildings, which were destroyed during World War II. The Baroque style of Bartolomeo Rastrelli was very popular during 18th century. His luxurious work included the Winter Palace, the Catherine Palace and the Smolny Cathedral.

Architecture in the 19th Century
The 19th century was mainly dominated by the Byzantine and Russian Revival. During the first quarter of this century, there was Greek Revival which prevailed up to the middle of the 19th century. Thon, the leading Russian architect of this period (1838-1883), designed the Church of the Annunciation at St. Petersburg and the Cathedral of St. Saviour at Moscow in Lombard-Byzantine style. Another distinguished neoclassical building of that period was Zakharov's Admiralty at St. Petersburg.

Reconstruction of the cities using massive design plans and technical advances was the main priority during that period. In 1918, Alexey Shchusev and Ivan Zholtovsky founded the Mossovet Architectural Workshop, where planning of the reconstruction of Moscow as a new Soviet capital took place. But after World War II, the focus was on reconstructing the destroyed buildings and building new ones. In 1945, Stalin changed the look of many post-war cities. After his death in 1953, social and political changes took place in the country, which brought an end to the Stalinist architecture. As a result the buildings became simple and square.

Modern Russian Architecture
Due to the downfall of Soviet Union, many architectural projects were canceled or put on hold. Theme or height of a building was no longer the criteria, and this improved the financial conditions and architectural rates in Russia. As a result, skyscraper buildings were constructed in Moscow city, though, some architects continued to follow the Stalinist architecture and constructed buildings like the Triumph-Palace.

Few astonishing works of Russian architecture are as follows:

• The Cathedral of St. Basil in Red Square, Moscow was built in 1555. It was designed by Russian architects, Postnik and Barma. They combined several chapels into one unique church; each chapel is filled with splendid icons, medieval painted walls and beautiful artwork on the top and inside the onion-shaped domes. It's an opulence of oddly-shaped cupolas, gilt and polychrome arches. The Cathedral was accredited by Ivan the Terrible, to celebrate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. St. Basil's Cathedral is named after Basil Fool for Christ, an orthodox Russian saint. Till 17th century, this Cathedral served as a model for Russian churches.
• The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, is one of the most outstanding art museums in the world. This museum was founded by Catherine the Great in 1764 and comprises five buildings, Winter Palace, Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage, New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theater. These buildings are connected to each other through small passages, and forms a single unit. There are more than 300 rooms with a wide and rich collection of artwork from prehistoric times. The art collection consists of Western-European paintings, displaying the world famous works of Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael, Titian, Giorgione, Velazques, Murillo, Rubens, Van Dyke, Hals, Gainsborough, Poussin, Watteau, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse and sculptures by Michelangelo, Rodin, etc.
• St. Isaac's Cathedral is another magnificent museum that can hold up to 7000 people and has the third largest dome in the world(101,5 meters high). Its interiors are decorated with 43 kinds of minerals, 14 sorts of marble, gilded stucco, 62 mosaics, 152 paintings, more than 300 sculptures, bas-reliefs, 112 solid granite columns and 400 monumental bronze sculptures.
• The Moscow Kremlin is the oldest complex of Moscow city, and stands high on the hill towering over the left bank of the Moskva river. Also known as Kremlins or Russian citadels, this complex has been perceived as a symbol of power; and includes Assumption Cathedral, Annunciation Cathedral, Archangel's Cathedral, Ivan the Great Bell-Tower, Church of the Laying Our Lady's Holy Robe, Tsar Cannon, the Tsar Bell and the Kremlin wall with Kremlin towers. Kremlin also serves as the official residence of the Russian President.
• St. Petersburg covers the northwestern part of Russia. This is the second largest city in Russia after Moscow, and considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, and has a population of 5 million. This city is situated on the delta of the Neva River, and is also known as the city of waterways and bridges. St. Petersburg has some amazing collection of Russian architecture like the cathedral of the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Summer Palace, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Smolny Convent, the Vorontsov and Strogonov palaces, the Kazan, the Smolny Institute, the new Admiralty and the Senate.
• The Red Square or Krasnaya Ploshchad, is the main and oldest square in Moscow. The State History Museum is to the north of the Red Square and there is a large departmental store towards the east. The famous Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, commonly known as St. Basil's Cathedral, is at the southern end of the Red Square. The Lenin Mausoleum was constructed in 1930 in the center of Red Square. It contains the embalmed body of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the founder of Soviet Union.
• The Moscow Metro is one of the oldest metro in the world, famous for its extravagant designs and innovative decorations. It is also called "Underground Palace". There are 150 stations in the Moscow Metro, each decorated with different natural stones.
• Our-Saviour-on-the-Spilt-Blood Cathedral is one of the best places to visit for mosaics. The church was built in the middle of the street where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in a terrorist attack in 1881. The architectural design is similar to the traditional Russian Cathedral. It has colorful domes, crosses and intricate tiled mosaics.
• Peter and Paul Fortress was established by Peter the Great on the Hare Island. The Fortress has Peter and Paul Cathedral with amazing interiors. The cathedral has a pulpit which is rarely seen in the Russian Churches. The fortress also has the oldest and intimidating Russian prison called, Trubetskoi Bastion.

The Russian architecture highlights the history, culture, ethnicity and religious diversity of its people. This architecture can be regarded as one of the richest and magnificent architectures in the world.