Stunning Architecture by a major Soviet architect!
This extraordinary piece of brutalist/constructivist architecture was designed by the famous Russian architect Aleksandr Rochegev and completed in 1985. Originally the Soviet, but now the Russian embassy.
Rochegev also designed the Moscow Leningradskaya (now Hilton) Hotel, one of the "Seven Sisters" of Moscow's "Stalin Gothic" architecture.
Rochegev was decorated as "People's Architect of the USSR" and from 1992 - 1998 was president of the Russian Academy of Architecture.
The building sits on a 10-acre compound which also encloses apartment buildings, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. It is surrounded by a 3 metre wall topped with barbed wire and glass. It is not open to the public.
Locally, the building has been jokingly called "The Sword of Russia" (it vaguely resembles the crest of the KGB), or "The Syringe" ("the better to inject us with communism"). Numerous blogs list this as one of the worst pieces of architecture in existence, but others (like me) think it is very, very cool.
Whatever you think if it, its presence dominates Vedado and serves as a useful landmark for orienting yourself.
BTW, it does resemble the University of Toronto's Robarts Library!
Arquitectura Brutalista de la ex Rusia comunista, a través de esta tamaña construcción expresaban el poderío y control que tenían sobre cuba, esa torre representa una espada clavada en nuestra isla como símbolo de dominio de nuestro bello caimán verde, yo la demolería y construiría algo más modesto y respetuoso.
Una arquitectura emblemática de la epoca "fría". Su presencia es imponente y sobresaliente entre todo el vecindario. Bonito y emblemático edificio en Cuba
SarahBrad Mitchell
::Horrible out of place building. Such a beautiful area of Havana... it’s a disgusting eye sore. Let me line up some wreaking balls and a bulldozer
Percy Toop
::Stunning Architecture by a major Soviet architect! This extraordinary piece of brutalist/constructivist architecture was designed by the famous Russian architect Aleksandr Rochegev and completed in 1985. Originally the Soviet, but now the Russian embassy. Rochegev also designed the Moscow Leningradskaya (now Hilton) Hotel, one of the "Seven Sisters" of Moscow's "Stalin Gothic" architecture. Rochegev was decorated as "People's Architect of the USSR" and from 1992 - 1998 was president of the Russian Academy of Architecture. The building sits on a 10-acre compound which also encloses apartment buildings, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. It is surrounded by a 3 metre wall topped with barbed wire and glass. It is not open to the public. Locally, the building has been jokingly called "The Sword of Russia" (it vaguely resembles the crest of the KGB), or "The Syringe" ("the better to inject us with communism"). Numerous blogs list this as one of the worst pieces of architecture in existence, but others (like me) think it is very, very cool. Whatever you think if it, its presence dominates Vedado and serves as a useful landmark for orienting yourself. BTW, it does resemble the University of Toronto's Robarts Library!
roberto cabezas
::Arquitectura Brutalista de la ex Rusia comunista, a través de esta tamaña construcción expresaban el poderío y control que tenían sobre cuba, esa torre representa una espada clavada en nuestra isla como símbolo de dominio de nuestro bello caimán verde, yo la demolería y construiría algo más modesto y respetuoso.
Александр Рогов
::Здание символичное - показывало твёрдое уверенное присутствие в регионе. Увы...
Víctor Montoya
::Una arquitectura emblemática de la epoca "fría". Su presencia es imponente y sobresaliente entre todo el vecindario. Bonito y emblemático edificio en Cuba