Palace of Soviets

From Moscowiki

On December 5, 1931 the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was exploded in order to be replaced with the Palace of Soviets; the symbol of the absolutist monarchy in Russia was discarded by the symbol of the totalitarian Soviet Union. It was purposed to demonstrate the victory of a new “religion” – communism – over Orthodox Church, to enhance the grandeur of the Soviet Union and to crash country’s past.

Architect Boris Iophan supported by V.Gelfreikh and V.Schuko presented an impressive project: the height of the future palace would be equal to 415 metres and that would make the Palace of Soviets the biggest building in the world (the Empire State building is “only” 407). 100-metre high Lenin’s statue on the top would rise above the clouds (46-metre Statue of Liberty compared to Lenin would look like a midget). Lenin would appear from the clouds in clear days and that was to be interpreted as the “resurrection” of the Great Leader. New state needed new sacral buildings and the Palace of Soviets would definitely be the most shocking one.