Russian Cosmism in the Design of the Urban Environment of the Soviet Union in the 50-60s of the Twentieth Century

Abstract

Introduction . The purpose of the article is to illustrate the steady influence of the philosophy of Russian cosmism on the formation of the urban environment of the Soviet Union in the 50-60s of the 20th century. The authors set the task to reveal that the motives of conquering nature, associated with the achievement of the ideals of communism, correspond to the ideals of Russian cosmism. Cosmism is observed everywhere in Soviet art, but in the text the emphasis is placed on architecture as one of the main formations forming the city system at the peak of urbanization and influencing the consciousness of the Soviet person. Methodology and sources . A comparative analysis of the philosophical concepts of Russian cosmism and Soviet ideas of expansive conquest of space is carried out. Periodicals and works of art from the Soviet Union are analyzed. The article also outlines the main philosophical paradigms of philosophers based on the works of the founders of the philosophy of cosmism (N.F. Fedorov, K.E. Tsiolkovsky, V.I. Vernadsky). Results and discussion . It is revealed that the motives of the conquest of nature, associated with the achievement of the ideals of communism, correspond to the ideals of Russian cosmism. The practical and organic nature of Soviet architecture is evident. It was expressed in block construction in order to solve the housing issue, but also in more complex structures designed to confirm the power of the Soviet people. It is illustrated that the cosmic forms in Soviet architecture were defined literally in two formats: the first as the personification of rockets in the form of TV towers, the second as the personification of plates in the embodiment of the architecture of circuses. Conclusion . The author concludes that the images of celestial architecture, intended for the speedy exploration of the cosmic expanses, were literally perceived by young romantic architects who found the ideal justification for their projects.