They didn't demolish it—and thank goodness for that. The smallest monument of Soviet constructivism has been restored in Novosibirsk.
The traction substation, which still supplies electricity to one of the tram lines, was built in 1936 year.
The building remained in disrepair for a long time, even after it was designated a cultural heritage site. According to the architects, it is a "striking example of functional industrial architecture" from the early Soviet period.
This fall at the substation turned Attention construction company "VerbaCapital", which is building a residential complex nearby. At its own expense, it restored the facades and landscaped the surrounding area.
Novosibirsk residents reacted to this in different ways: some appreciated the developer's fine gesture, while others disliked the plastic windows and the color of the walls (the substation's new façade was compared to a "pink pimple").
Local heritage conservationist Alexey Kolesnikov more optimistic.
This is actually a wonderful precedent.,” he told NeMoskva. This is perhaps the first case in Novosibirsk where a developer is renovating a building that does not belong to them at their own expense.
Alexey Kolesnikov ignores stories of developers paying for green space improvements—these steps are perfectly understandable, as they increase apartment prices.
However, the impact of a cultural heritage site on the value of nearby housing is difficult to determine.
All these industrial heritage sites are often perceived as having a purely utilitarian function and, as a rule, suffer a sad fate., - notes Alexey Kolesnikov. - Here we see a good rare example.
The heritage conservationist emphasizes that restoring the tram substation, unfortunately, does not address the problem of other historical and architectural monuments in Novosibirsk, which the city continues to actively dispose of, or which are dying of old age.
- For example, a house Yanka Dyagileva "One of the key figures of Siberian punk," says Kolesnikov. "Two years ago, a new residential complex opened next to him. The developer promised to renovate the building, but still hasn't done so."
Photo: HRASH