"House on (Chicken) Legs". Symbol of Soviet Constructivism. Saint Petersburg, Russia

[@UrbanHomesteadMomma]

Yes they are a bit grey with all the cement, and could probably use a clean and maybe paint on the outside BUT the architecture is amazing and unique! Leaving the ground level for maybe gardens, playgrounds, or parks is a great idea!!

[@LeeAllen337]

I like the design of those buildings. It's different which makes it interesting. Also, thanks for including the map and showing the viewer where your located, was a nice touch. Keep up the great work Sergey.

[@saucyjack8548]

If these were just painted or panelled and cleaned up cosmetically on the outside, they'd be pretty modern looking again. It would likely increase the overall value of the units too. Great vid Sergey!

[@TripleDDDD]

Scott S I thought the same. I imagine them with an aluminium (or other shiny metal) outside and it would look like from a SciFi movie. The style is quite futuristic.

[@mahfl22]

@@TripleDDDD Lets hope any cladding used was fire proof...

[@nellennatea]

Making sure the panelled designs are fireproof.

[@chazzplaya]

Yeah totally. Lots of 'ugly' architecture from the past has actually just been left to ruin

[@ynn1n]

Indeed

[@m1234567m100]

I like the way the windows are situated. I don't find the structures ugly at all. The way the windows are placed allows for a lot of privacy.

[@musk4mars116]

As an architect I am very impressed with your presentation of this project. Please consider doing regular Architecture reviews.

[@_MSHP_]

I work with construction, mainly concrete. This is very interesting to see. thank you.

[@johnlabus7359]

These are a terrific example of Brutalism architecture, and I hope that they get restored to the architect's original intent as they are really interesting. For me, the building form itself is not bleak, rather its barren setting at its base tells me more about the time of its erection. There's absolutely nothing welcoming about the buildings to their residents. Thanks for sharing.

[@cybair9341]

It is not the building that is depressing; it is the lack of sun. Move that building to the Costa Del Sol and it will feel completely different. That being said, it needs a coat of white paint.

[@scottwillie6389]

That ugly building on Costa del Sol would be even more depressing. It is a soulless concrete block.

[@ligaskirbauska8652]

Scott Learn like costa del sol don’t has bunch of even more ugly buildings,wright?

[@kristinesharp6286]

The shape of the structure is fine and interesting. I think if the windows were all replaced and uniform looking they would look more impressive.

[@vintagegal5616]

I like those buildings. They are monstrous. I wish you could show us the inside of one of those apartments. I can imagine the view from the top floor balconies😯

[@slippperytom496]

Spectacular reflections of an April sky in the river.

[@kathleenaltherr6836]

Thank you for sharing this. It is fascinating.

[@lilyhodge6792]

Love the addition of the map - and all things architecture! Looks like it’s time to restore those buildings. Great video, Sergey!

[@kristinesharp6286]

It’s a building style I never saw before. Thanks.

[@gersoncortes9415]

Amazing place, Russian Urbanism really got me hooked In, depressive or not These structures fits perfectly with the enviroment, like a futuristic but old fashioned style, Thanks sergey for showing us, hope in the future we can se more like this!!

[@eugeneaspeling7872]

Believe it or not but we have very similar Brutalist apartment towers here in London that were built in the 60's and 70's. The way you describe them as brutal monoliths is very apt.

[@maryrosed8475]

Very interesting. All concrete was popular in 1980's buildings. The concrete legs are amazing.

[@balochistanitechsupport3996]

1 of ur best post ' so educational ' thx !!!

[@levofspades]

There is the one legend talks about when night falls this buildings (4 or 3 of them) walk around the district))))

[@icecorebaby]

Great video dude!

[@mikerhodes9198]

Great video. Very interesting. Thanks for all your efforts on your videos.

[@Scott-fj9uf]

Yes! Oh god yes! More late Soviet architecture! I adore this style. It’s so arresting.

[@john3Lee]

I would think, if all those windows and balconies were upgraded to a uniform colour scheme, these would fetch a lot more then $100k, especially being so close to the city centre.... Interesting video Sergey - Thanks.

[@realrussiablog]

@Mor Dor Well, having metro station right next to these buildings make Nevsky really close. Just two stations and you're at Gostiny Dvor.

[@larryswindcatcher]

I like the monolithic structure on pilings. Cool.

[@juliabartlam3878]

I really enjoyed this video! I like looking at architecture, so this was very cool! Thank you!

[@rhondaharrison2764]

Never seen anything like this before. Thanks Sergey

[@roberthagedorn290]

I must go along with the majority of comments. These buildings need a coat of paint to make them attractive. But the design is interesting--the foundation is similar to the Transamerica Pyramid at 600 Montgomery Street in San Francisco.

[@omarcurrossimon7927]

You're amazing. I love your work

[@inandouttv5365]

Мой друг Даня жил в одном из этих домов, кажется в 6-м на Новосмоленской. Был там много раз, когда жил в Питере. Не очень-то много чего изменилось за 10 лет. Спасибо за видео!

[@ColKorn1965]

Hmmm I never went there while I was in St. Petersburg. I noticed how cold the wind was blowing from the Gulf when I was there July 2012

[@davemclallen7328]

very substantive report--thanks!!

[@fakhirpathaankhan746]

It's both amazing and scary, I wouldn't want to live there, I wouldn't be able to sleep lol. Sergi do a video on Russian palaces. Great video

[@reggiep75]

1:04 - This is some fine Soviet Brutalist architecture. It would be nice to see some more of this from around St Petersburg and anything around Russia in art galleries from photos to pictures and the like!

[@realrussiablog]

Comment, Like, Subscribe!

[@StalinTheMan0fSteel]

Comrade like subscribe 😉

[@darrell3O87OO]

Interesting video. I really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work.

[@stevemcgowen]

I can't believe those flats are still there. I lived nearby there at the St. Petersburg University dorms up the road by the Pribaltiskaya hotel for the summer of 2003. There are, or at least were other ones like that near there- but they were maybe multi family homes, I think 2 or 3 levels. These had car parking under the legs.They reminded me of beach houses. There were maybe 4 or 5 of them in a row. They were kind of run down then, so maybe are gone.

[@rlund651]

1970s brutalist architecture. Lots of concrete. I wish they could be restored.

[@gantmj]

I wish all buildings made in this anti-humanity style could be demolished.

[@nickelcadmium1401]

gantmj why would you want to demolish a piece of history. Sure you can say its “anti humanity” or so but its part of a history.

[@JagerLange]

I saw the video title and an image conjured itself from memory - wasn't the house of Baba Yaga also meant to be built up on chicken legs? :P

[@ДмитрийВронский-в3с]

Sure!!! That's why a chicken is mentioned, even though the legs are not like of chicken. 😉

[@eh-ay-ron]

I used to live in house six on the 20th floor. I loved living there and having such a great view of the bay high up above all the other apartment buildings. It was nice to see this again. Thank you for making the video!

[@barbifaye8719]

Thanks so much for showing these interesting buildings to us, Sergey. I think you are right in saying that people would see them as 'safer' if they had a skirt around the bottom as most modern buildings have, with the supporting structures hidden away. When you told us how much rent I nearly choked as our rents are 2 - 3 times as much here in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada : (

[@nellennatea]

Very interesting buildings on legs. Looking like they could walk away to somewhere else.

[@AdrianChips]

So unique, really cool Soviet architecture vid Sergey, thanks!

[@BridgeandTunnelScooterClub]

love this VID, love the Architecture, Chicken legs is my fav

[@puremaga17]

About $400 a month, with a view of the river.. that seems very reasonable. Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city! Love your channel Sergey, Spasibo!

[@mony2k6]

Hmm interesting Sergey. I am glad they still kept some of the old buildings. All they need is to fix it up and paint it as well. Personally the design is weird to me with the "chicken legs" but it is is great to see something different from the same type of buildings that the new apt buildings look like.

[@robertthomas6643]

25 years ago I lived a few hundred yards from those buildings. I used to walk under them on my way to the metro station. I first saw them in 1989 when they were relatively new and were in much better condition. Brings back memories!

[@moniquecivicchioni199]

How interesting! Would be awsome to see what the apartments look like inside.

[@johnh5325]

Как интересно! Спасибо за видео. Я буду в России в июне. )))

[@johnh5325]

максим сладкий why? I’ve been many times and have enjoyed it.

[@johnh5325]

максим сладкий hehe my apologies. ☺️

[@johnh5325]

максим сладкий you too! ))

[@Theo_cracy]

@@johnh5325 i guess because in tushino and other places near the MKAD very depressive

[@doreenblatz2440]

Do these buildings have any kind of fire suppression system? Looks like it would be difficult for firefighters.

[@benparkinson8314]

I would like to see more things like this if you would please😊

[@DouglasUrantia]

Needs some gold or silver color panels plus some paint to complement it.

[@orim298s]

Great concept in design. Just have to redo the facade of the buildings. 5:16 looks real rank and old. How does the inside look? Is there graffiti on the inside and in the elevator?

[@fluctuatio]

Никогда не слышала про такие дома...интересна внутри планировка

[@anastasiiakot2691]

Hello! This is Vasileostrovsky district, but 2 different islands that you are showing: Vasileostrovsky island and the island of the Decembrists.

[@realrussiablog]

It is all still considered as Vasilievsky island and it's clear what I say. Makes no sense to make such a detailed scales. Anyway technically Houses on Legs are on Vasilievsky island as they are on the contrary part of the shore of Decembrists Island.

[@ericelliott227]

Hi Sergey, Yes, I see the buildings as you described. It is not hard for me to look past the "ugliness". Yes, if they were to clean them up a bit, they would be spectacular again. There is also something to be said for the fact that they are holding up fine today! My only concern is that they only have one entrance and exit. Should there be an emergency where everyone needs to evacuate quickly, that could be a problem and I don't want that to happen.

[@ericelliott227]

@Mor Dor Ah, that is good. :)

[@StalinTheMan0fSteel]

I can imagine if you dropped some acid...Blue Cheer or Orange Sunshine, you'd see those bldgs just walk away. 😵

[@robertcgage]

Very artistic apartments.

[@off3799]

Говорила мне мама:"Учи английский"

[@RameshSingh-on3xu]

I like this building map and structure

[@himmelblau.]

Superbe. I love this soviet rayons. It's like a flashback of childhood. Especially this one looks still luxurious compared to the new canyons of Murino.

[@YankeeinSiberia]

Very interesting design. A lot better than the boring Soviet apartment building that I live in.

[@mahfl22]

Of course it's so cold in the winters they window in the balconies, did the designer expect people to not to go out there in the winter ? Also one entrance sounds like a fire death trap just waiting to happen.

[@realrussiablog]

Ahaha! Even when the buildings like this have several entrances, there is only one entrance for each section. There are two emergency stairways. You can exit just from the balcony of the second floor being supported by firemen.

[@airsoftghost]

Very interesting Sergey. They do seem dismal but like you said. Many years of weather. One question. Do the people living there complain that it moves a bit in a high wind?

[@qrissy3742]

They are so majestic! I’ve seen some similar buildings on legs in Hong Kong and they blow me away!

[@benparkinson8314]

So fascinating...

[@MrHogslice]

Impressive...most impressive.

[@adamLE05401]

These are actually interesting from architectural point of view. But Sergej, you should sometimes show also the dark side of St. Petersburg :D I would like to see the typical late socialism era panel estate areas as we have in central europe - Petržalka in Bratislava for example and how they differ from soviet ones. They are grey and ugly but somehow this ugliness has some sort of charm to me, I don't why :D When I'm in foreign cities I always try to see also these rough ugly estate areas or "sidlisko" as we call it in our language.

[@dixieh5555]

Super modern for the 80s! You know your architecture and your history well Sergey

[@richardpointer]

I have walked that street in my youth. So cold in the winter. Love the Soviet buildings.

[@richardpointer]

This video is great. More like this architectural review of SPB! How about Puskin?

[@Theo_cracy]

@@richardpointer Pushkin as a man or as a city? By the way, Pushkin was a very good man

[@sjdave]

Is that a UFO at ~2:43? It is moving too fast for commercial or typical aircraft. Object moving behind large buildings.

[@sjdave]

@Mor Dor Hey, I'm willing to consider but a bird/seagull that travels ~4 long city blocks in 2 seconds? Also, with buildings as reference, object is much larger.

[@kristinesharp6286]

One entrance for 200 units and multiple people occupying each unit? The firefighters must have nerves of steel. As the police. As the residents.

[@realrussiablog]

There is the security hallways for emergency exits.

[@seananon4893]

Whats the INSIDE look like? Very impressive.

[@stuartofblyth]

Surprised you didn't mention Baba Yaga and Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition", 14th movement.

[@terryhoyt2058]

Баба Яга! I thought the same thing. Love this era of architecture, we have numerous examples of Brutalism from the 70's and 80s where I live in Canada.

[@off3799]

Почему нет видео про другие творения советских архитекторов в стиле конструктивизма в Ленинграде?

[@Semiam1]

It’s a shame they don’t have balconies. The view from an apartment must be great

[@Semiam1]

You and I have different expectations of a proper balcony

[@TripleDDDD]

Jim Tomlinson these are balconies, they are just windowed (if that‘s a word). We would probably rather call it wintergardens. The obvious reason for having windows is the cold. If you can‘t use a balcony for 9 months of the year because it‘s too cole, it does not make sense to have an open balcony.

[@theoldhag615]

How intriguing..

[@scottwillie6389]

Nice video. I really hate these buildings, and I don't think it is because of my perspective, but because modernist construction is inherently soul crushing and anti human. Modernist architecture in the West is every bit as ugly. St. Petersburg is such a beautiful city precisely because of its high number of baroque and neoclassical buildings. Classical Stalinist Architecture was the only "good" architecture of Soviet Days. And I reiterate this is not a Soviet/Russian specific critique, since modernist architecture in the West was every bit as pervasive and hideous.. We need to return to the classical styles. Modernist Style came from the Frankfurt School and its entire purpose was to crush the human spirit.

[@SHINAHO]

very bold!

[@yameenali403]

Wahoo great civil construction

[@Andrea-br4gv]

The map was welcomed! That is the solution to "housing" shortage in North Ame...Then This Islands will become absentee landlords and over priced...Just having fun... Seriously, that was a great idea to prevent the "ground floor" from flooding, Also notice the building has lots of WINDOWS... Now that people own so many autos, they can park then under the building...So those architects had a "future vision..." Spadsiba!

[@WMartinWelch]

Are you allowed to record in The Hermitage?

[@PaulV.]

Yes. The only restriction is the use of flash cause its harmful for paintings.

[@manfredbismark6688]

Thanks SERGEY!

[@darwinloong]

Quite interesting.....

[@coastalmaine]

You know, from a distance the scale is amazing and the buildings are impressive. But up close they seem faded and dingy. I’m somehow sad.

[@mahfl22]

All 30 year old concrete looks bad, esp in Russian weather.

[@ricibiribicci]

Awesome

[@off3799]

Спасибо, некоторые слова я понял.

[@jeffsnider3588]

That is different.

[@underwaterlady]

i love the design of these homes. wish we could have had a look inside

[@henryabuya]

for some strange reason. i love russia so much yet i have never met a russian or associated with any. i feel they have beautiful woman as well. much love from kenya.

[@fluctuatio]

Все таки действительно все серое,покрасили бы в яркие цвета все серые дома в России,было бы супер!

[@urtyp6596]

Hey what does it look from the inside?

[@mahfl22]

Crap.

[@debpartin8737]

I love these buildings

[@deoproximo1572]

Could the Soviets be any more cold?

[@nickelcadmium1401]

Why do buildings and overall environment in russia looks depressing, I mean why does the building all looks dull

[@emdblues]

Every communist design was like that and I don't know why. Everything is spooky, dull, dark... But also pretty fascinating :)

[@claytonwenrich4663]

That is amazing.

[@519forestmonk9]

House on chicken legs makes me think of Baba Yga

[@БабаЯга-т2б]

yga here!

[@SallianceMedia]

Baba Yaga is in there somewhere ;)

[@БабаЯга-т2б]

Im here!

[@Theo_cracy]

@@БабаЯга-т2б АааАаАаА мама тогда правду говорила!!!!

[@niccolehoody7317]

💖💟👍🖒

[@litoboy5]

lol cool

[@MrReichard]

just like баба яга

[@БабаЯга-т2б]

Yep my house!