CCCP: Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed

Frédéric Chaubin's "Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed" explores 90 buildings across 14 former Soviet Republics, capturing the essence of what Chaubin considers the fourth age of Soviet architecture, spanning from 1970 to 1990. Unlike previous eras, no singular trend dominates this period, showcasing a chaotic burst of creativity within a decaying system. Architects, unrestrained by a monolithic structure, embraced diverse influences, ranging from modernism to expressionism. The book features a variety of daring projects, including a lunar-inspired summer camp, a crematorium adorned with concrete flames, and a political center resembling Big Brother. These structures, with their puzzle of styles and outlandish designs, stand as extraordinary remnants of a collapsing system, immortalizing both the vast geography of the USSR and the ideological dreams of the time.