House of the Government of the Russian Federation: History and Architecture

White-stone Moscow - so often characterize the capital of fellow citizens and foreign tourists. The House of the Government of the Russian Federation fully fits into the historical concept, it has a stormy dramatic history, a unique architecture and is a modern landmark.

History

The Government House of the Russian Federation can be viewed with the Krasnopresnenskaya embankment. It was built for fourteen years - from 1965 to 1979. The project was created by two talented architects - Dmitry Chechulin and Pavel Steller. The basis for the development was the failed project for the house of Aeroflot, which was never implemented. If you compare two projects, it becomes clear that they are similar, but the building is a simplified version of the original idea.

The house of the Government of the Russian Federation has a height of 102 meters, if you add a flagpole, the figure will be even more impressive - 119 meters. The area of the building is 172.7 square meters. Meters. After the completion of construction and commissioning, the premises were occupied by the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (1981-1993), and since 1994 the Government of the Russian Federation has been working here.

Architecture

The House of the Government of the Russian Federation has a symmetrical architecture. When looking at the building, you can distinguish three components of the overall composition. The lower part is the base of the whole composition. It is decorated with ramps, a wide front staircase, running from the Moscow River to the central front entrance, the slabs are plates of natural granite. The main highlight of the basement is the seven-story tier, where the assembly hall is located, intended for meetings of the government.

The most noticeable part of the building was a twenty-story tower. The rounded corners of the stately structure give a harmonious sound to the whole composition. The emblem of Russia shines on the turret of the upper tier. Earlier in place of the coat of arms were the clock damaged during the riots in 1993. The whole flagpole is crowned with the flags of the country.

For interior decoration by the architect D. Chechulin, marble of different shades and colored natural stones of natural origin were chosen. The government meets in twenty-seven rooms, where the latest equipment is installed, comfort is guaranteed for fruitful work. Excursions are not held here, so you can only consider the external architecture, which is famous for the House of Government of the Russian Federation. Photos of the interior will complete the overall impression of the building.

The area around the house is guarded, surrounded by a forged fence and given under a car park. Not far from the building is a monument - Humpbacked Bridge.

Rebellious 1991

The events of August 1991 in their dramatic part unfolded near the government building, where from August 18 to August 21, the self-proclaimed body - the State Emergency Committee - met. The events unfolded with lightning speed, at the head of the resistance was Boris Yeltsin. At this time in Moscow, military equipment was stolen, in contrast to which the supporters of the incumbent president gathered at the rally. During the confrontation, the House of the Government of the Russian Federation in the media began to be called the White House.

The head of the opposition, Yeltsin, held rallies, spoke to supporters. The brightest and most memorable speech was uttered from the armor of the tank on August 19, and the next day clashes occurred between the parties to the conflict. The victory remained for Yeltsin and radically changed the life of the whole country. The events entered the modern history with the name "August putsch".

October assault on the White House

But the most dramatic events occurred later. In the fall of 1993, internal political quarrels moved into the acute phase of the military confrontation, the final of which was the assault. On the streets of the capital from September 21 to October 4 there were armed clashes, troops were again brought into Moscow. The assault was held on October 4, one thousand seven hundred people and thirty military equipment (10 T-80 tanks, 20 armored personnel carriers) took part in the events.

Military equipment fired at the building. Tanks deployed on the Kalininsky bridge, aimed fire on the upper floors, was released 12 volleys. The fire enveloped the upper floors, the defenders of the Government House had to surrender their weapons and evacuate.

The result of the armed assault was the destruction of part of the government building, almost burned 8 floors (from 12 to 20). 246 people were injured, of which 74 were killed during the shelling. For all the days of the October riots, about 160 people were killed, about four hundred citizens were injured of varying degrees of severity.

Reconstruction and restoration

The dramatic events left significant destruction in the building, restoration and repair was required. Turkish specialists were involved in the works. Repair and reconstruction were completed in 1994 year. The clock on the tower of the Government House replaced the emblem of the Russian Federation.

The adjoining territory was surrounded by a high figured fence, which excluded any meetings and rallies near the building.

How can I get to

The beauty of the building is best seen from Novoarbatsky Bridge or from the quay named after T. Shevchenko. To assess all the details of the architecture and the surrounding area, it is worth to get to the station "Barrikadnaya", walk a little and see the House of Government of the Russian Federation. The Metro of the Ring Line will take the tourist to the station "Krasnopresnenskaya", from where they can reach the interesting building.

The house of the Government of the Russian Federation has the address: Krasnopresnenskaya embankment, building 2.