VDNKh. Attempt of Revival

The Soviet version of consumerism shaped by the needs of a state-controlled economy meets nowadays “walk, relax, consume” lifestyle in Moscow VDNKh, the Exibition of the Achievements of the National Economy.  In the USSR the exhibition provided a space in which Soviet people could witness a new, utopian reality that was believed to be imminent. Today VDNKh is going to become the trendiest place in Moscow. Parks’ renovation which is considered to be a part of a citywide attempt “to make Moscow more liveable” reached the most important public showplace for Soviet economic ideology. This way VDNKh will be the northern analogue of Gorky park with different hip amusements that usually attract crowds of people.

The place designed solely to boost the glory of the State is unlikely to be left without any ideology (regardless of the “walk, relax, consume”). Those who are in charge of the VDNKh revival haven’t worked out any philosophical program yet. So famous Moscow journalist Sergey Mostovshchikov did it instead. Mostovshchikov, a former editor of “Stolitsa” (“Capital”) and “Bol’shoy gorod” (“Big City”) city magazines, suggested philosophy and methodology of “neovandalism”. Compared to normal vandalism neovandalism “doesn’t destroy the previous concepts”. A contrario, it creates “lots of new amazing substances”, which are completely meaningless. Thus it helps to involve young, energetic, sensible people into processes that have no goals and result in nothing, Mostovshchikov explains sarcastically. In new VDNKh, for example, these substances could be represented by falafel academy, wi-fi factory, co-working palace, ziggurat building and other “amazing” things. Let’s live and see…
In the authorities' quest  for profit three of northeast Moscow's most popular recreation spots will be merged to form the largest park in the city. VDNKh, with the neighboring Botanical Gardens and Ostankino Park will cover territory of about 540 hectares. Upon completion, the estate of Ostankino will have a scenic landscape resembling parks of the late 18th and early 19th centuries while at the same time being fully equipped for modern use. In addition to a skatepark, it will have a horse-riding track, children's playgrounds, sports grounds and a boat station. Imagine sports grounds in a Palladian villa!

Despite the renovations VDNKh  still keeps the spirit it took on in the 1990s: a strange mixture of emerged capitalism and social realism, a commercial instruction and a festive atmosphere. In VDNKh one can see dramatic sculptural fountains, exotic pavilion facades, ponds, gardens as well as kiosks, stalls, shops and cafes. Rockets neighbor sheaves of wheat, apple gardens coexist with pompous architectural ensembles, an orthodox church is close to the monument dedicated to a soviet scientist and so on. 

 Monument to I.V.Michurin, a Russian practicioner of selection,

and St. Basil church

The main avenue of the park connects its main landmarks (the Central Pavillion, the Friendship of the Peoples and the Stone Flower fountains, the Ukrainian pavilion) and continues on into Industry square dominated by a copy of Yuri Gagarin’s rocket and former Cosmos (Space) pavilion. The square is the very centre of VDNKh.

The main Central pavilion

 

 The Friendship of Peoples fountain

 The Ukranian pavilion

 The Stone Flower fountain

 Industry square

Beyond Industry square the formal layout softens and the greenery increases. There are pavilions devoted mainly to exhibits on breeding and raising all manner of living creature such as horses, pigs, sheep and large horned livestock. These buildings represent a kind of fantasy classicism using the animals’ heads as capitols and depicting pigs, bulls and horses in bas-reliefs and sculptures.

 The Large horned livestock pavilion. Curved version

 The Sheep breeding pavilion

 Pig breeding, yeah

The Meat industry((

 But the bull is fascinating

 A kind of race track for demonstrating the animals.

The hangar-like Space pavilion and Ostankino TV tower

(on the right)

 The cluster of the cattle breeding pavilions is partly used as intended and living creatures can be still met there. Some of the buildings were converted into offices. For example one of them is occupied by a school of martial arts, run by official mission of Shaolin temple.

Another interesting part of VDNKh is situated behind the Space pavilion and a former tea house. It is a big area covered by lilac and apple gardens. Among the lilac trees one can see a small church of St. Basil, built in the 2000s, which is the most significant mark of the post-Soviet time. 

 ex-Tea-house

 St. Basil church and the dome of former Space pavilion

In the Soviet era the pavilions dedicated to the glorification of the command economy were considered to be the temples which sanctified different economic sectors.