Soviet Metro Stations

by Owen Hatherley, Christopher Herwig (Photographer), Stephen Sorrell (Editor)

From the author of Soviet Bus Stops , an underground trip through the Soviet Metro “For us,” said Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in his memoirs, “there was something supernatural about the Metro.” Visiting any of the dozen or so Metro networks built across the Soviet Union between the 1930s and 1980s, it is easy to see why. Rather than the straightforward systems of London, Paris or New York, these networks were used as a propaganda artwork―a fusion of sculpture, architecture and art that combined Byzantine, medieval, baroque and constructivist ideas and infused them with the notion that communism would mean a “communal luxury” for all. Today these astonishing spaces remain the closest realization of a Soviet utopia.

Following his bestselling quest for Soviet Bus Stops , Canadian photographer Christopher Herwig has completed a subterranean expedition photographing the stations of each Metro network of the former USSR. From extreme marble and chandelier opulence to brutal futuristic minimalist glory, Soviet Metro Stations documents this wealth of diverse architecture. Along the way Herwig captures the elements that make up this singular Soviet neon, concrete, escalators, signage, mosaics and relief sculptures all combine to build a vivid map of the Soviet Metro.

Soviet Metro Stations includes an essay by the leading architectural and political writer Owen Hatherley, author of the acclaimed books Landscapes of Communism (2015), Trans-Europe Express (2018) and The Adventures of Owen Hatherley in the Post-Soviet Space .

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Photography, Art, History, Russia, Cities

248 pages, Hardcover

Published September 24, 2019

About the author

Writer and editor

Reviews

[Keen Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This impressive collection of shots from the mysterious depths of the subterranean Soviet Union was a real treat. So many of these places are truly incredible, otherworldly locations buried deep beneath the communist earth, where retro and the futuristic clash resulting in a glorious meld of the bold, beautiful and bewitching.

Hatherley’s opening essay is really well-researched with some nice touches with the various photos and other related promotional material and ephemera to flesh it out nicely. So many of these examples are like stepping onto the set of an unfinished, 60's sci-fi movie, leaving you with the smouldering sensation of what could have been. So many like Ballardian streetscapes fashioned through a communist lens.

Herwig’s photos possess a depth, clarity and resonance which allows these spaces a cinematic gravitas. Yekaterinburg’s part art deco dining room, part art gallery really elevates them into something quite special.

I can honestly say that prior to this Yerevan didn’t feature too highly in my travel destination wish list, but after seeing some of the shots of the Republic Square and General Andranik stations, I’d love to see them up close. And what they’ve managed to achieve with blue in Tashkent is quite something.

This is a powerful and at times, a beautiful and inspiring collection of photographs, which show that communism, could create something that was visually stunning and enduring as well as pragmatic, and stand as something for other nations’ planners, architects and builders to aspire to.

[Arseny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up in Leningrad/St.Petersburg I was so used to “Subterranean Palaces” that only through this book I realized what deep impact on space apprehension and formation of tastes to public places have they caused.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good commute reading

[Jeremy Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

mostly got it for drawing and art purposes but this book is amazing.
I didnt realise how much i like train stations and uber soviet architecture :D

[Kirstin Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was one of the most beautiful books I have ever read and viewed. It shows us what is possible, how architecture and public art can tell our stories and respect our struggle. I was deeply moved, literally to tears.

The book itself is full of technically excellent photos that communicate the souls of these buildings. And the introductory and concluding essays taught me more about the context they were built in.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

[Shae Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars only in the shadow of Soviet Bus Stops

[Atlantean BCT · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Soviet Metro stations have a very different aesthetic to London Underground, and this book contains many great photos of the art and architecture of the various systems. It was a surprise to learn that systems were still being built in a grand style even as the USSR was in its final years. My real criticism of the book is that the text and the photos are separate , so it is difficult to marry up the text with the images.

[Fernando Conde-Pumpido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book.

It is (obviously) a niche book, but if you are looking for a photo book of Soviet metro stations, this is the best. It may be even the best photo book of metro stations.

There are photos of metro railways, exteriors and halls of 15 cities that belonged to the Soviet Union (СССР). It is accompanied by essays on the metro system of each city, explaining the historical context in which they were built and the stations constructed. This is a great help when looking at each of the cities displayed in the book.

I recommend looking at each city just after reading the corresponding essay.

Great book, I might buy the Bus Stops one.

[Lee Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glorious! A worthy successor to Soviet Bus Stops, a pair of books I absolutely loved.

Starts off with some informative essays setting the scene, before plunging into some fantastic photographs of stations all over the former Soviet Union. The quality of the images is excellent, and there's wonderful variety here.

For someone like me, this book verges on the pornographic. :) Stunning, eerie, beautiful, grand. Really enjoyable to leaf through.

[Daniel Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. Out of all the books in the series this has by far the most extensive introductory essays, totaling about 30 pages. The introduction provides the background, artistic motivations, and history to how the Soviet Metros were established in Moscow, St Petersburg, Kyiv, Tashkent, Baku, Yerevan, Kharkiv, Minsk, and several others.

The photos are beautiful, the context is brief yet fascinating. I highly recommend this.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An esoteric topic, but the amazing architectural photography doesn't disappoint. A really impressive collection.

[Supi · Rating 5 out of 5]

art masterpiece; mosaic; imagination

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. The introduction material is EXCELLENT, engaging and really interesting. Totally worth getting. One of the best!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess I live in some sort of bubble because before this book I was completely unaware that Moscow had a subway system, let alone such a wildly extravagant one. But, wow, it does! And the subways of other Soviet cities also have interesting stories behind their fabulous designs. Some of the best of which (I assume) are documented in this book for me to marvel over.

A few side notes: The legacy of these subway stations technically being military installations (i.e. bomb shelters) combined with a only a recent relaxation of photography prohibitions (conveniently forgotten by some of the station guards), seem to have limited some of the photography. Fascinating.

And the early morning/pre-rush timing of the shots (though by the 24 hour time I saw on some signage seemed to indicate many late night shots, as well) had the completely interesting effect of making me think these stations are not used at all. I mean, maybe it's timing and the way the stations are photographed, but they look inconceivably clean! Are you sure people use these??? LOL, all the subways I've taken have a slowing decaying feel about them even if they lack trash. Fascinating!

Finally, I had the give the book four stars because I thought the text really needed to be closer to the images it was talking about. Sorry! The Russian etc. name places are not familiar to me so putting the text in closer proximity to the relevant images would have saved me a great deal of flipping back and forth. That's just a little quibble, it was still quite the delightful book.

[Sarah Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a beautifully made book. as a big fan of public transit and history, this satisfied a deep need within my soul. great to have around as a coffee table book or for casual reading! :-)

[Josie Deryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

[Babelfish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Metro stations are not just public transportation, but also public unconscious colletion

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like it as much as the bus stop books, but still very cool

[Aina Hard · Rating 5 out of 5]

En fucking njutning