Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia main building
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia main building | |
|---|---|
Здание Министерства иностранных дел РФ | |
 | |
  Location in Central Moscow | |
| General information | |
| Location | 32/34 Smolenskaya-Sennaya pl, Moscow, Russia |
| Coordinates | 55°44′45″N 37°35′03″E / 55.74583°N 37.58417°E |
| Construction started | 1948 |
| Completed | 1953 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 172 m (564 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 27 |
| Lifts/elevators | 28 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | V.G.Gelfreih, A.B.Minkus |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia main building is one of seven Stalinist skyscrapers, designed and overseen by V.G.Gelfreih and A.B.Minkus.
Features
The skyscraper has 27 levels and is 172 metres (564 ft) tall. It's covered by a light external stone wall with projecting pilasters and pylons. The interior is decorated with stones and metals. A metal spire tops the tower's roof, assimilating its silhouette with those of the other six Sisters.
History
The skyscraper was laid down in 1948 and completed in 1953. According to the biography of the architect Minkus (published in 1982), draft plans were first drawn up in 1946 and ranged from 9 to 40 stories. In 1947 two designs were proposed: one utilized layered setbacks while the other called for a more streamlined construction which culminated into a blunt rectangular top. In the second and approved design a metal spire, presumably ordered by Joseph Stalin, was hastily added to tower's roof.[1][2] Currently the building houses the offices for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
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