House-commune of engineers and writers

The avant-garde building of the constructivist era in St. Petersburg, located on the corner of Rubinstein Street and Grafsky Lane and received the colorful nickname "The Tear of Socialism" (and its tenants became known as "tears"). The house was built on shares by a team of young engineers and writers in 1929-1931. The functional innovation of the hotel-type communal house was oriented towards a generalized way of life, which caused a lot of inconvenience to its inhabitants. At first glance, the exterior of the house seems very modest and even ascetic. But if you look closely, it becomes clear how delicately the forms of constructivism are inscribed in the historical environment. The neutral exterior facade is decorated with small balconies in a checkerboard pattern, which removes excessive strictness on the one hand, and adds a shadow effect on the other. The end of the house is the most decorated part of the building. Its different storeys are considered here and the open roof terrace is noticeable.