The name of Leonid Pavlov has long been cult. If you try to remember what good we had in the 70s, then this is it. The era, which made architecture an optional addition to a very massive panel construction, somehow did not affect it - this is one of the rare Soviet masters who directly and "live" continue the work of constructivism in the second half of the century. Therefore, Pavlov's buildings are so dear to everyone who understands at least something in modern architecture - they are material, weighty and artistically very high-quality proof that we also had something in this strange time; a real bridge from the 1920s to the 21st century.
And now, recently it became known that one of the works of Leonid Pavlov - the auto-tech center on the Varshavskoe highway, widely known in narrow circles as "Triangle", is threatened with destruction. For a banal commercial reason: most likely, something shopping and entertainment will be built in its place.
It would be quite logical and even beautiful solution to arrange a car sales salon here: a huge and laconic building intended for the maintenance of the "people's car" of Soviet people Zhiguli has a spectacular interior space that artistically and constructively meets this task. It would hardly change the original function. It is worth noting that, with a consistent approach to business, as they say now, competent PR, the building itself could serve as an additional advertisement for the enterprise. It would be great to play on the nostalgic feelings of potential buyers. Pavlov's building differs from any aluminum box, of which there are now many in Moscow, just like those Zhiguli from hand-assembled Bentleys. Yes, you can take excursions there!
The building is impressive and laconic. Its main part is spread on the ground and illuminated through many small domes, reminiscent of the ancient buildings of Samarkand. The extended stylobate is crowned with a bold triangle of the showroom, whose disembodied transparent walls bear a noticeably weighty roof top. Even now, disfigured by billboards, double-glazed windows and surrounded by a spontaneous market, it does not lose its quiet dignity.
Surprisingly, before the construction of this object, the architect was organized an unprecedented trip across Europe for those times to get acquainted with the most modern experience in the construction of such buildings. The technical center was built according to an individual project, with thorough engineering, it is one of the buildings of the late Soviet era of high quality in all respects. Solid construction with solid structures. And considering that not so much we have good architecture from the period of the 70s. (in this series, Pavlov's Museum of Lenin, the Exhibition Center on Profsoyuznaya, etc.) is simply an extremely important work for our Russian self-esteem.
The year before last, speaking at Arch-Moscow, the Italian Maximiliano Fuksas, as if by chance, remarked something like the following: "… all of you here are convinced that the sixties should be erased into the face of the earth … it is not so." How many times have foreigners who have come to bow to the Russian avant-garde have been telling us - don't break … Again, won't we listen?
