Kauchuk Factory Club


Kauchuk Factory Club is a 1927-1929 russian avant-garde public building designed by Konstantin Melnikov, located in Khamovniki District of Moscow, Russia on the edge of Devichye Pole park and medical campus at 64, Plyshikha Street.

History and architecture

Kauchuk rubber factory, originally based in Riga, relocated to Khamovniki in Moscow in 1915, threatened by German offensive, and was considerably expanded afterwards. Construction of a club was part of a 1920s nationwide drive to replace religion with more appropriate entertainment. Melnikov theorized that "Club is not a stern temple of some deity. We must attain such an atmosphere, that we would not need to drag a worker in. He would run there himself, past his home and past his pub... the club, if it succeeds, will show what the new private life is all about".
Kauchuk club is shaped as a simple quarter of cylinder, housing an 800-seat theatre hall with two balcony levels. Today, its shape and size is concealed by poplar trees and a Chinese restaurant terrace attached to the facade.
Melnikov's trademark exterior stairs were never intended for regular use; they are actually fire escapes connected to the second floor lobby.

Preservation

The club, like all 1920s buildings, is under threat of demolition. In 2003, despite the federal protective listing, the City of Moscow placed the building on a condemned property list. As of March, 2007, preservationists succeeded to delay demolition. The building operates a night club and a restaurant, and is in adequate external condition; huge neon lettering that existed in 2003, has been removed. However, its interiors are lost to indiscriminate renovation, original windows are replaced with improperly-sized modern frames. According to Russian press, the building is operated by "Academy of Russian Art", established by pianist Nikolai Petrov; it is not clear who actually owns the building, the Academy or the city of Moscow.