Moscow metro : Mayakovskaya Маяковская

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Heaths-History-Page/173472422695696

http://www.ceepackaging.com
twitter : @ceepackaging
https://www.facebook.com/pages/CEE-Packaging/135108923181666

Mayakovskaya was built as part of the second stage of the Moscow Metro expansion, and was opened on September 11, 1938. If the first stage was more focused on the building the system itself, both architecturally and engineeringly the stations appear modest in comparison to those that the second stage brought to the system. For the first time in the world, instead of having the traditional three-neath pylon station layout, the engineers were able to overlap the vault space and support it with two sets of colonnades on each side. This gave birth to a new column type design and Mayakovskaya was the first station to show this.

If the triumph in engineering was not enough, then Alexey Dushkin's brilliant Art Deco decoration design was truly amazing. Based on Soviet future as envisioned by the famous poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, for whom the station was named, the station features graceful columns faced with stainless steel and pink rhodonite, white Ufaley and grey Diorite marble walls, a brilliant flooring pattern of white and pink marble, and of course, most of all are the niches of each of the 35 niches of each vault. Surrounded by filament lights there are a total of 34 brilliant ceiling mosaics by Alexander Deyneka with the theme "24-Hour Soviet Sky." A passenger has but to look up and see the bright Soviet future in the heavens above him.

Located 33 meters beneath the surface, the station became famous during World War II when an air raid shelter was located in the station. On the anniversary of the October Revolution, on November 7, 1941 Stalin personally addressed a mass assembly of party leaders and ordinary Muscovites in the central hall of the station.

In 2005 a new second exit was built along with a new vestibule in a unique way. Passengers leaving the station must first descend on a short escalator ride into an underground vestibule and only then climb the long one to the surface. The new exit also allowed access to the 25th mosaic, which was previously hidden behind the service section. The bust of the poet was moved to the new surface vestibule whose ceiling was also decorated with a mosaic composition from the poet's poem "Moscow Sky".

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• moscow
• metro
• Mayakovskaya
• Маяковская
• underground
• train
• Stalin
• Alan
• Heath
• alanheath

[Isolar]

Very elegant

[KrashoZnam]

@Edwiness. Good sound, but where do you find such, eh? Induction motors are already everywhere! Sorry for bad english. From Russia with love! > :-(

[alanheath]

@dmitriy40 Whereas it is possible she confused the two, I don't think so as my questioning was such as to get answers by not giving leading questions (as I always do). Admittedly though I did not ask 'trick' questions which I can do with older people to ensure they are not telling things at second hand.

I go there now around three times a year - January, June and October on business.

[dmitriy40]

@alanheath I still think that you or your ex friend might have some confusion with the two coups -- 91 and 93.

In 93, there was sort of a "mass uprising" against democratic changes. Large armed groups of people who were not happy with the demise of USSR and "Socialist Rule" occupied The White House and Central TV.

I was not there (I left Russia in 92), but I understand there was considerable bloodshed, with tanks (this time army was on the side of Yeltsin) firing shells on The White House, etc.

[alanheath]

@dmitriy40 I remember the coup well. I was in London then. What stands out is Yeltsin saying that the victims should be buried in the Kremlin and if there is no room there then some others could be thrown out.

If anyone is mistaken, it is me for not writing the full circumstances. I was just reporting the opinion of her friends. She was quite close, I think it was somewhere near where the trade fair is today.

Anyway I won't be going out for a talk + film with here now!

[dmitriy40]

@alanheath I say "lame attempts to storm", but about 5 people actually died while defending The White House -- crushed by tanks. It may have happened by accident, as there was a lot of confusion during the night-time army assaults. After the coup ended, some horrifically mangled and burned bus and trolleybus carcasses (tanks were trying to smash trough them) were left there for everyone to see for a few days, people brought flowers.

Again, there was zero popular support for the army.

[dmitriy40]

@alanheath She is mistaken.

91 coup lasted about 3 days. Army entered Moscow with a lot of tanks. Tons of people surrounded "The White House" in support of gov., and prevented the army to "arrest" the gov. Lots of buses were used to create barricades. The curfew was announced, but totally ignored by all. The army made a couple of lame attempts to storm The White House, but gave up and changed sides. Yeltsin was giving a speech on top of one of the tanks which came to support the gov.

[alanheath]

@dmitriy40 It was definitely 1991. Her reaction surprised me. I suggested that she go with me and show me where she was - I thought it would make an interesting commentary but she did not want to do so.

[dmitriy40]

@alanheath I was in Moscow in 1991. It is precisely because of huge crowds of people (mostly young -- in their 20s, 30s and 40s) that the tanks were stopped. Also, most soldiers (young kids) refused to fire on the crowds. The army had no support in 1991, and quickly changed sides, choosing Yeltsin. Your friend may be confusing the 1993 coup attempt, but discussing that one will take many pages -- no room for that here.

[alanheath]

@dmitriy40 What surprised me was that when the 1991 attempted coup occurred, my former girlfriend told me that she was nearby and that many young people supported the coup. I can understand old people frightened of change but this I found very strange from people who would be the same age as me (then).

[alanheath]

@dmitriy40 I do not agree with what may be the average generalising view of socialism that appears to be common in the USA but having experienced socialism at first hand in Poland and East Germany, I don't think it is a very good way of doing things.

On the other hand, I must say that I admire your written English which is so much better than what one normally sees here - and for a non native speaker it is - I would say - almost unique.