The Soviet Union comprised one-sixth of the earth's land surface which made the one-family detached houses possible to build, unlike in the countries with the lack of land territories. However, the overall rundown of the country after the WWII had forced the government to commence the mass construction of collective flat blocks in order to accommodate hoards of people who had no roof over their heads.
New buildings with small private apartments replaced miserable wooden cottages where people lived in awful conditions without showers or indoor toilets.
1964. Building of apartment house
Since early 1920-s, while the ordinary people lived in the poky wooden huts or nestled together in the shared collective apartments, the ruling elite tenanted in the state-of-the-art houses.
House for the Soviet elite
Because of the mass construction of the apartment blocks by the middle of 1970-s all Soviet cities looked very similar to each other.
1975. Typical Soviet suburb
Popularity: 20%
