GORK JOURNAL

Belarus Minsk

Part 6.1

Photo: GORK
Geo: Minsk, BY


The first thing that catches your eye when you arrive in Minsk is the width of the avenues. I mentioned that the city suffered significantly after World War II, and during its reconstruction, a solid foundation was laid for the future. In Moscow, for example, to achieve a similar width of central streets, buildings had to be physically moved. Locals may argue with me, but the thoughtful urban planning has led to the absence of long traffic jams, which is surprising for such a large city.

The exaggerated scales are also reflected in the architecture: the monumental legacy of Soviet architects fills the city with broad strokes. The iconic Dynamo Stadium, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Academy of Sciences building, the National Library, and the Palace of the Republic all look so impressive that one might feel the need to grow bigger themselves.

When associating Minsk’s architecture, Moscow definitely comes to mind. Just consider: Independence Avenue is like Tverskaya, the Gates of Minsk resemble Leninsky Prospekt, etc. The only thing I would like to multiply in the urban development structure is the greenery along these wide streets. This would balance the scale and add coziness.

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