There are stations in the Moscow metro, the architectural appearance of which is a visible embodiment of the era in which they were built. Quite remarkable in this respect is the Frunzenskaya metro station. If you are not in a hurry, then such stations can be visited as a kind of architectural museum.
From the history of the Moscow metro construction
The Frunzenskaya station of the Sokolnicheskaya line of the Moscow metro received its first passengers in 1957. According to the existing tradition, its opening was timed to the May Day holidays. "Frunzenskaya" went into operation operating as part of the launch site between the stations "Park Kultury" and "Sportivnaya". The Sokolnicheskaya line in the fifties was actively developing in a southwestern direction. This was due to the need to provide reliable transport communication areas of active housing construction with the center of the capital. The Frunzenskaya metro station got its name in honor of the Soviet military and statesman. But the design namestation was Khamovnicheskaya.
Hamovniki
But both the embankment of the Moscow River and the streets in the old days were called "Khamovnichesky". This is one of the most ancient characteristic toponyms of Moscow. It has been constantly mentioned in historical sources since the sixteenth century. At that time, it was a working outskirts, where white, or "rude" linen was produced. And weavers-hamovniki lived, engaged in this craft. But the original Moscow name for a while completely disappeared from the map of the capital, after the name of the outstanding Soviet military leader during the Civil War, M. V. Frunze, was immortalized. It was in this area of the capital that the Frunzenskaya metro station was built. By this time, Khamovniki had changed a lot. From the former workers' outskirts, the area has turned into a very prestigious habitat for the Soviet party, military and technical nomenklatura. And it was quite consistent with the metro station that opened here. The Frunzensky district is notable for its stylistic unity, and the lobby of the metro station does not contradict it.
Architectural features
Entrance to the station provides one ground vestibule. In 1984, it was reconstructed and partially built into the building of the Moscow Palace of Youth. Metro "Frunzenskaya" in a constructive sense is a pylon three-vaulted deep station. To a depth of 42 meters, three escalators lead to the central hall. The dominant architectural style is classicism. In my own waycompositionally, this is one of the most expressive stations (among those built in the post-war period). Architects did not change the sense of style. It is not overloaded with superfluous decorations typical of other stations of the same time. The interior decoration is dominated by white and red granite. Bronze decorative elements look very expressive. At the end of the hall there is a bust of Frunze by Vuchetich.
In the cultural context of history
The Frunzenskaya metro station is also notable for the fact that it is a kind of completion of an entire architectural era. She was lucky, in the sense that she was built in accordance with the author's project and did not fall under the well-known decree of the party and government on the fight against architectural excesses. This document was aimed at cost savings and allowed faster construction of metro lines. But the stations that managed to get hit by it are easy to recognize by dullness, ugliness and naked functionalism. There are many of them in the Moscow metro, in particular on the Filevskaya line and in the Izmailovo area. The fallacy of such a concept was not immediately recognized, and the consequences were overcome only at the end of the seventies. But even after the architectural era of forced timelessness ended in the Moscow metro, and the new stations took on their own face, they began to look completely different. "Frunzenskaya" and other stations of this period are rightfully considered classics.
Metro"Frunzenskaya", Moscow
Among the objects geographically tied to this metro station, the Moscow Palace of Youth should be noted first of all. In addition to it, there are many hotels, restaurants, administrative and commercial structures. The area of Frunzenskaya embankment is traditionally a place of elite residential development. Its architectural appearance was largely formed in the post-war period. In real estate structures, both the area adjacent to the Frunzenskaya metro station and the housing that is located here are highly quoted. Apartments in the area of Frunzenskaya Embankment are in steady demand, despite high prices. This is a relatively quiet and comfortable area for living in Moscow. The Frunzenskaya station itself receives a relatively small flow of passengers daily. There are no transfers here, even in the long term there are no plans to build new lines.
