Postconstructivism

Postconstructivism is a term coined by the architectural historian Selim Khan-Magomedov to describe a transitional style in Soviet architecture, most closely identified with the years 1932 to 1936 though construction in the style continued into 1941, that marked the migration of former avant-garde architects toward Stalinist neoclassicism. Khan-Magomedov defined it as neoclassical shapes without neoclassical detailing, characterized by square, lean columns lacking traditional capitals, symmetrical compositions following classical proportions, an absence of conventional ornament such as friezes and cornices, and the continued use of economical materials such as masonry and wooden floors rather than steel and cement. While Khan-Magomedov saw the style as an internal evolution within the architectural profession, other scholars, including Dmitry Khmelnitsky, have argued that state political pressure more directly shaped its emergence.