Overview
In 1946, construction began on a residential ensemble (quarter) for the first specialists of the rocket and space industry, between Frunze Street, Karl Marx Street, Tsiolkovsky Street, and Lesnaya Street. The quarter was home to the first employees of NII-88, deputies and associates of Sergei Korolev, Vasily Mishin, and Valentin Glushko, as well as the founders of the rocket and space industry, chief designers, academicians, and scientists.
From 2016 to 2022, the fate of the quarter was threatened by the Master Plan, which called for the demolition of its buildings and high-rise construction in the very heart of the historic center of Russia’s space capital.
On June 2, 2025, the quarter was entered in the Register of Cultural Heritage Sites (Historical and Cultural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation.
The historic Frunze Quarter is a valuable monument of history and culture. Preserving it is our duty to future generations.
From 2016 to 2022, the fate of the quarter was threatened by the Master Plan, which called for the demolition of its buildings and high-rise construction in the very heart of the historic center of Russia’s space capital.
On June 2, 2025, the quarter was entered in the Register of Cultural Heritage Sites (Historical and Cultural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation.
The historic Frunze Quarter is a valuable monument of history and culture. Preserving it is our duty to future generations.
What is the significance of the historic buildings in the quarter?
- Universal Historical ValueRead moreThe block was built in accordance with the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 13, 1946, "Issues of Reactive Armament," with the aim of providing housing for "our specialists" - rocket scientists at the newly formed NII-88 (now TsNIImash). Thus, the block became the world’s first residential block built in the world’s first space capital. The buildings of the block are witnesses to historical events that have influenced the development of all humanity.
- Memorial ValueRead moreThe designers and scientists living in the block took direct part in the preparation, organization, and implementation of Soviet defense and space programs, essentially creating a new, highly complex, cutting-edge, high-tech industry from scratch. This opened the way for humanity to space. The residents of the block played a significant role in creating domestic cosmonautics. The historical and memorial significance of the ensemble is associated with the names of many outstanding figures in the rocket and space industry. Ten leaders of their own enterprises lived in the block.
- Architectural and Urban Planning ValueRead moreThe ensemble of residential buildings represents an authentic, integral element of the urban spatial and architectural-artistic environment of the mid-20th century, forming a unique character even in the historical part of the city. The preserved buildings are concentrated within the boundaries of one block, providing an ensemble perception of the development fragment. Preserving these buildings maintains a connection to significant historical events and figures, and it also preserves the architectural heritage and urban character of the mid-20th century.
The history of the block is narrated by a resident of house No. 14 on Frunze Street, Lieutenant Colonel of the Soviet Union’s military space forces in retirement, representative of the USSR Ministry of Defense at the NPO "Energiya" enterprise, Valeriy Ogolyar.
Historical Value
- In June-July 1944, the correspondence between Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin mentioned the launch of a secret weapon by the Germans — flying rockets from a range near the Polish village of Blizna. They were discussing test launches of the V-2 (A4) rocket developed by German engineer Wernher von Braun.
In August-September 1944, a special commission worked in Poland, which transported a number of V-2 rocket parts to the Soviet Union. Their study was entrusted, among others, to specialists from NII-1, including Vasily Mishin, A.M. Isaev, and L.A. Voskresensky — future residents of the block on Frunze Street. - From May 1945, specialists from all the People’s Commissariats of the USSR were sent to Germany to study German technology, including rocket technology.
Among the specialists sent to Germany were future residents of the block on Frunze Street: A.M. Isaev, Vasily Mishin, L.A. Voskresensky, V.P. Kharchev, V.S. Budnik, S.S. Kryukov, S.S. Lavrov, M.F. Reshetnev, I.N. Sadovsky, V.G. Dyukov, G.S. Vetrov, D.I. Kozlov, N.A. Maltsev, L.L. Podgorskaya, and other specialists, many of whom later became employees of NII-88 and then headed their own enterprises in the rocket and space industry. - In late 1945, relations between the USA and the USSR worsened due to issues of post-war political settlement in Iran and the USSR’s territorial claims to Turkey. A few months later, Winston Churchill delivered a speech at Westminster College in Fulton, which went down in history as the trigger for the beginning of the "Cold War."
On March 14, 1946, at a meeting of the Kaliningrad Executive Committee of the Council of Deputies of Working People, the issue of "Allocating a land plot for the construction of five two-story houses for Trust No. 54 within the boundaries of K. Marx, Stalin, and Frunze streets" was discussed. The decision was made: "In order to preserve green plantings in the city center, find another site for the construction of houses for Trust No. 54, preserving the green massif in the block of Frunze, K. Marx, and Stalin streets for cultural events in the spring-summer period." - At a meeting of the Kaliningrad Executive Committee on March 25, 1946, the issue of "Allocating a land plot for the construction of five two-story houses for Trust No. 54" was revisited. The decision stated: "Change the decision of the executive committee from March 14, 1946, on allocating a land plot to Trust No. 54 for the construction of five houses, taking into account the layout, proximity of sewer and electrical networks, and allocate a land plot in the block of Frunze, Stalin, and Karl Marx streets, measuring 200×225 m, for the construction of houses for Trust No. 54, with subsequent approval of the construction plan at the Executive Committee."
- By the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1017−491ss dated May 13, 1946, item 9, a Research Institute and Design Bureau were established based on Plant No. 88 in the city of Kaliningrad (now Korolev).
Item 31 provided for the allocation of 150 Finnish houses and 40 log eight-apartment houses for the accommodation of foreign specialists.
At the Executive Committee meeting on May 24, 1946, the issue of "Approving the project for the construction of 16 slag-concrete houses for Trust No. 54 of the Ministry of Armaments" was considered.
"Decided: 1. Approve the project for the construction of 16 two-story slag-concrete houses for Trust No. 54, according to the attached general plan of the site, developed by GSPI-7."
From March to October 1947, the No. 3 department was engaged in intense work on preparing technical documentation in Russian for the V-2 rocket. Sergei Korolev divided the department into two parts: Vasily Mishin headed the calculation-theoretical part, and V. S. Budnik headed the design part.
During the same period, Sergei Korolev and L. R. Gonar were engaged in personnel selection for NII-88. Thus, department No. 3, which had 60 engineers and 78 auxiliary personnel in March 1947, grew to 310 people by the end of the year. Departments preparing rocket profile specialists were organized at leading machine-building and defense universities (MAI, MSTU, LVMU, MEI, etc.). Refresher courses for engineers were organized at MSTU named after Bauman, where Sergei Korolev gave a course of lectures on the design of long-range ballistic missiles.
The first stage of rocket development included the preparation and launch of V-2 rockets assembled in Germany and at Plant No. 88 from parts of German rockets found by our specialists. Tests of rockets assembled in Germany and at the plant were conducted at the Kapustin Yar range from mid-October to the end of November.
During the same period, Sergei Korolev and L. R. Gonar were engaged in personnel selection for NII-88. Thus, department No. 3, which had 60 engineers and 78 auxiliary personnel in March 1947, grew to 310 people by the end of the year. Departments preparing rocket profile specialists were organized at leading machine-building and defense universities (MAI, MSTU, LVMU, MEI, etc.). Refresher courses for engineers were organized at MSTU named after Bauman, where Sergei Korolev gave a course of lectures on the design of long-range ballistic missiles.
The first stage of rocket development included the preparation and launch of V-2 rockets assembled in Germany and at Plant No. 88 from parts of German rockets found by our specialists. Tests of rockets assembled in Germany and at the plant were conducted at the Kapustin Yar range from mid-October to the end of November.
Factory testing of the first production series of the R-1 rocket
Kaliningrad, 1942
In an effort to alleviate the tense housing situation, the Komsomol organization of the <…> factory, in honor of the 70th anniversary of Comrade Stalin’s birthday, constructed a two-story 16-apartment building with the efforts of the Komsomol members and the factory’s youth.
The construction of the block was predominantly carried out from May-June 1948 to December 1949. Architect N. G. Ryabtsev selected projects from leading architects of the Soviet Union during those years. Thus, the corner houses were designed by the architectural workshop of Vostoknefti S. A. Maslikh and N. N. Slotintseva; the houses consisting of two sections were designed by architects D. S. Meerson and S. P. Selivanovsky — Gorstroyproekt. The houses in the center of the block were designed by M. P. Parusnikov — State Design Workshops. The kindergarten was built according to the design of architect APM of the Ministry of Education N. A. Yakobson.
The construction of the first stage was initially carried out with the participation of German prisoners of war, and later — with the participation of Soviet prisoners. During the construction of houses on the south side of Tsiolkovsky Street, the construction was carried out by hired workers. For the construction of NII-88 and sites in the city of Kaliningrad, a camp for 4,000 people was organized for the special contingent involved in the construction.
In the book "Among the Ural Mountains" by author Y. Bobryshev in 2015, the memories of V. P. Makeyev are cited:
The construction of the first stage was initially carried out with the participation of German prisoners of war, and later — with the participation of Soviet prisoners. During the construction of houses on the south side of Tsiolkovsky Street, the construction was carried out by hired workers. For the construction of NII-88 and sites in the city of Kaliningrad, a camp for 4,000 people was organized for the special contingent involved in the construction.
In the book "Among the Ural Mountains" by author Y. Bobryshev in 2015, the memories of V. P. Makeyev are cited:
- Yuri BobryshevAuthor of the book "Among the Ural Mountains"You have experience in building a youth residential house in Podlipki.
- Viktor MakeyevChief Designer of KBM (now the Makeyev State Rocket Centre); founder of the Soviet school of sea-based strategic missile engineeringBut I had to, to put it mildly, deal with builders and suppliers a lot. Mikhail Kuzmich Yangel helped a lot, he was always available for a meeting and the builders listened to him unconditionally. I even developed a friendly relationship with him. <…> Interestingly, several couples formed during the construction, who soon got married, having apartments built with their own hands.
Testing of the R-5M Rocket with a Nuclear Charge
Qualifying tests of the long-range R-5M rocket with a nuclear charge
Thus, the construction of the block was carried out not only with the involvement of the "special contingent," but also with the involvement of Komsomol members from NII-88.
From 1950 to 1953, the design, manufacture, and testing of the R-5 rocket with a range of 1200 km were carried out. On April 10, 1954, by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the first domestic strategic missile R-5M, based on the R-5 rocket, was being developed, which was intended to deliver a nuclear charge to a distance of 1200 km.
The first successful launch was made on January 21, 1955, and on February 2, 1956, the R-5M rocket was launched with a real nuclear charge. This marked the beginning of the creation of the country’s missile-nuclear shield.
From 1950 to 1953, the design, manufacture, and testing of the R-5 rocket with a range of 1200 km were carried out. On April 10, 1954, by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the first domestic strategic missile R-5M, based on the R-5 rocket, was being developed, which was intended to deliver a nuclear charge to a distance of 1200 km.
The first successful launch was made on January 21, 1955, and on February 2, 1956, the R-5M rocket was launched with a real nuclear charge. This marked the beginning of the creation of the country’s missile-nuclear shield.
NII-88 Rockets Developed Before 1957
The first launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the USA took place on March 17, 1958 — after the USSR had launched both the first satellite and the first living creature into space — the dog Laika.
At the OKB-1 enterprise under the management of Sergei Korolev in the mid-40s — early 50s of the 20th century, the first domestic ballistic missiles of various types were created — from mobile ground-based tactical complexes to ballistic missiles of submarines and strategic intercontinental carriers of thermonuclear weapons.
14 strategic missile complexes were developed here, 11 of which were put into service and transferred to serial production at other factories, including complexes of the first liquid and solid-fuel rockets, including rockets on high- and low-boiling components of liquid fuel.
The first space rocket R-7 was created, which remains one of the most reliable space rockets in the world to this day. These projects laid the foundations for the further development of the country's missile armament and created the prerequisites for the exploration of outer space.
14 strategic missile complexes were developed here, 11 of which were put into service and transferred to serial production at other factories, including complexes of the first liquid and solid-fuel rockets, including rockets on high- and low-boiling components of liquid fuel.
The first space rocket R-7 was created, which remains one of the most reliable space rockets in the world to this day. These projects laid the foundations for the further development of the country's missile armament and created the prerequisites for the exploration of outer space.
Laika
R-7
A two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a detachable warhead. Many thanks to Nick Stevens for visualizing the R-7.
R
7
The world’s first intercontinental ballistic missile to successfully undergo tests and deliver a warhead to intercontinental range (August 21, 1957).
The R-7 is a liquid-fueled, two-stage monoblock ICBM. It is designed with a "package" scheme — four side blocks of the first stage are arranged around the central block of the second stage.
The flight range is 8,000 km, which is more than the distance from Baikonur to Alaska.
The World's First ICBM
A Unique Missile
Range: 8,000 km
Nuclear Shield
Warhead: One 3-megaton thermonuclear charge
From Sputnik to the ISS
Based on the R-7, a whole family of medium-class launch vehicles was created, making a significant contribution to space exploration. Many spacecraft, starting with the very first ones, as well as all Soviet and Russian cosmonauts, starting with the first cosmonaut of Earth, Yuri Gagarin, were launched into space on launch vehicles of the R-7 family.
Payload: Up to 5.4 tons
The missile can carry a payload of up to 5.37 tons.
Memorial value
In the first block, specially built for "our specialists," people settled whom L.R. Gonchar and Sergei Korolev gathered from all over the country to work at NII-88. The creators of the rocket and space industry, the authors of the first practical ideas for the development of astronautics — the R-7 ballistic missile.
- Anatoly AbramovKarl Marx Street 15Deputy Chief Designer under Sergei Korolev at OKB-1 (under Vasily Mishin at TsKBEM; under Valentin Glushko at NPO Energia), Head of Complex No. 6 for ground equipment (launch sites) and experimental development.
- Vasily MishinKarl Marx Street 7/12
Tsiolkovsky Street 17/21One of the founders of Soviet practical cosmonautics; Chief Designer of OKB-1 — TsKBEM; deputy and successor to Sergei Korolev. - Alexei IsaevLesnaya Street 14Chief Designer of Experimental Design Bureau No. 2 (OKB-2), the Chemical Machine-Building Design Bureau (now the A. M. Isaev KB Khimmash).
- Leonid VoskresenskyKarl Marx Street 15Deputy Chief Designer under Sergei Korolev at OKB-1 for testing; Head of Department No. 308 at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI); one of Sergei Korolev’s closest friends.
- Viktor KlyucharyovFrunze Street 10Deputy Chief Designer under Sergei Korolev at OKB-1 (under Vasily Mishin at TsKBEM; under Valentin Glushko at NPO Energia), Director of the Experimental Machine-Building Plant (ZEM).
- Konstantin BusheevTsiolkovsky Street 17/21Deputy Chief Designer under Sergei Korolev at OKB-1 (under Vasily Mishin at TsKBEM; under Valentin Glushko at NPO Energia), head of the design complex No. 2, one of the creators of a series of spacecraft for the exploration of the Moon, Venus, Mars, and the "Vostok", "Voskhod", "Soyuz" spacecraft, technical director of the Soyuz-Apollo project on the Soviet side.
- Igor SadovskyKarl Marx Street 9Deputy Chief Designer under Sergei Korolev at OKB-1 (under Vasily Mishin at TsKBEM; under Valentin Glushko at NPO Energia), designer of solid-fuel rockets and the "Energia" launch vehicle.
- Alexandra PustovoitenkoKarl Marx Street 11Chair of the Executive Committee of the City Council of People’s Deputies from 1964 to 1975; Honorary Citizen of Kaliningrad (now Korolev); Head of the Editorial and Publishing Group in the Department of Scientific and Technical Information at NII-88 from 1958 to 1963.
- Vasily BudnikTsiolkovsky Street 17/21One of the founders of rocket and space technology, First Deputy Chief Designer of the Design Bureau "Yuzhnoye", Hero of Socialist Labor, Lenin Prize Laureate.
- Sergei KryukovTsiolkovsky Street 21/20Deputy Chief Designer of OKB-1 Sergei Korolev, Chief Designer of NPO "Energiya" Valentin Glushko, designer of the first intercontinental ballistic missile R-7, Chief Designer of NPO Lavochkin.
- Svyatoslav LavrovTsiolkovsky Street 21/20Pioneer of domestic programming, Head of the Ballistics Group at OKB-1.
- Vasily KharchevTsiolkovsky Street 17/21Head of counterintelligence at the Soviet-German missile institute "Rabe"; Head of the sector at OKB-2 at NII No. 88
- Vasily BoldyrevTsiolkovsky Street 21/20First Chair of the Executive Committee of the City Council of Workers (1938–1943).
- Mikhail ReshetnevFrunze Street 18Chief Designer of the Design Bureau of Applied Mechanics in Krasnoyarsk-26; developer of the Kosmos launch vehicle; Deputy Chief Designer under Sergei Korolev at OKB-1; one of the founders of Soviet cosmonautics. Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
- Viktor MakeyevFrunze Street 18Founder of the Soviet and Russian scientific and engineering school of sea-based strategic missile development. General Designer of the Machine-Building Design Bureau (now JSC Academician V. P. Makeyev State Rocket Centre in Miass).
- Boris RodionovFrunze Street 18Director of the Central Research Institute of Materials Science (JSC Kompozit); First Secretary of the City Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1968–1977); Deputy General Director of NPO Energia.
- Vladimir KondakovKarl Marx Street 17Specialist in the vibrational strength of rocket systems. Laureate of the USSR State Prize; Head of a laboratory and department at TsNIIMash. Author and co-author of four industry standards and more than ten industry regulatory and technical documents.
- Elena KondakovaKarl Marx Street 17The third female cosmonaut of Russia; Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation; Hero of the Russian Federation; political figure.
- Viktor SadovyTsiolkovsky Street 21/20Head of the classified group working on the first nuclear warhead for Soviet ballistic missiles (R-5M); Head of a sector at OKB-1. Worked on Sputnik 1, spacecraft, the R-7 and N-1 launch vehicles, and the Energia–Buran reusable space transportation system.
- Pavel TroshinKarl Marx Street 17Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of NII-88; Head of Special Train No. 2.
- Dmitry KozlovTsiolkovsky Street 21/20General Designer of TsSKB-Progress in Samara. Leading designer of the R-5 missile, later leading designer of the R-7 missile. Organized missile production in Samara.
- Konstantin KaracharovFrunze Street 14Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, head of the department of ballistic calculations of one of the Leningrad Research Institutes, employee of OKB-1, responsible executor of scientific reports of the Department of FEST of MLTI.
- Konstantin GorbatenkoLesnaya Street 18Deputy Head of the spacecraft assembly shop at TsKBEM and NPO ZEM Energia; Hero of Socialist Labor. On 47 occasions, he wished cosmonauts a successful flight and safe return while they boarded their spacecraft and the hatches were closed, and welcomed them after landing.
- Anatoly VoltsiferTsiolkovsky Street 21/20Head of Complex No. 14 for pneumatic and hydraulic system units, responsible for developing fittings; Deputy Head of Complex No. 1 for design and Complex No. 5 for fittings, engines, and pipelines for rocket and space systems.
- Vadim DyukovKarl Marx Street 15Deputy Chief Designer of NIIIT for the development of sensor equipment for rocket and space technology products. Head of the department at TsNIIMash.
- Lev MalyshevTsiolkovsky Street 19Deputy Chief Designer for General Issues
- Andrei LarinLesnaya Street 18Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st degree, medals "For Courage", "For the Capture of Berlin", "For the Liberation of Prague".
- Raisa PozamantirLesnaya Street 14Historian, local lore specialist, journalist, Honorary Citizen of Korolev city.
- Arkady OstashevTsiolkovsky Street 17/21Leading tester of rockets and rocket-space complexes at OKB-1, deputy head of complex No. 10 for preparation and conduct of flight tests at TsKBEM.
- Mikhail MedkovTsiolkovsky Street 17/21Deputy Chief Designer for production at OKB-3 of NII-88, secretary of the party committee of the M.I. Kalinin plant.
- Nikolai PodgorskyKarl Marx Street 17USSR State Prize laureate for developing a centrifugal casting method for cylindrical parts made of alloy steels; veteran of the M. I. Kalinin Plant.
- Georgy NedoshyvinFrunze Street 14Director of branch No. 1 of OKB-1 on Gorodomlya Island, director of the floating gyroscope plant.
- Mitrofan ShashinKarl Marx Street 15Head of the Capital Construction Department at NII-88, worked in plants and enterprises of the defense industry from 1936 to 1970, specialist in the field of construction of special facilities.
- Valentina ShashinaKarl Marx Street 15Chief Physician of the City Hospital (1950−1980)
- Nikolai ShiganovKarl Marx Street 7/12Head of the Welding Department at NII-88
- Vladimir KarpovKarl Marx Street 15Chief Accountant of NII-88
- Konstantin LemarinierKarl Marx Street 11Lead Specialist at NPO "Composite"
- Maria CheripkoFrunze Street 10Founder of the Kaliningrad City Library
- Ivan PanichkinKarl Marx Street 17Honored Worker of Science and Technology, specialist in applied gas dynamics
- Alexander KolikovKarl Marx Street 9Director of the Kalinin Plant Club, first director of the Kalinin Palace of Culture, senior engineer at ONTI OKB-1
- Nikolai MaltsevKarl Marx Street 15Senior Engineer at the Military-Industrial Commission of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR
- Alexei PotapovTsiolkovsky Street 19Head of the Aerodynamics Department at NII-88, Doctor of Technical Sciences
- Alexander KarmishinKarl Marx Street 7/12Soviet scientist in rocket engineering
- Valery SorokoletovLesnaya Street 14Specialist in telemetry, one of the founders of the Mission Control Center, first deputy chief of the center
- Dmitry SorokoletovLesnaya Street 14Head of the Administrative and Economic Department at NII-88
- Anatoly TolstovLesnaya Street 14Deputy to Chief Designer Alexei Isaev; designer of liquid-propellant rocket engines and propulsion systems at the A. M. Isaev Design Bureau of Chemical Machine-Building. Co-author of a liquid-propellant rocket engine design submerged in a propellant component.
- Konstantin ZaitsevKarl Marx Street 13Head of the Metallurgy Laboratory at NII-88. From 1958 to 1960, he was on a business trip in China.
- Vasily AkimovKarl Marx Street 11Head of the Laboratory of Physical Methods of Material Research at NII-88. Awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor for the execution of a special assignment (21.12.1957). Author of ten published works, twenty-six scientific reports, and an invention.
- Pavel ErshovFrunze Street 6/20Head of the Department at OKB-1, leading specialist in the field of design, experimental development, and implementation of propulsion systems for the rocket and space systems and complexes being developed. Participated in a business trip to Germany from June to December 1946. Awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, and the "Honor Sign" medal.
- Nikolai KiselFrunze Street 16Director of the Small Arms Plant No. 614, Head of the Tool Production at Plant No. 88
- Stepan ZaitsevFrunze Street 6/20Specialist in the development of ground equipment, manufacturing, factory testing, and the installation of equipment at test sites and special facilities; Deputy Head of a department at NII-88. During the war, he served as Deputy Chief Designer at Military Plant No. 385 in Zlatoust. He made technical improvements to the SG machine gun, Model 1946. Awarded two Orders of the Badge of Honour.
- Valery OgolyarFrunze Street 14Lieutenant Colonel of the Aerospace Forces, military representative at RSC "Energiya", public figure, member of the Public Chamber, Coordination Council, co-author of this website. (1945 — 2019)
- Georgy VetrovTsiolkovsky Street 21/20Doctor of Technical Sciences; Design Engineer, Head of Sector, Scientific Secretary of TsKBEM, historian of cosmonautics
- Ivan PrudnikovTsiolkovsky Street 21/20From 1956 to 1966, Ivan Prudnikov headed the design and engineering department of the reentry vehicles of long-range ballistic missiles R-5, R-7, R-9, and R-9A, and from 1964 he was the head of the department for designing spacecraft, including the Lunar spacecraft. His scientific supervisor was Sergei Korolev.
- Mikhail KovalevFrunze Street 16Head of the Technical Control Department at Plant No. 88 (now ZEM RSC "Energiya")
- Nikolai RagozinKarl Marx Street 7/12Head of the group at OKB-1, one of those sent to Germany to study rocket technology, transferred to OKB-586 (headed by Mikhail Yangel)
- Nikolai SavelyevFrunze Street 14Deputy Director of NII-88 for security; Veteran of Labor.
- Lyubov MiloradovaFrunze Street 18Head of the Metallurgy Laboratory at NII-88, metallurgical engineer, inventor
- Ivan BryntsevLesnaya Street 14Head of the Personnel Department at NII-88
- Evgeny ShabarovTsiolkovsky Street 17/21Deputy Chief Designer Sergei Korolev for ground and flight tests of rockets, Deputy General Designer of NPO "Energiya"
- Oleg ShtinLesnaya Street 14Tester of special products; Head of a group in Department No. 16 of the Chemical Machine-Building Design Bureau (KB Khimmash).
Article by historian and local history scholar Raisa Pozamantir, “The Residential Quarter on Lesnaya Street — the Courtyard of Our Childhood”
In Korolev, formerly Kaliningrad, outside Moscow, there is a quarter of two-storey houses in the city centre, bounded by Tsiolkovsky (formerly Stalin) Street, Frunze Street, Lesnaya Street, and Karl Marx Street. It was built in the first post-war years (1946–1953) for employees of Rocket Research Institute No. 88, established in 1946. Its residents included scientists and engineers—associates of Sergei Korolev—whose names entered the history of space exploration: Alexei Isaev, Vasily Mishin, Leonid Voskresensky, Igor Sadovsky, Alexander Karmishin, Ivan Panichkin, Alexei Potapov, Viktor Klyucharyov, Anatoly Abramov, and many others.
AWARDS
Residents of the historic quarter received orders, honorary titles, and medals. We identified the most important awards and counted the residents’ orders and medals, as well as the number of Heroes of Socialist Labor and recipients of state prizes.
Nikolai Ryabtsev
Architect, Author of the urban development project for construction
Nikolai Ryabtsev was born on March 22, 1904, in Seredina-Buda, Sumy Region.
In 1930, he graduated from the Moscow Architectural and Construction Institute with a degree in civil construction architecture. He began his career in 1927 as a construction technician at "Mosstroy."
At the beginning of the war, he was sent to Sverdlovsk, where he worked until he was appointed as the chief architect at the State Union Design Institute No. 7 in 1943.
From 1943 to 1975, he served as the chief architect, group leader, project manager, and chief specialist of the architectural and construction department No. 13 at the State Union Design Institute No. 7. From 1967 to 1975, he was the chief specialist of the architectural and construction department No.13.
Awards: Medals "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941−1945." The work of Nikolai Ryabtsev was repeatedly recognized with acknowledgments and Honorary Diplomas from the institute, and he was listed in the Institute’s Book of Honor in 1972.
In 1930, he graduated from the Moscow Architectural and Construction Institute with a degree in civil construction architecture. He began his career in 1927 as a construction technician at "Mosstroy."
At the beginning of the war, he was sent to Sverdlovsk, where he worked until he was appointed as the chief architect at the State Union Design Institute No. 7 in 1943.
From 1943 to 1975, he served as the chief architect, group leader, project manager, and chief specialist of the architectural and construction department No. 13 at the State Union Design Institute No. 7. From 1967 to 1975, he was the chief specialist of the architectural and construction department No.13.
Awards: Medals "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941−1945." The work of Nikolai Ryabtsev was repeatedly recognized with acknowledgments and Honorary Diplomas from the institute, and he was listed in the Institute’s Book of Honor in 1972.
Lyrical Architecture
In August 1943, at a plenum of the Board of the Union of Architects, A.G. Mordvinov, who would soon head the Committee on Architecture Affairs at the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, made a report, revealing (or setting) the mood of post-war architecture:
"There is a contrast between mass construction and the design of monuments. Mass construction, you see, is not art, but monuments are pure art. There is no doubt that work is needed on the monuments, but such a contrast is incorrect and harmful. The construction of low-rise residential buildings is such a noble and at the same time grateful task, to create for a person a cozy, warm, beautiful dwelling that gives him the joy of life. Here too is poetry, but not the pathos of Victory, as with monuments, but lyricism. This lyrical poetry is born out of love for the person, for the people."
"There is a contrast between mass construction and the design of monuments. Mass construction, you see, is not art, but monuments are pure art. There is no doubt that work is needed on the monuments, but such a contrast is incorrect and harmful. The construction of low-rise residential buildings is such a noble and at the same time grateful task, to create for a person a cozy, warm, beautiful dwelling that gives him the joy of life. Here too is poetry, but not the pathos of Victory, as with monuments, but lyricism. This lyrical poetry is born out of love for the person, for the people."
At the same time, the engineers and architects of the State Union Design Institute No. 7 under the Ministry of Armaments of the USSR faced a difficult task: to prepare a project and a complete set of documentation for the restoration of the workshops of Plant No. 88, the project for the construction of new workshops with specific requirements for operation, as well as the project for the construction of residential block No. 23 in the city— a civil structure.
The first schematic project for the construction of the block was worked on by the architectural and construction department No. 6 of GSPI-7: Chief Engineer of the project Fishmer, Head of the department Sebekin, Head of the bureau—Popov. The architect of the project was appointed Nikolai Grigoryevich Ryabtsev—Senior Architect of GSPI-7.
For the construction of the block, Nikolai Grigoryevich Ryabtsev used the projects of outstanding architects of the 20th century, including the project of Mikhail Pavlovich Parusnikov—a student of architects S.V. Noakovsky and I.V. Zholtovsky. In the mid-40s, Mikhail Pavlovich developed several exemplary projects of residential buildings for the construction of cities after the war, including the project that Nikolai Grigoryevich Ryabtsev used to fix the central square in the block.
The first schematic project for the construction of the block was worked on by the architectural and construction department No. 6 of GSPI-7: Chief Engineer of the project Fishmer, Head of the department Sebekin, Head of the bureau—Popov. The architect of the project was appointed Nikolai Grigoryevich Ryabtsev—Senior Architect of GSPI-7.
For the construction of the block, Nikolai Grigoryevich Ryabtsev used the projects of outstanding architects of the 20th century, including the project of Mikhail Pavlovich Parusnikov—a student of architects S.V. Noakovsky and I.V. Zholtovsky. In the mid-40s, Mikhail Pavlovich developed several exemplary projects of residential buildings for the construction of cities after the war, including the project that Nikolai Grigoryevich Ryabtsev used to fix the central square in the block.
The use of this project in the construction of the block was intended from the very first sketch and "urgent" project and has survived to the present day — Karl Marx Street 15 and Frunze Street 14 are the only houses in Korolev built according to the project of the architect M.P. Parusnikov.
Along the front of Karl Marx and Frunze streets, buildings were constructed, the architects of which are Dmitry Solomonovich Meerson and S.P. Selivanovsky. Dmitry Solomonovich worked at "Gorstroyproekt" in the 1930s-1960s (in the 1930s, the Chief Architect of Gorstroyproekt was I.V. Zholtovsky), and then at the Central Research and Design Institute of Housing. He is the author of a number of residential buildings in Moscow, numerous projects of residential buildings, reconstruction projects of Bukhara, Grozny, and other cities. In Korolev, three houses were built according to the projects of Meerson and Selivanovsky — Frunze Street 8, 16, and Karl Marx Street 9, and significant changes were made to the projects of two houses — Karl Marx Street 13 and Frunze Street 12. These buildings have features similar to the 202 series project, only instead of one bay window, the building has two, there is no attic window on the roof, and the decor is reworked.
Along the front of Karl Marx and Frunze streets, buildings were constructed, the architects of which are Dmitry Solomonovich Meerson and S.P. Selivanovsky. Dmitry Solomonovich worked at "Gorstroyproekt" in the 1930s-1960s (in the 1930s, the Chief Architect of Gorstroyproekt was I.V. Zholtovsky), and then at the Central Research and Design Institute of Housing. He is the author of a number of residential buildings in Moscow, numerous projects of residential buildings, reconstruction projects of Bukhara, Grozny, and other cities. In Korolev, three houses were built according to the projects of Meerson and Selivanovsky — Frunze Street 8, 16, and Karl Marx Street 9, and significant changes were made to the projects of two houses — Karl Marx Street 13 and Frunze Street 12. These buildings have features similar to the 202 series project, only instead of one bay window, the building has two, there is no attic window on the roof, and the decor is reworked.
The corner houses were designed according to the projects of the architects of the Architectural Workshop of Vostokneft, S.A. Maslikh and M.N. Slotintseva. They have separate exits from the apartments on the first floor, and the balconies form a risalit, providing a beautiful corner perspective in combination with the mirror-reflected neighboring building.
The projects of major architects of the 20th century, combined with academic urban planning solutions, with unique memorial and historical value, allow block No. 23 to fully claim the status of a cultural heritage object, not only as a historical monument, but also as an architectural monument — a beautiful lyrical architecture of the second half of the 1940s.
In 1948, the already experienced architect Lyubov Petrovna Guletskaya began working in the city, and she was entrusted with developing the master plan for the construction of the rocket scientists' city. The first project in Kaliningrad, implemented by Lyubov Petrovna, was the design of the southern, ceremonial, side of block No. 23.
From the description of the block, prepared by Anna Vasilyeva: "Both in the building projects used by Ryabtsev in the block construction, and in the buildings constructed according to the projects of L.P. Guletskaya, classical architectural details are used.
Profiled cornices, window elements and sandriks, rustication of corners, volutes and pediments, round dormer windows, powerful square supports of terraces and balconies with capitals were characteristic elements of post-war architecture.
All these details help stylistically unite the block into a single composition, emphasize its classical character, and at the same time, add coziness to the living environment, which was an important requirement of that time."
From the description of the block, prepared by Anna Vasilyeva: "Both in the building projects used by Ryabtsev in the block construction, and in the buildings constructed according to the projects of L.P. Guletskaya, classical architectural details are used.
Profiled cornices, window elements and sandriks, rustication of corners, volutes and pediments, round dormer windows, powerful square supports of terraces and balconies with capitals were characteristic elements of post-war architecture.
All these details help stylistically unite the block into a single composition, emphasize its classical character, and at the same time, add coziness to the living environment, which was an important requirement of that time."
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Urban Planning Value
The layout solution of the block allowed for the creation of a cozy ensemble of residential buildings, in which everyone feels safe.
The planning system of the block is based on the principles of planning scientific towns, where the block was planned as a self-sufficient planning structure, including green spaces, infrastructure, and the use of the scale of buildings and their ratio to open spaces, comparable to the human scale. Thus, the created harmonious urban environment contributed to the development of space science, as it formed optimal conditions for the work of scientists and designers—creators of rocket and space technology.
Two main principles of space formation are used in the planning structure of the block. The first principle—"open perspective"—organizes through functional connections (driveways and passages) that unite the main planning "nodes" of the block. The latitudinal intra-block driveway, which also serves as a through pedestrian passage, conditionally divides the block into two parts—north and south.
Two main principles of space formation are used in the planning structure of the block. The first principle—"open perspective"—organizes through functional connections (driveways and passages) that unite the main planning "nodes" of the block. The latitudinal intra-block driveway, which also serves as a through pedestrian passage, conditionally divides the block into two parts—north and south.
The second principle—"closed perspectives"—creates a system of relationships of chamber spaces, more corresponding to the human scale. It can be said that the block is a model of a certain "city"—with its avenues, squares, streets, and alleys.
At the same time, the feeling of intimacy is achieved not only by the restrained height of the buildings, their volumetric-spatial structure, and the use of decorative techniques. The buildings of the block themselves have planning diversity: external corner (G-shaped); external intermediate G-shaped; external intermediate rectangular; internal rectangular; internal G-shaped.
Different projects are brought to a single module in height, length, volume, etc. They are placed within the boundaries of the block in such a way as to maximize the use of the building area—naturally, while observing regulatory distances between them. Thanks to this, the possibility of creating those very spaces, scalable to a person and interflowing, which were mentioned above, arose.
At the same time, the feeling of intimacy is achieved not only by the restrained height of the buildings, their volumetric-spatial structure, and the use of decorative techniques. The buildings of the block themselves have planning diversity: external corner (G-shaped); external intermediate G-shaped; external intermediate rectangular; internal rectangular; internal G-shaped.
Different projects are brought to a single module in height, length, volume, etc. They are placed within the boundaries of the block in such a way as to maximize the use of the building area—naturally, while observing regulatory distances between them. Thanks to this, the possibility of creating those very spaces, scalable to a person and interflowing, which were mentioned above, arose.
The developed volumetric-spatial composition of the buildings, the variety of structuring techniques for their facades, and the options for using decor positively influence the perception of the block from different viewpoints. External frontal compositions are formed not only by the facades of the buildings but also by the openings between them, creating necessary compositional pauses. Through them, deep perspectives open up, enclosed by the volumes of buildings located in the depth of the block. The system of articulations of the volumes of these buildings as a whole and their fragments ensures their most optimal perception when viewed from the peripheral latitudinal and meridional streets.
The ensemble of residential buildings represents an authentic, integral element of the urban spatial and architectural-artistic environment of Korolev in the mid-20th century, contributing to the uniqueness even in the historical part of the city. The buildings of the ensemble participate in shaping the historical development of the central part of the city, ensuring the preservation of the historical environment, including in the process of visual perception of the surrounding objects. The preserved buildings are concentrated within the boundaries of one block, providing an ensemble perception of the development fragment.
The ensemble of residential buildings represents an authentic, integral element of the urban spatial and architectural-artistic environment of Korolev in the mid-20th century, contributing to the uniqueness even in the historical part of the city. The buildings of the ensemble participate in shaping the historical development of the central part of the city, ensuring the preservation of the historical environment, including in the process of visual perception of the surrounding objects. The preserved buildings are concentrated within the boundaries of one block, providing an ensemble perception of the development fragment.
This website is dedicated to Valery Ogolyar, a lieutenant colonel of the Military Space Forces, an outstanding public figure, and a resident of the historic Frunze Quarter. Sergei Merzhanov—an architectural historian and a member of the All-Russian Society for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments—made an invaluable contribution to identifying, studying, and preserving the quarter.
Valery Arkadievich Ogolyar
Lieutenant Colonel of the Military Space Forces, resident of the block on Frunze Street
Sergei Borisovich Merzhanov
Architectural historian, designer, journalist
Contacts
Igor Grishin, VOOPIK
grishin.korolev@gmail.com
grishin.korolev@gmail.com