Aleksey Shchusev is popularly known as the designer of the Lenin Mausoleum. Narkomzem (People's Commissariat of Agriculture) was designed by Shchusev and built between the years 1928-1933. Narkomzem is well preserved example of Constructivist architecture that, fortunately, has escaped the wrecking ball. In fact, the building is being used today as a working ministry.
The voice heard on the soundtrack is that of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, he talks about peasants, grain, bread.
According to Galinsky.com;
Shchusev was not a committed Constructivist theorist, and is best known for his design of the Lenin Mausoleum. This building, however, is a particularly well preseved example from the Constructivist era, although the depth of Constructivist principles here is limited.
Some of the most striking features are the cylindrical corner tower, the overall asymmetry, the ribbon windows (particularly on the top floor), and the corner details, where the glazing is continuous around both internal and external corners.
How to visit:
The Narkomzem, now the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, overlooks the Garden Ring on the corner of Orlikov Pereulok and Sadovaya-Spasskaya Ulitsa. The nearest Metro station is Krasniye Vorota; from there, walk one block northwest along the Garden Ring.
The building is a working Ministry and is not open to the public.
