Khrushchevka

Khrushchevka refers to the mass-produced, low-cost, pre-fabricated apartment buildings constructed in the Soviet Union during the late 1950s and 1960s. They are named after Nikita Khrushchev, who initiated the program as a response to the severe housing shortage in post-war Soviet cities. The goal was to provide every family with their own separate apartment, a significant improvement over communal apartments or barracks.

These buildings are typically five stories tall, as this height was deemed sufficient to avoid the need for elevators, further reducing construction costs and complexity. The apartments themselves are notoriously small, with minimal amenities. Rooms are often cramped, kitchens are tiny, and bathrooms are usually combined into a single small space. The overall construction quality is generally considered poor, with thin walls that offer little sound insulation and materials that have not always aged well. Despite their drawbacks, Khrushchevkas played a crucial role in rapidly housing millions of Soviet citizens. They represent a distinct architectural and social phenomenon of the Soviet era, and many still stand today, often undergoing renovations or being replaced by newer developments.