Name
Worker's Palace
Years of construction
1928-1932
Address
83a, Velyka Panasivska st.
Architect Dmytriiev, the master of large-scale designs
PALACE OF CULTURE "ZALIZNYCHNYK"(RAILWAYMEN PALACE OF CULTURE) O.I. Dmitriev was born in Saint Petersburg, where he received the higher architectural education at the Academy of Arts. The features of the master’s creative works reflect the architecture of the city, specifically the integrity and large-scale of the designs, the use of the elements of historic styles, contrast colors and plant decor. Besides, one of the first works of Dmitriev, the house for employees of the New Admiralty, was made in the style of structural modern that was new at that time. The environment in which Dmitriev designed was always important for him. Therefore, when the architect received the construction order for the Southern Railway Administration Building in Kharkiv, he used entirely different techniques when creating the architectural form. While retaining the design monumentalism, he softened the form harshness with the elements typical for Kharkiv architecture: plant swags, antique vases, underlining capitals and decorative elements with white color. When working on the project of the Cooperation House in Kharkiv, Dmitriev (in collaboration with O.R. Munz) tried his hand at creating an object in the spirit of the new architecture. The architect had to take into account the existing State Industry House (Derzhprom), so that the buildings forming the square would make up a unified ensemble. The architect successfully coped with the task by creating a composition echoing with the Derzhprom design, but not repeating it. In 1928–1931, O.I. Dmitriev created the workers’ theater club in Kramatorsk. It has all the favorite features of the constructivist architecture: pavilion planning system, asymmetrical composition of the facades, highlighting the glassed cylinders of the stairs. The favorite part in the Dmitriev’s works performed in line with the avant-garde architecture is the use of the arc-like elements in plan view. Even if the decision was not dictated by the site configuration, as in the case of the Cooperation House, the architect created the required setting artificially, like the design of the Palace of Culture of Metallurgists named after Lenin in Donetsk (1929). The same theme is maintained in the building of Palace of Culture "Zaliznychnyk" in Kharkiv (1931–1932). The building is located at the road crossing and is well seen at the approaches and access ways from three streets. Therefore, such a composition was completely justified. Symmetrical facade in the design is continually perceived in a complex perspective in kind, allowing for the assessment of the play of light and shadow on the facades and dynamics of forms that flow over one another. In the planning decision of the building, one can trace a link with clubs designed by K.S. Melnykov (the club named after Rusakov, the club of porcelain works and the Caoutchouc club). In addition, there is evidence that Dmitriev participated in drafting the House of Culture of Moscow-Narva District of Leningrad (in collaboration with O.I. Hehello, D.L. Krychevskyi, 1927), in which similar designing methods were used. This work by Dmitriev tends to rationalists’ concept of form: funnel-shaped outline, symmetrical structure, integrity. The building locates a large auditorium, rooms for amateur-talent groups, a library, lobby and halls where various exhibitions are held, and a dance hall. The facade composition reflects the internal structure of the building and is designed as five concave surfaces resembling stretched accordion bellows. The large auditorium is adjoined by the arc-like lobby, with its end walls decorated with monumental frescoes of the People’s Artist of the RSFSR E. Lanceray. Olha Deriabina
Worker's Palace / Palace of Culture /PALACE OF CULTURE "ZALIZNYCHNYK"
Dmitriev O. with the participation of Veryuzhsky V./ 1928-1932 / 83a, Velyka Panasivska st.
Palace of Culture / Art Deco
Monuments of architecture / Unaltered condition
Romanticism of Industrial Revolution
Influence of classical art
Constructivism
Art Deco
Influence of Ukrainian folk architecture
Influence of European Modern architecture