Desiat' RABOCHIKH KLUBOV MOSKVY.: (Ten Workers Clubs of Moscow)

Moscow-Leningrad: Ogiz-Izogiz, 1932 Octavo 17 x 17.5 cm., wrappers, 108(1) pp. The collection was compiled in 1930 by a student group examining the architecture of workers clubs at the State Academy of Art. Edited by David Efimovich Arkin (1899 1957), art historian, critic and historian of architecture, fine and industrial arts. Worker Clubs were viewed as an essential place to develop proletarian culture from the outset and over 7000 clubs were built in the first three decades of the USSR. Initially indistinguishable from the upper-class clubs of the pre-revolution, by 1925 they provided some of the most exciting design opportunities for social experiment and were a unique contribution in the history of Constructivist architecture, and the boldest experiments were realized. The most original are by Mel'nikov and Il'ia Golosov. Each building is accompanied by an essay from various authors (Alekseeva,
M.A. Il'in, V.S.Kemenov, M.V. Alpatov, F/S. Roginskaia, A.V. Filippov, D.M. Aranovich, Natalia Sokolova, D.E. Arkin). Design challenges and resolutions are discussed and drawings and photos document some of the most successful work. The interior of the present copy is very good, with inner cover worn. The outer cover has with printing on both sides and acts as a foldout folio displaying parts of all ten clubs. Five North American library holdings located This copy with a later replica cover wrapper and very good, clean condition.