Shukhov Tower

The Shukhov Tower in Moscow is an outstanding example of engineering thought from the early 20th century. This structure is familiar to millions of television viewers as a symbol of Soviet television, which for many years adorned the opening screens of popular programs. The openwork construction, standing 160 meters tall, became a true masterpiece of Russian architectural avant-garde and remains one of the main attractions of the capital. Located on Shabolovka Street, the tower amazes with its elegance and technological perfection. Its creator, the outstanding engineer Vladimir Grigoryevich Shukhov, developed a revolutionary hyperboloid structure that later found application in various countries around the world.

Vladimir Shukhov: the Russian Leonardo

The creator of the legendary tower deservedly earned the nickname “Russian Leonardo”. Vladimir Grigoryevich Shukhov was born in 1853 in the Kursk Governorate into a noble family. His interest in invention manifested itself in early childhood when he built a working miniature water mill. After graduating from the Fifth St. Petersburg Gymnasium, Shukhov entered the Imperial Moscow Technical School. While still a student, he registered his first invention—a steam nozzle for burning liquid fuel. As one of the best graduates, the young engineer was sent as part of a Russian scientific delegation to the World Exhibition in Philadelphia.

The inventor's multifaceted activities

Shukhov's talent manifested itself in a wide variety of fields. He designed oil pipelines and tankers, developed the industrial process for producing gasoline, and created elegant mesh coverings for buildings. His graceful lattice roofs adorned the Pushkin Museum, the Metropol Hotel, and the Moscow Main Post Office. The famous debarcader of the Kyiv Railway Station is also the work of the great engineer. More than 200 towers were built according to Shukhov's designs in Russia and abroad. He presented the first of them in 1896 at the All-Russian Art Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod. The idea of the hyperboloid structure received worldwide recognition and was used in Japan, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Spain.

History of the construction of the Moscow tower

From a grandiose project to reality

In 1919, Vladimir Shukhov developed the design for a radio tower in Moscow. The original concept was truly grandiose: the structure was to consist of nine sections, reach a height of 350 meters, and surpass the famous Eiffel Tower. At the same time, the weight of the structure would have been only 2,200 tons—three times less than the mass of the Parisian landmark. However, the Civil War made its adjustments. The acute shortage of metal forced a revision of the project. It was decided to reduce the size of the structure to 148.3 meters, reducing the number of sections to six. Despite the difficulties of wartime, work continued uninterrupted and was personally overseen by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

Revolutionary construction method

The tower was erected using a unique technology developed by Shukhov himself. The telescopic mounting method allowed construction without scaffolding or cranes. Each section was assembled inside the lower part of the structure on the ground, then raised to the required height using winches and blocks and secured with special rivets. Construction was not without difficulties. Engineer Shukhov wrote in his notebooks: “There are no presses for bending rings. No ropes or blocks. No firewood for the workers. It’s cold in the office, very difficult to write.” In 1921, during the lifting of the fourth section, an accident occurred—the volumetric part fell and damaged the lower tiers. For the incident, Shukhov was even sentenced to execution with a deferment until the completion of construction, but the sentence was later lifted. In March 1922, the tower was completed, and regular radio broadcasts began from it. The structure literally grew before the eyes of Muscovites, arousing admiration with its unusual design.

Features of the unique construction

Hyperboloid form

The Shukhov Tower consists of six sections created in the form of one-sheet hyperboloids with ring bases. Each hyperboloid is built from straight intersecting beams forming a characteristic mesh structure. This design provides an amazing combination of lightness and strength. The foundation has a diameter of 40 meters and a depth of three meters. The height of each section is 25 meters. After installing two traverses and a flagpole, the top of the tower reached 160 meters. At such a significant height, the weight of the entire structure is only 240 tons—dozens of times less than the mass of the Eiffel Tower.

Advantages of the mesh structure

The main feature of the tower is its openwork mesh construction. It is not static yet sufficiently strong, not subject to high wind loads due to its perforated form. The tower has a certain flexibility, which allows it to withstand significant external impacts. The inspiration for creating the hyperboloid structure came from ordinary woven baskets—light but capable of bearing great weight. Shukhov managed to implement this principle in a grandiose engineering structure that was ahead of its time.

Operation and significance of the tower

The era of domestic television

Until the construction of the Ostankino Tower in 1967, the Shukhov TV tower was the tallest structure in the Soviet Union. In March 1939, regular television broadcasts began from it. The first transmission was a documentary film about the opening of the 18th Congress of the CPSU(b). Subsequent programs were broadcast four times a week for three hours each. The image of the Shukhov Tower's rings served for a long time as the emblem of Soviet television and the opening screen for many TV programs, including the famous “Little Blue Light on Shabolovka.” Two spacious buildings were built next to the tower, housing hardware rooms, filming and technical equipment, a 100-square-meter studio, and transmitting devices.

Test of strength

In 1941, the tower underwent a difficult test of reliability. Due to a malfunction, a Kyiv postal plane hooked a cable located in the upper part of the structure with its wing. At the bottom, the cable was wound on a winch in a concrete foundation. As a result, the winch was torn out, but the tower sustained only minor damage. An examination confirmed that no repairs were needed, whereas the plane crashed.

World recognition and cultural significance

The Shukhov Tower has received international recognition as an example of engineering art. In April 2006, at the Moscow International Scientific Conference, it was recognized as one of the seven most significant architectural masterpieces of Russian avant-garde. Shukhov's structures are depicted in detail in many foreign books and textbooks on the history of architecture. Models of the tower regularly adorn architectural exhibitions in Europe. An image of the structure graced the cover of the catalog for the “Engineering Art” exhibition at the Pompidou Center in Paris in 1997.

Influence on world architecture

Shukhov's hyperboloid structure inspired many outstanding architects. Its principles were used by Le Corbusier, Antonio Gaudí, and Oscar Niemeyer. British architect Norman Foster admitted that Shukhov's creations inspired him to design the famous London skyscraper known as “the Gherkin.” The Russian engineer's idea has been implemented worldwide. The first country to use Shukhov's invention was Japan: in 1963, a 108-meter television tower was built in the port of Kobe. The tallest embodiment of the idea is the 610-meter hyperboloid structure in China, built between 2005 and 2009 in Guangzhou.

Literary legacy

The unusual design of the tower inspired writer Alexei Tolstoy to create the novel “The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin”, completed in 1927. The main character of the work, Russian scientist Pyotr Garin, creates a hyperboloid that emits a powerful thermal beam capable of destroying any obstacles. Using this invention, the hero seizes an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean and begins mining gold from the Earth's depths.

Current state and restoration plans

The need for restoration

Currently, the Shukhov Tower is fenced off, and tourists cannot approach it closely. The structure is in an emergency condition and requires serious restoration. The main cause is corrosion of metal parts, which need examination and anti-corrosion protection. The problems were exacerbated in 1973 when an unsuccessful restoration attempt was made. Some elements were welded and bolted, and the movable foundation was concreted. This led to a change in the kinematic scheme of the structure and violation of its main principle—the tower lost part of its flexibility and ability to self-compensate for external loads.

The fight to preserve the monument

In 2003, the State Duma issued a resolution on the importance of preserving engineering structures built according to Vladimir Grigoryevich Shukhov's designs. In 2008, the Shukhov Tower was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2014, a series of scandals arose around the fate of the tower. The Deputy Minister of Communications of Russia proposed dismantling the structure, which sparked a wave of protests from experts and the public. The great-grandson of the engineer Vladimir Shukhov, architect Norman Foster, and the Ministry of Culture opposed the demolition. The Moscow Mayor's Office put the issue to a vote on the “Active Citizen” website. More than 90% of voters spoke in favor of keeping the tower on Shabolovka. In 2016, a supporting structure—a “hanger”—was installed, which holds the tower walls and partially relieves the load on the frame.

Development prospects

It is planned that in the coming years the tower will be restored, and tourist infrastructure will be built nearby. The project includes the creation of a center for science, culture, and art, as well as a business center. Despite its emergency condition, the tower continues to function as a retransmitter with various communication transmitting devices.

How to get there and what to see nearby

Location and transport

The Shukhov Tower is located at: Moscow, Shabolovka Street, 37 (formerly Varvarinsky Lane, then Sirotsky Lane). The easiest way to reach it is by metro. Shabolovskaya station is literally a five-minute walk from the tower. Upon exiting the metro, you will immediately see the openwork structure rising above the surrounding buildings. The tower can also be admired from afar. An excellent panoramic view opens from the observation deck on Sparrow Hills, from where the elegant silhouette of the structure is visible against the city landscape. A walk across the Crimean Bridge will also allow you to enjoy the view of the tower in combination with other architectural landmarks of Moscow.

Attractions in the area

A mini-excursion to the tower can be combined with a walk through the nearby old Moscow district. Near Shabolovskaya metro station is the old Moscow Udaritsa confectionery factory, whose buildings were constructed in the spirit of Soviet constructivism. There are many cafes and souvenir shops around. From Shabolovka, you can walk to Leninsky Prospekt, Oktyabrskaya metro station, Gorky Park, the Central House of Artists, and Muzeon. A few public transport stops away are other monuments of Moscow avant-garde—the famous House on the Embankment and the Udarnik cinema.

Other Shukhov towers in Russia

Polybino, Lipetsk Region

In the village of Polybino in Dankovsky District stands the world's first hyperboloid structure by Shukhov, presented at the All-Russian Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod in 1896. The tower attracted the attention of entrepreneur and philanthropist Yuri Nechaev-Maltsov, who purchased it and installed it on his estate. The height of the structure, including the foundation, reservoir, and observation deck, is 37 meters. The tower has been partially restored and today is a monument to engineering thought.

Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Region

In the settlement of Dachny on the left bank of the Oka rises an elegant openwork structure of five sections standing 128 meters tall. This is the only surviving tower from a complex of power line supports built in the late 1920s. In the early 2020s, the structure was restored and equipped with more than 20 thousand LEDs. The illumination turns on in the evenings on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Krasnodar

In the early 1930s, Shukhov erected a 25-meter water tower in the capital of Kuban. Although operation of the structure ended in 1957, and the reservoir was dismantled in the 1980s, this architectural monument is in good condition. The tower stands in the city center on Rashpilevskaya Street, 124, and is a popular meeting place and photo spot.

Conclusion

The Shukhov Tower in Moscow remains an outstanding monument to engineering thought and a symbol of an entire era. Since its construction more than a hundred years ago, it continues to delight with its elegance and technological perfection. This structure demonstrates the genius of the Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov and serves as a reminder of the glorious pages in the history of domestic science and technology. The tower is an object of cultural heritage of regional significance and an object of nighttime illumination in Moscow. Despite the need for restoration, it remains one of the main attractions of the capital, attracting the attention of both Muscovites and tourists from around the world. Preserving this unique monument is an important task that will allow future generations to admire a masterpiece of engineering art from the early 20th century.