Historic Soviet Swimming Pool Torn Down in Moscow
A new CSKA ice arena complex will be built in its place.
The CSKA (Central Army Sports Club) ice hockey arena is no longer up to international standards, so its main sponsor, Rosneft, has joined with the Defense Ministry to build a new sports complex.
Since the new complex requires more space, a historic swimming pool that was a pale blue fixture for decades on Leningradsky Prospekt has been torn down.
Since the new complex requires more space, a historic swimming pool that was a pale blue fixture for decades on Leningradsky Prospekt has been torn down.
The swimming pool was built in 1954 as the first covered, Olympic-size pool in the Soviet Union. The main 5-meter-deep pool had eight 50-meter lanes and room for 2,000 spectators. It underwent renovations in 2013.
Moskva News Agency
The pool was designed and built by Nikolai Gaigarov, known for his richly decorated buildings. He asked Vladimir Favorsky to create bas-relliefs and decorative mosaics.
Moskva News Agency
Favorsky, a student of Alexander Deineka and Yuri Pimenov, created a cartouche - a decorative frame - around the mosaic of bathers on a beach. The ornamentation was above the main entrance on the exterior of the structure.
Moskva News Agency
The swimming pool was part of the sports cluster on Leningradsky Prospekt. Dinamo Stadium and the Young Pioneers Stadium have been torn down and rebuilt, with some of their original ornamentation saved and reused.
Moskva News Agency
To build the new CSKA sports complex, the pool, tennis courts and a gymnastics hall have all been torn down.
Moskva News Agency
The new ice arena will seat 10,000 spectators and be used for training and tournaments. Plans include the ability to transform the space for volleyball, basketball and tennis matches as well as for concerts and cultural events.
Moskva News Agency
The cartouche and mosaic and other ornamentation has reportedly been dismantled and put into storage.
Moskva News Agency
The new Dinamo stadium can be seen on the left behind Petrovsky Palace, where the imperial families stopped on their way from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Here in 1812 Napoleon stayed while Moscow burned in the distance.
MT
