Moskauer Briefe 1932 - 1933

Bruno Taut accepted an invitation to Moscow in 1932, hoping to play a significant role in reshaping the city. This collection features his previously unpublished letters to his Berlin office, written during his extended stay. These letters provide an authentic glimpse into the paradigm shift occurring in Moscow, revealing the overt and subtle power structures of Stalinism, as well as insights into carefree aspects of life and the dynamics among foreign architects. Taut's writings reflect his critically constructive stance towards the contradictions of Bolshevism, alongside his left-bourgeois sense of mission and aspirations for self-actualization in architecture. His experiences were shaped by the new confidence of his Soviet colleagues and their interpretations of architecture and urban space. The editor contextualizes Taut's time in Moscow within German-Russian relations, highlighting the conflicting expectations and projections he faced. The original documents are presented in full, complemented by contemporary Soviet reports that deepen the discussion of themes and track the utilization of Taut's projects.