Chekist Town

A large residential complex in the heart of the city, the project was built in 1936 to house NKVD (the predecessor to KGB) workers. Originally, the complex was created to enhance the socialist aspirations of communal living. Flats had shared kitchens and bathrooms, and individual private spaces were reduced to maximise shared living quarters. The centrepiece of the complex is the Iset Hotel, a semicircular building that used to be dormitory-style accommodation. From an aerial view, the shape of the hotel and the adjacent building are supposed to resemble a hammer and sickle. The complex is also the namesake of a local indie band.