New East Digital Archive

Know your tower block: Russia or not? Take the test

Know your tower block: Russia or not? Take the test

The tower block is a ubiquitous feature of Russia’s suburbs. But can you tell the difference between Russia’s high-rises and those of other cities around the world?

13 May 2014
Created by Anastasiia Fedorova, Maryam Omidi and Samuel Crews

Whether you view them as objects of unexpected beauty or a brutal eyesore, Russia’s high-rise blocks dominate the country’s suburban landscape. The prevalence of such monoliths isn’t unique to Russia. From Sao Paolo to Seoul they are a feature of modern life. But does each country have its own style or is homogeneity the very essence of high-rise architecture? Can you tell which suburb blocks belong to which city? Take The Calvert Journal quiz to find out.

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