Bishkek Soviet Architecture
Bishkek Mosaics, Murals and Soviet Architecture
Architecture is one of the essential elements of a city’s appearance. While visiting Bishkek, you can observe a mixture of brutal Soviet buildings, Soviet time mosaics as well as modern structures that blend into the more oriental or eastern style of current Kyrgyz architecture. Bishkek has well-preserved Soviet Era structures and many of them that are worth checking out but not always easily found.
Athletes mosaic
Athletes is located at the side of an apartment block in5th micro district
Children mural
Dilapidated children mural resides at the side of an apartment block in 5th micro district
Lenin is with us
Lenin is with us is located at a walking distance from Bishkek city center at the intersection Molodaya gvardia – Moskov str.
Khottabych Flying Carpet
5th micro district
Snow Leopards
5th micro district
Our Work To You, Motherland!
Zhibek Zholy str not far from the Bishkek city center
Deer
5th micro district
Festive Procession of the People of Hard Labour
intersection Aaly Tokonbaev and Baityk Baatyr streets
Man On White Horse
5th micro district
"Flourishing Kyrgyzstan" Mural
This large mosaic covers the entire end of an apartment block standing on the northern side of Vefa shopping center. Mosaic is in poor condition, the colors fading and many tiny cobalt glass tiles are missing due to neglect but the overall impression remains visible.
The central figure of this mosaic is a woman, dressed in traditional Kyrgyz clothing, standing open-armed in front of her fellow male and female citizens. They look hopeful, triumphant, and prosperous. Towers, flowing ribbons and rays of sun tower above them, reaching to the sky and beyond.
Radio
Kyrgyz telecommunication officee
The Path Of Enlightenment
intersection Umetaliev and Ryskulov streets
Mosaic in the "Baichchek" house
“Baichechek” residential house, on Mir (Tynchtyk) avenue
Champagne Wine Factory
Champagne wine factory on Mir (Tynchtyk) avenue
Kyrgyz Drama Theater
At the intersection of st. Panfilov and Abdymomunov
Soviet Architecture in Bishkek
Souvenir shop "Snail"
An interesting structure in the shape of a snail stands hidden in a park and barely noticeable due to the lost tile color and being covered by a long-term layer of dirt. Originally it was souvenir shop built in 1971 and is one of the symbols of Soviet architecture design of the 1960s.
Despite its small size, the construction took two years – from 1969 to 1971 due to the complexity of the structure of the shell kind form of the Snail. The building consists of two rooms, souvenirs were sold in the main room during Soviet times. Later it was sold and turned into a cafe and the new owners made some changes adding tobacco advertisement “West” at the top of the building. Consequently it is also an reminder of the time when tobacco advertising was still allowed. Next to theis building there is a monument with the inscription “Belek” (“gift” in translation from Kyrgyz) as a reminder that the building was originally a souvenir shop.
Kyrgyz National Bank
Intersection of str. Chui and st. Umetaliev
Circus
Round shape circus was a certain style in Soviet time, the same shape circus is in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Kharkiv, Ukraine.
White House
White house is the administration building of the Kyrgyz president standing at the best place among the Chuy avenue.
Monument to the Yak-50 aircraft
12th micro district
Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek
This red color building is located in the centre of Bishkek, at the intersection of st. Abdrakhmanov (former Soviet street) and Bokonbaev. It houses the Pervomaisky Rayonnti Sud (First May district court) of Bishkek. Originally it was built in 1938 as a multi functional firemen’s house with garages, offices, classrooms and even a gym.
However, the Great Patriotic War changed (this is how the WW2 is called in Kyrgyzstan) everything including the primary purpose of the structure. The Kharkov Medical Institute was evacuated to Frunze, particularly to this building along with teachers and their families.
Later a club and a sports school were opened in the house. On August 12, 1992, the first and second floors of the northern part of the building with a total area of 892 sq. m were transferred to the use of Pervomaisky Court of Bishkek.
Automobile Road College
Intersection of Mir (Tynchtyk) avenue and st. Zhamanbaev
Bishkek old Gallery Exhibition Hall
At the intersection of st. Manasa (former Belinskaya street) and Chui.
Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Abdylas Maldybayev
Bishkek Ala-Too Square
The Ala too square is the center of Bishkek’s Soviet heritage. It forms a very complete area of Soviet buildings and has seen very minor changes since it was built during the Soviet times. On a clear day the Ala Too square is beautiful with the Ala Too mountains appearing behind columns and domes of the buildings. At summer evening and night times it is a place for the locals to walk and enjoy the cooler air after hot days. Ala Too square is surrounded also by the State history museum in the north and by large green park areas and the nearby Erkindik avenue.
Ilbirs building
Ministry of Agriculture
Pavilion "Juices - carbonated waters" or "Ak-Suu mineral water"
The Ak-Suu mineral water pavilion is another fine Soviet architectural monument built back in 1949. It is included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The pavilion was famous among the residents because in Soviet time you could buy sparkling water here. Today the pavilion is rented by private individuals who have set up a small cafe there behind the Ala Too cinema.
Monument Mig-21F
At the intersection of st. Kievskaya and Logvinenko
The MiG-21F monument is known to the locals as “the plane near the Voentorg”. No exact information about it, soo most likely, it was installed to inspire pilots in Soviet times. Behind the monument located the headquarters of the National Guard.
Bishkek old airport
Until 1975 all air foreign aviation transport in Kyrgyzstan was based at this building. The old airport is located on Mira Avenue about 500 m southwest of the Ahunbaeva intersection.
This beautiful building was designed by Evgeny Pisarsky and was presented to the public in 1956. It operated until 1981 when the last plane departed from the terminal. Just before closing for the reconstruction, it was working as the passport issuing office. At the moment is closed due to reconstruction.
Bishkek Friendship Monument
White marble monument was built in 1974 between the white house and Ala-Too Square to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s “Friendship” with Russia
It remarks that 100 years back in 1874, Kyrgyzstan was under the control of the Khanate of Kokand, however by the end of the 19th century, the Russian Empire had occupied and annexed the whole territory of Kyrgyzstan among with the other Central Asian states.
Soviet Style Residential buildings at the Centre of Bihkek
Residential house, at the intersection of st. kievskaya and Abdyrahmanova
Residential house, at the intersection of st. Gorkiy and Frunze
Manas Cinema
intersection Manas avenue and Akhunbaev str.
Bishkek City Hall
in front of Kyrgyz National Philharmonic
Wedding Palace
197 Yusup Abdrahmanov St
Kyrgyz Telecommunications office
Buildvard Molodaya Gvardiya 59
Kyrgyz Post office
Chui avenue 96
