Winter Theatre, Sochi
Konstantin Chernopyatov · Sochi, Russia · 1937
Sochi’s Winter Theatre is wrapped by a continuous colonnade of Corinthian columns, giving the building a monumental all-sided presence within its landscaped site. Konstantin Chernopyatov’s design reflects the 1930s transformation of Sochi into a major Soviet resort, where theatres, sanatoria and transport buildings were used to create a new ceremonial urban image. Construction was completed in 1937 and the theatre opened the following year. Its formal classical language, broad stairs and freestanding setting make it one of the city’s clearest examples of Stalin-era resort architecture.