A vote has begun on the “Active Citizen” portal for architectural projects that could be implemented on the site of the former Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) building on Novy Arbat.

The city mayor’s office has invited residents to choose from three concepts:

1) The building retains the appearance of the familiar “book” and is supplemented with an addition in the form of a “huge scroll,” embodying the image of “knowledge, traditions, and preserved memory”;

2) Three high-rise buildings will be constructed on this site, whose lines and forms will resemble the historical appearance of the building;

3) The old building will be renovated, and another “book,” larger in size, will be built next to it.

The mayor’s office noted that a team of Russian and international specialists, designers, and urbanists will work on the architectural projects. All presented concepts involve the creation of a “new cluster based on historical traditions,” according to a press release.

The decision to construct the CMEA building was made by the organization’s executive committee in September 1962. Work on the project was carried out by architects. Construction lasted from 1963 to 1970. The complex included three buildings—a 31-story administrative high-rise, a conference center, and a separately standing “Mir” hotel. They occupied 4.5 hectares and were united by a common stylobate.

In 1991, after the dissolution of the CMEA, its property, as well as a motor pool, printing house, and “Druzhba” resort in the Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, were transferred to the Moscow city government. For over 30 years, the building was occupied by various structures of the city government. In November 2023, the “Book House” was transferred free of charge to Moscow’s ownership under a donation agreement.

Muscovites are invited to choose one of three architectural concepts for a new “socio-cultural cluster” on the site of the Book House

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) building

The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) building in Moscow was the headquarters of the Soviet-led economic organization from 1949 to 1991, which coordinated trade and economic policy among communist states. Its imposing, modernist structure symbolized the bloc’s collective economic ambitions during the Cold War era. Following the dissolution of the CMEA and the Soviet Union, the building was repurposed and now houses the Moscow City Hall.

Novy Arbat

Novy Arbat is a major avenue in central Moscow, Russia, constructed in the 1960s as part of a large-scale Soviet urban redevelopment project. It is famous for its row of high-rise buildings known as “The Dentures” and is now a prominent commercial and business district.

Mir hotel

The Mir hotel is a historic hotel in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, originally constructed in the 1980s to accommodate foreign guests and athletes for international events. It remains a notable landmark, recognized for its distinctive Soviet-era modernist architecture and its role in the city’s hospitality sector.

Druzhba resort

The Druzhba resort is a Soviet-era sanatorium located in Yalta, Ukraine, originally built in 1985 to provide recreational and health treatments for workers. Its name, meaning “friendship,” reflects its purpose as a place of rest and camaraderie. The building is a prominent example of Brutalist architecture and remains a notable, if aging, landmark from that period.

Naro-Fominsky District

The Naro-Fominsky District is an administrative region in Moscow Oblast, Russia, whose history is deeply tied to its role as a defensive frontier west of Moscow. It is historically significant as the site of intense fighting during the Battle of Moscow in World War II, where Soviet forces ultimately halted the German advance. The area also contains several historic estates and churches that reflect its long-standing cultural heritage.

Moscow Oblast

Moscow Oblast is a federal subject of Russia which surrounds the national capital of Moscow, though the city itself is a separate entity. Historically, the region has been the heart of the Russian state for centuries, containing numerous ancient towns, former noble estates, and pivotal sites from both the Tsarist and Soviet eras. It remains the country’s most densely populated region and a major economic, scientific, and cultural hub.

Book House

The Book House is a renowned independent bookstore in Dinkytown, Minneapolis, established in 1970. It is celebrated for its vast, labyrinthine collection of new, used, and rare books spread across multiple floors. The store has a rich history as a beloved cultural hub for students, authors, and bibliophiles for over five decades.

Active Citizen portal

The Active Citizen portal is an online platform launched by the Moscow city government in 2014 to facilitate direct public participation in urban governance. It allows residents to vote on city-wide issues, propose ideas, and engage in electronic referendums, representing a significant digital initiative for civic engagement in Russia’s capital.