Lenin Palace of Culture demolition ends in Nizhny Novgorod

At the end of last year, demolition of the Lenin Palace of Culture began in Nizhny Novgorod. Equipment has started dismantling the central part of the facade. A residential building will be constructed on the site of the dilapidated structure, which has been semi-derelict for nearly two decades. NN.RU looks back at what lay behind the false facade and the palace«s appearance in its final years.

The history of the Palace of Culture began in 1927: its construction was timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution. The work did not go smoothly: the aftermath of the Civil War and the collapse of industry took their toll. The building had to be assembled from whatever was available. Historian Olga Degteva recounted that materials from dismantled fairground structures were used.

After opening, the palace became a true cultural center with a cinema, library, clubs, and sports sections. The last major renovation of the building was in the distant year of 1977. Then, life in the Palace of Culture began to fade: tenants left the premises, and visitors became fewer and fewer. In the early 2000s, more serious problems began: ceilings started to leak, and walls began to mold. In 2008, the Palace of Culture was declared unsafe — from that moment, the building stood abandoned.

Over time, the territory was fenced off, and broken windows were boarded up. From time to time, fires occurred in the Palace of Culture. The last major fire occurred in the autumn of 2021. About 500 square meters were engulfed in flames. The roof and interior rooms burned down. By that time, the walls and ceiling of the palace had severely crumbled. Authorities periodically raised the topic of restoring the building but abandoned the idea due to high costs.

In 2020, the municipality transferred the palace to the regional balance. It was then decided to adapt the Palace of Culture for modern use: they wanted to rebuild the building into a residential house with public spaces. At the same time, the external appearance of the structure was to remain the same.

In last December, builders began demolishing the Palace of Culture. The appearance of the new house, according to authorities, will resemble the historical building. The external look of the main and side facades, as well as the interior of the entrance group and hall, will be preserved. However, the load-bearing structures, walls, and foundation masonry will have to be dismantled. As explained by Sergei Barinov, head of the regional ministry of property and land relations, the structures are in an emergency state and infested with mold and fungus.

Work was planned to be completed in 2026, but ultimately the deadlines were shifted to the end of 2028. In the near future, the emergency structures should be dismantled, after which the investor will proceed with construction work.

Previously, we reported that the restoration of the Gorky Literary Museum in Nizhny Novgorod is almost 80% complete. The building was closed for repairs in 2019. Work was interrupted by a major fire due to faulty electrical wiring. As stated by Mayor Yuri Shalabaev, its opening will be a real gift to the city for the upcoming 805th anniversary.