denis esakov photographs the avant-garde architecture of konstantin melnikov

as one of the leaders of moscow’s avant-garde movement, the work of architect konstantin melnikov has had a profound and lasting impression on the russian capital. on the occasion of melnikov’s 125th birthday, photographer denis esakov has documented the architect’s surviving buildings in their current condition. from the rusakov workers’ club to melnikov’s personal residence, esakov’s images record the unclassifiable nature of the architect’s work showcasing eleven different projects all completed within a span of just ten years.

rusakov workers’ club (1927-1929)
all images by denis esakov

born in the suburbs of moscow in 1890, konstantin melnikov graduated from school with only a basic education. in 1905, encouraged by the engineer and scientist vladimir m. chaplin, melnikov was accepted to the general studies department of the moscow school of painting, sculpture and architecture.

rusakov workers’ club (1927-1929)

then, in 1925 melnikov designed the soviet pavilion at the paris exposition of modern decorative and industrial art. among other projects, the next ten years saw the architect complete seven clubs for workmen and a number of car garages. following a series of under appreciated and ultimately unsuccessful competition entries, melnikov spent the last years of his life working on his autobiography before passing away in 1974 at the age of 84.

kauchuk factory club (1927-1929)

kauchuk factory club (1927-1929)

kauchuk factory club (1927-1929)

melnikov’s own residence (1929)

melnikov’s own residence (1929)

intourist garage (1934)

intourist garage (1934)

novo-ryazanskaya street garage (1929)

novo-ryazanskaya street garage (1929)

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