Sometimes called Stalinskys i.e. built in the time of Stalin
Many of the old soviet apartment blocks have impressive decorations on them. Murals, mosaics and decorated balconies. These may reference aspects of Uzbek life, e.g. cotton, suzani designs, embroidery and ikat. Some of course were about the noble struggle of the working person. Many look very old and rundown and the government is slowly renovating them. They are far better than just rectangular boxes. Even during soviet times, people were able to buy these apartments. Workers who specialised in decoration were employed to do mosaics etc. They referenced local tradition e.g. ogee designs from fabrics and cotton.
Beautiful mosaics
Oops - this mosaic was Ferghan valley - not Tashkent
A leafy street near our hotel.
"A nice part of town"
Ogee design on the facade, from textiles
Interpol - adds to the air of intrigue
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