​The Grain Silo in Kotlas

Stalin once built Europe’s largest grain storage facility in the heart of Russia. The massive concrete structure, 350 meters long and 60 meters high, stands by the riverbank at the entrance to the city of Kotlas. It is visible from 20 kilometers away—a landmark, though not an Eiffel Tower—yet far too costly to remove.

It would be impossible to hide or “diminish” the building under an artistic decoration. Instead, I believe it should be made even more monumental. The intention here is to reflect the era when the Soviet Union was at its peak, when enormous housing complexes were built and people lived under a solid social safety net. The concrete walls, through an artistic relief carved from building panels, should be transformed into the illusion of a vast city—a megalopolis.

​The panels, made of cellulose/resin laminate, are ideal for this purpose. They are durable and can be produced in any color.