Uzbekistan: Tashkent Soviet Modernism

Tashkent, Uzbekistan is our entry into Central Asia. The Silk Road had been a destination for us for decades. Besides the usual concerns for accommodation and transportation, the prevalence of bribery makes my stomach churn. In recent years, having met more people who have traveled to Central Asia and Central Asians travelling abroad, we are ready to give it a try. This is sorta like a continuing east from our Caucasus (Spring 2023) trip. A further bonus is that Uzbekistan is visa free for Americans 55 and older, my first major benefit for turning 55.

Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, may have been a post centuries ago on the Silk Road; however, now it is foremost a Russian/Soviet city. It grew to be the largest city in Central Asia under Russian/Soviet control. We went around all over town looking at Soviet Modernist buildings and metro stations.

From the window seat on our flight from Abu Dhabi to Tashkent, there were great views to (1st below) a housing project in Abu Dhabi, the northern tip of Oman, and Tashkent- Railway Station.






Tashkent has a 4-line metro. The stations of the 2 oldest lines, built in the 1970's and 1980's, feature never ending Soviet Modernist art and architecture. Below are a few of our favs.




































And some of the Soviet Modernist Architecture from the 1970's and 1980's starting with the State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan.


National Information Agency of Uzbekistan (UzA).


Panoramic Cinema by Vladimir Beryozin, 1964




Hotel Uzbekistan, 1974


SIRK - State Circus by Genrikh Aleksandrovich and Gennady Masyagin, 1976


Chorsu Market by Vladimir Azimov and Sabir Adylov, 1980




Mural / Mosaic Panel created by V. Kutkin - School #110


Zhemchug Residential Tower by Ophelia Aidinova, 1985




Academy of Arts


Friendship of the Nations Palace (1981)