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Russians Living In Squalor Inside A Crumbling Workers' Paradise

The Proletarka in the Russian city of Tver was once an elegant redbrick complex designed as model housing for workers. Built at the tail end of the tsarist era, between 1858 and 1913, it was a city within a city, housing some 15,000 laborers from the local cotton mill.

After the Soviets came to power in 1917, the complex enjoyed its heyday with shops, a library, hospital, swimming pools, and a theater. But, like much of the communal housing that the Soviets had fostered, the Proletarka has fallen into disrepair and its impoverished residents are now living in squalor.
A couple sits in front of the so-called "Paris" dormitory for the workers of the Proletarka textile factory in the Russian city of Tver, 200 kilometers northwest of Moscow. 
1 A couple sits in front of the so-called "Paris" dormitory for the workers of the Proletarka textile factory in the Russian city of Tver, 200 kilometers northwest of Moscow. 
In its heyday, the Proletarka was a self-contained community with shops, a library, hospital, two swimming pools, a theater and even an observatory. 
2 In its heyday, the Proletarka was a self-contained community with shops, a library, hospital, two swimming pools, a theater and even an observatory. 
Children play in the long corridors to escape the cramped confines of their living quarters. 
3 Children play in the long corridors to escape the cramped confines of their living quarters. 
A woman cooks in a communal kitchen. Like much of the communal housing that the Soviets set up across Russia, the Proletarka has become much less of a workers' paradise since the 1991 collapse of the U.S.S.R.
4 A woman cooks in a communal kitchen. Like much of the communal housing that the Soviets set up across Russia, the Proletarka has become much less of a workers' paradise since the 1991 collapse of the U.S.S.R.
A girl walks past the entrance of a communal kitchen. By the end of the 1990s, the factory had closed down -- unable to compete with Chinese imports -- and the Proletarka fell into disrepair.
5 A girl walks past the entrance of a communal kitchen. By the end of the 1990s, the factory had closed down -- unable to compete with Chinese imports -- and the Proletarka fell into disrepair.
Zinaida Ibragimova, a 69-year-old resident, remembers arriving at the complex 50 years ago as a collective-farm worker from the Urals region. Getting off the bus, she was amazed by the splendor of its redbrick facades.
6

Zinaida Ibragimova, a 69-year-old resident, remembers arriving at the complex 50 years ago as a collective-farm worker from the Urals region. Getting off the bus, she was amazed by the splendor of its redbrick facades.
A girl stands in a communal corridor. While the Proletarka stands out for its crumbling grandeur, the living conditions are nothing unusual in Russia, where many still live in long-unrenovated buildings due for demolition.
7 A girl stands in a communal corridor. While the Proletarka stands out for its crumbling grandeur, the living conditions are nothing unusual in Russia, where many still live in long-unrenovated buildings due for demolition.
Children play in a dormitory of the Proletarka textile factory. Official statistics are patchy, but according to Housing Ministry figures reported by the newspaper Vedomosti, a third of Russia's housing will need major repairs by 2045.
8 Children play in a dormitory of the Proletarka textile factory. Official statistics are patchy, but according to Housing Ministry figures reported by the newspaper Vedomosti, a third of Russia's housing will need major repairs by 2045.
People walk past one of the dormitory buildings. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the housing crisis one of the focal points of his much-trumpeted national projects. He has promised state financing to help boost new housing construction to 120 million square meters by 2024. People living in the Proletarka say none of this money has so far made its way to their home.
9 People walk past one of the dormitory buildings. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the housing crisis one of the focal points of his much-trumpeted national projects. He has promised state financing to help boost new housing construction to 120 million square meters by 2024. People living in the Proletarka say none of this money has so far made its way to their home.
Vladimir Mogilnikov, 62, cleans his hands in a communal washroom. "Hundreds of people live here, often five to a room, with moldy walls and rusty, leaking pipes," he says.
10 Vladimir Mogilnikov, 62, cleans his hands in a communal washroom. "Hundreds of people live here, often five to a room, with moldy walls and rusty, leaking pipes," he says.
A woman stands at the entrance of a communal kitchen.
11 A woman stands at the entrance of a communal kitchen.
Residents share communal toilets, separated by flimsy shower curtains, and the ceilings are black with mold.
12 Residents share communal toilets, separated by flimsy shower curtains, and the ceilings are black with mold.
A communal corridor has been converted into a lounge area.
13 A communal corridor has been converted into a lounge area.
Vladimir Mogilnikov stands in a stairway of the dormitory.
14 Vladimir Mogilnikov stands in a stairway of the dormitory.
A woman walks past one of the dormitory buildings. An ambitious plan to regenerate the area over a 10-year-period had been proposed, but it was never implemented because it would have cost twice as much as Tver's entire annual budget.
15 A woman walks past one of the dormitory buildings. An ambitious plan to regenerate the area over a 10-year-period had been proposed, but it was never implemented because it would have cost twice as much as Tver's entire annual budget.
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