During the Soviet Union, one of the most famous architects was Nikitin Nikolai Vasilyevich. The structures that were created according to his designs are recognizable all over the world. About what construction projects were carried out under the leadership of this architect, as well as about the main stages of his life, read in the article.
Childhood and youth
Nikitin Nikolai was born in a city called Tobolsk, at the end of 1907, namely on December 15th. His father first served as a printing engineer, and after the revolution he began to work as a court clerk. A few years after the birth of Nikolai, his family changed their place of residence. Now it was the city of Ishim. It happened in 1911. Here, the future architect graduated from both the first grade of the gymnasium for boys and the parish school.
During the retreat of the Kolchak troops, the Nikitin family moved to the city of Nikolaevsk, which is currently known as Novosibirsk. An interesting fact: at the age of 17, a young man was bitten in the leg by a snake, and the trace was left behind.architect for the rest of his life.
Study
In 1930, Nikolai Nikitin graduated with honors from the Technological Institute in Tomsk. He studied at the Department of Architecture, which was part of the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Already at this time, he proved himself to be a talented architect, capable of creating original projects. So, he headed the design bureau of students. Here, complex methods for calculating reinforced concrete structures for a metallurgical plant in Kuznetsk were developed.
The beginning of the creative path
As soon as Nikolai Nikitin graduated from the institute, he was appointed one of the architects in Novosibirsk. The 4-story dormitory building was Nikitin's debut project. It also became the first structure in the USSR constructed from precast concrete. Interestingly, this was not the only innovation proposed by Nikitin. He first used steel ropes to hold a tower-type structure in the Ostankino TV tower project. In order to create a frame on a monolithic foundation, the architect organized his own production of reinforced concrete supports and beams.
Under the leadership of Boris Gordeev, a group of constructivist architects developed unique structures for buildings for various purposes. So, in 1930, the architect Nikolai Vasilyevich Nikitin was working on a project for an arched structure used in the building of a sports club called Dynamo. Arches made of boards and plywood served as a ceiling in the playing hall, the span of which was 22.5meters. Despite the large size, the design was very light. It was installed manually by a link of workers. Very soon, in almost all textbooks for architectural universities, one could find information about the arched structure of Nikitin.
In the period from 1930 to 1932, the architect participated in the development of projects for many residential complexes, for example, "The House under the Clock" or "The House of Political Prisoners". In addition, with his participation, a project for the construction of the regional executive committee was created. Particularly famous structures developed by Nikitin at this time are the arched ceilings of the Novosibirsk-Glavny station.
Awards
Nikolai Vasilyevich was recognized as a brilliant engineer-architect back in the days of the Soviet Union. He was awarded two orders and numerous medals. In 1970, he received the title of Honored Builder of the RSFSR, and was also awarded the Lenin Prize for developing the frame of the Ostankino television tower. He also received the Stalin Prize, third class, in 1951.
Wind farm
In 1932, Nikolai Nikitin took the first steps in creating his scientific works, for example, fundamental theories, as well as calculations of tower-type structures. In tandem with engineer Yu. V. Kondratyuk, he was involved in the development of a wind farm project. It was planned to build it on the mountain peak of Ai-Petri in the Crimea.
The architect made calculations on how the static and dynamic effects of the wind affect the flexible structure, which is quite tall. He thought about how in practice it is possible to apply constructions fromreinforced concrete in the tower, where to place the load-bearing nodal elements and how to erect them in a sliding formwork. Despite the fact that the construction of the building was not completed, the architect put many developments into practice during the construction of the Ostankino TV tower.
Palace of Soviets
In the late 30s of the last century, the architect Nikolai Nikitin lived in the capital, where he worked. So, one of the most famous projects in the creation of which he took part is the frame of the Palace of Soviets. The monumental building was supposed to be located on the site of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The unrealized project was the tallest building in the world. The building, almost half a kilometer high, was to become a symbol of Moscow and socialism. The multi-tiered tower, rising 300 meters above the ground, served as a pedestal for the statue of V. I. Lenin, whose dimensions are at least 100 meters.
According to the fantastic work of one Soviet writer, a meeting room was located in the ruler's head. The hand of the motionless figure is extended upwards in a gesture pointing to the Sun. The whole statue constantly rotates with the help of huge electric motors. Of course, the architects did not plan to place the meeting room in the head of V. I. Lenin. According to calculations, the volume of the building should be 7.5 million cubic meters, which is equal to the volume of the three pyramids of Cheops.
MGU
The main building of the Lomonosov University at the time of construction was the highest in Europe. It towered 240 meters above the ground. The construction of the structure, located on Sparrow Hills, went on for four years, namely, from 1949 to 1953.
Ostankino TV Tower
The height of the tower was 540 meters. At the time of completion (1967), it was one of the tallest structures of its kind. In 1957, Nikolai Nikitin, whose photo is presented in this article, began developing a plan for the television and radio tower. The process was quite difficult, since three-quarters of the weight had to fall on the foundation of the structure, and only the rest - on its top. The maximum allowable deviation of the needle was only one meter. If this value were greater, then an image with noise would be transmitted to the screens.
The construction of the tower took ten years. The supports of the structure are compared with the claws of an eagle holding prey. With their help, the tower rests on the ground. Tight ropes keep the tower from falling and swinging. In 1970, Nikitin and the team of architects and engineers who worked on the construction of the Ostankino TV tower received the Lenin Prize.
Shell tower
For two years, from 1966 to 1967, Nikitin worked together with Vladimir Ilyich Travush. Together they developed a design for a mesh steel shell tower. The height of the building was 4000 meters. Mitsushiba, the owner of a Japanese company, commissioned Russian engineers and architects to build the tower.
At the beginning of our century, the Japanese again considered the draft of thisstructures. At present, the X-Seed 4000 tower is to become the tallest in the world. The 800-story building can be placed directly above the sea thanks to a 6-kilometer foundation. According to calculations, from 700,000 to 1,000,000 people can be here at the same time.
Death
Nikolai Nikitin, whose biography is presented in this article, lived an amazing life. He died in 1973, namely on March 3. An outstanding architect is buried at Novodevichy Cemetery.
