The historic Izoterma commune house, a constructivist monument built in 1929, is being demolished in central Moscow near the Trubnaya metro station. The demolition began recently, sparking concern among preservationists and locals.

The building, located in Nizhny Kiselny Lane, was designed by Soviet architect Nikolai Kolli and intended for residents of the “Izoterma” cooperative. While not officially designated as a protected monument, it held the status of a valuable urban planning object, leaving it vulnerable to demolition.

Petr Posmakov, a Moscow tour guide, expressed his dismay, stating he cannot imagine Moscow without the Izoterma house. He lamented the loss of a constructivist era monument, noting its inspirational value during his tours.

The demolition is being carried out piece by piece using an excavator, with the section facing Rozhdestvenka Street currently being dismantled. The interiors reveal remnants of past residents, including colorful wallpaper and discarded furniture.

Tera LLC, the developer that acquired the building in 2021, is responsible for the demolition. Tera LLC also owns NeoStroy, which built the Turgenev Moscow club house and, in 2022, acquired the Ferrein factory. The demolition work is being performed by Reterra, a company specializing in dismantling and demolition of buildings.

An elderly Muscovite expressed regret over the demolition, questioning whether restoration could have been a viable alternative. The Izoterma commune house was featured in Alexei Balabanov’s film “Brother-2,” adding to its cultural significance.

While several other commune houses remain in Moscow, including those on Ordzhonikidze Street, Malaya Bronnaya, Novinsky Boulevard and Gogolevsky, the loss of the Izoterma house marks a further disappearance of constructivist architecture from the city’s landscape.