In fact, most of the "features" of Soviet architecture and building decoration are not Soviet at all, but more or less international. Many solutions that seem specific to us are used today and are far from hereditary. In the vast majority of cases, all this is dictated by issues of fire safety, sanitary and epidemiological standards, and finally the issue of economic profitability.
1. Two stripes
Many probably paid attention to the fact that the corridors and stairways of Soviet buildings (and in fact, not only them) are very often painted in two stripes. More precisely, they paint up to half, and cover everything above with whitewash. This is done because of the current sanitary and epidemiological standards (SanPiN), which prescribe painting the lower part of the wall to protect it from dirt and mold. Moreover, the norms vary greatly from the type of premises. It would be possible to paint the entire wall, but this would greatly increase the cost of production.
All because of the same SanPiN in the entrances of residential buildings, you can see the painted edges of the stairs. This is done primarily to make it much easier to collect dust and dirt during cleaning.
2. Only nine
Another striking example of the effect of sanitary and fire regulations is the number of storeys in buildings. The fact is that building a ten-story building is much more difficult and expensive than building a nine-story building. Since in the USSR they tried to build housing quickly and in large quantities, they refused the tenth floor for economic reasons.
First, a ten-story house requires a more advanced ventilation system. Secondly, there can be no gas supply in it. Thirdly, starting from the 10th floor, there should already be two elevators in the houses, one of which is a freight one.
And finally, do not forget that the fire escape due to its technical characteristics allows rescuers to reach only the level of the same 9th floor.
3. "Open up, this is the KGB"
Many myths have been created on the Internet. Just one such was invented in relation to the doors that open inside the Soviet apartments. In fact, such doors were only in five-story Khrushchev buildings. And they were made not at all to make it easier for the KGB to take them out from their feet, as some citizens say. In fact, everything (as always) is simple, and at the same time understandable. The inward-opening doors were an architectural solution that eliminated the problem of small stairwells. So, if the doors opened outward, then when opening several at the same time, they would collide, thereby creating discomfort for the residents.
Want to know even more interesting things? Then read about why an abandoned pioneer camp with an extraordinary architecture makes visitors shiver in our time.