Moscow is about to ‘restore’ its landmark 1922 Shukhov radio tower — by dismantling it and replacing almost all of its original steel

Moscow is poised to "restore" its iconic 1922 Shukhov radio tower by dismantling almost all of it and replacing it with a replica by 2028, according to the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS). Engineer Vladimir Shukhov's hyperboloid structure, which was once the Soviet Union's main radio and television transmitter, has become a defining feature of Moscow's Shabolovka neighborhood.

However, architecture journalist Asya Zolnikova argues that preserving the original metal is crucial to maintaining Shukhov's engineering masterpiece.

Shukhov, a highly inventive engineer, developed numerous technologies and structures that extended beyond architecture. He invented cylindrical tanks for petroleum products, tubular steam boilers, nozzles for burning fuel oil, oil barges, and equipment for cracking petroleum. The Shukhov hyperboloid structure, used to build roofs and later towers, consists of straight metal rods set at an angle, forming a lattice that distributes the tower's weight evenly.

This design allows for very thin and lightweight rods, requiring shallower foundations and using less metal than conventional towers.

The Shabolovka Tower, built between 1919 and 1922, was originally intended to be 350 meters (about 1,150 feet) tall, surpassing the Eiffel Tower's height of 330 meters (about 1,080 feet). However, due to metal scarcity during the Civil War, the final height was reduced to 144 meters (about 470 feet). The tower was chosen due to its high location near the Kremlin and its role as the Soviet Union's first and main radio transmitter.

Although RTRS plans to replace the tower with a replica, architecture experts emphasize the importance of preserving Shukhov's original design.