Circus

Here before you is the famous Tashkent Circus. Its design began in 1962, but it was only completed in 1976. An earthquake froze construction for years. And this benefited the building: it acquired that very look, familiar to all Tashkent residents. Look at its silhouette. What does it remind you of? Originally, architect Genrikh Aleksandrovich envisioned a “Flying Saucer” here. It was meant to be a transparent glass disc with round porthole windows, ready to take off. But while construction was underway, fashion changed. Cosmic modernism gave way to a search for national roots. And so, the building was re-clad. Glass was covered with grilles, and decor was added. The architect himself later called the new form “the setting of a ring” or a precious vase. The spaceship landed and transformed into an oriental palace. The most interesting things are in the details. Look at the grille that encircles the building. It's not just a pattern. The architects stylized the design to resemble ancient Kufic script and cotton bolls. This is sun protection that functions like lace. Now, look up. The circus dome is adorned with blue ceramics. By the way, the inscription “ЦИРК” (CIRCUS) at the top appeared later, and the project's author was against it; he believed the letters spoiled the pure geometry of the form. We won't go inside, but I'll tell you what's hidden there. The best masters of Uzbekistan worked there. Ganch (alabaster) carving was done by the famous usto Makhmud Usmanov, and wood carving by Kadyrzhan Khaidarov. And huge stained-glass windows were specially brought from Riga. It was a unique synthesis: a concrete frame and the handiwork of folk artisans. And, of course, the arena. A hall with 3000 seats. For its time, it was a technical marvel. There was no permanent pool, but engineers devised a system that allowed a pool for “water circus” or an ice rink for “ice circus” to be assembled in the arena in just 20 minutes, right during the intermission. Air from the air conditioners was supplied not only to the audience but also right under the dome, specifically for aerial acrobats. Such thoughtful climate control was almost unheard of anywhere in the Soviet Union. The Tashkent Circus stands on Khadra Square not by chance. This is a place where street tightrope walkers, dorboz, performed for centuries. The 1976 building simply gave this ancient tradition a new, concrete-turquoise home.