Department of Agriculture

We were just talking about the residential House with a Tower designed by architect Mithat Bulatov. And now look at the monumental administrative building nearby. This is the Ministry of Agriculture. Its author is the very same Mithat Bulatov. But here he acts not just as a creator, but as the Chief Architect of Tashkent. This man directed the development of the entire Navoi Avenue, and this building, like many others, became his personal contribution to the ensemble. This building has a complex fate. They began designing it during the most difficult time at the height of the war, in 1943-1944. But construction dragged on for years and was completed only in 1957. The building seems to have absorbed the shift of eras: conceived under Stalin, it was finished already at the beginning of the Thaw. Details here speak louder than the general view. This building perfectly illustrates how Soviet architects searched for the "national". At first glance, this is strict European classics. We see symmetry, a powerful portico with columns, a majestic appearance. Everything as befits a ministry. But if you look closely at the details, the "national style" is hidden in nuances in the windows and doors; they have pointed arches, like in medieval madrasas. Look at the cornices; they are decorated with stylized stalactites. And the entrance is designed as a powerful oriental portal. Bulatov masterfully combined the Western order system with Eastern decorativeness here. This building puts a period to our acquaintance with the Urda and Anhor district.