Russian Blocks

The Russian blocks were built by the youth brigades from 1948 to 1951 according to the plans of the architect Edvard Ravnikar. They are located on both sides of the southern part of Kidričeva Street, the central backbone of Nova Gorica, and they implement the original urban design of the town. Only six blocks on the southern side of the Kridičeva Street were built and not the remaining six, which had been planned for the northern part of the street. The blocks are a synonym for high-quality and comfortable living thanks to the apartment’s dual aspect windows and their large size. They are distinctive with their outstanding entrance portals, large balconies and sloped roofs covered with clay roofing tiles. They brought collective housing building to the wider Gorizia region, providing a place to stay for the first inhabitants of Nova Gorica. From the installation of the first residents into these blocks in 1950 and with the use of ground floor and attic premises for various service activities, these blocks represented the nucleus of the new town. Here, several shops operated and, for a short time, there was also a post office, a bank, a court, a library and the first kindergarten in Nova Gorica.