Forging Utopia in Steel

Abstract

This thesis explores the intersection between Soviet ideals and their manifestation in the urban planning of utopian projects, with a focus on Magnitogorsk—a city emblematic of the Soviet Union's quest to materialize its revolutionary dreams into concrete reality. Soviet ambitions in urban planning were often characterized as overreaching, with numerous visionary projects remaining unrealized due to their impracticality. Yet, these unrealized plans have left a significant mark on global urbanism, offering insights into the aspirations and ideological dogmas of the seized-to-exist state. This study examines the defining characteristics and principles of socialism as applied to urban design, delving into the common belief that sought to reshape cities in accordance with collectivist and egalitarian doctrines.
Moreover, the thesis investigates the influence of major Western urban models—namely the Garden City, the Linear City, and the Radial City—on the planning of Magnitogorsk, revealing a complex synthesis of foreign concepts with Soviet visions. This research uncovers how these Western models were adapted, adopted, or transformed to align with the Soviet ideology, thereby contributing to the creation of the Soviet dream city - at least on paper. The overarching question it addresses is: How Western models facilitate the embodiment of Soviet ideals in the urban plans of Magnitogorsk, and what does this synthesis reveal about the pursuit of the Soviet utopian city?