My Russian Apartment Tour: GREY SOVIET BUILDINGS EXPLAINED!

Could you live in a Soviet apartment? :) are they very different from apartments in your country?

More videos of mine about life in Russia and culture 👉🏻 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeQTCVW4juG8wDADr0OqmPL…

Maybe people laugh at these old soviet buildings, but most of them were designed after the worst war of mankind where everything was destroyed, millions of people were left homeless. These buildings fulfilled their mission; they provided housing for millions of people. People should appreciate and respect this, not laugh at it.
Addition... of course these buildings are outdated, a renovation program is now in effect, people have the choice to improve their living conditions if they have money, of course, capitalism. After World War II there was another war "Cold War". After this war, the country's economy is actually controlled by the US Federal Reserve, so there were economic problems, but everything is changing. Russia is regaining its sovereignty.

As someone who has been homeless and had to live outside for months at a time, anyone who says those buildings are depressing should try sleeping outside through a he winter, with no possessions other than the clothes on you back and a sleeping bag. People are spoiled. We need to be thankful for what we have.

For a Russian living in Europe, I've seen my share of old appartments all over, so whoever says these are bad, there is plenty of badly maintained housing here as well. Well yes, it's old and needs to be replaced, but considering the history, it's what it is - cheap fast solution to the post WWII housing crisis. Thank you Eli for sharing, I watch these videos more for the nostalgia than for the information, but it's nice to see a Russian sharing their everyday live with the rest of the world, and your English is so perfect, it's so nice to listen to you speak it.

Здраствуй Ели! Я из Болгарии, живу в квартире в Софии, которая досталась мне в наследство от отца. Мой квартал - Брежневка. Сделала ремонт и все отлично - современно, уютно и чисто.

Thank you for this video! I am an American who has stayed in a Stalinka in Moscow but lived in a Khrushchevka in the Samara Oblast. Once you experience a winter in Russia, you will understand the cozy appeal of an apartment like yours. It is so easy to stay warm! Also, when you visit people who live in the old-style Russian wooden houses in villages with no indoor plumbing, you will appreciate how wonderful it is to have your own bathroom! I was very content and made many fond memories in a Khushchevka! It’s all about perspective and being grateful for what you have and the people you share life with.❤️🏢

Eli: The window into the bathroom is not for Soviet surveillance; it's to allow light in! Hahahaha but your reason is much funnier.

I stayed in a Breshnevzka for almost a week during World Cup in Russia 2018. The neighborhood was very green, close to the metro station and in general I can say that the apartment was very practical and functional. I enjoyed a lot my stay in Moscow (Russia is so cool!)

I have been a Russophile for over 50 years. I am 65. I have read a lot of Russian history and one of my Russian emigre friends told me that my knowledge of it was "good." I took that as high praise.

i knew what you told me in broad over view. But i can't remember if i ever did know the names Stalinka etc, because at my age my memory is not what is used to be.

Greetings from New Zealand. I can read Russians letters but only know a few words of Russian and at my age i am too tired to try learning another language. I did recognize the name Tolstoy when you showed us your bookcase, and I think I glimpsed the name Alexey Tolstoy, who I have heard of :)

it is a regret of mine that the Russian social evenings that two emigre Russian women started back in 2002 ended when those two fell out. my russian friends told me i was "one of them" which i believe to be a great term of endearment from russians to foreigners

I basically live in a Khruchevka, but that Khruchevka is not located in Russia but in east Germany, during the early 2000s it went under renovation and doesn't look grey at all, it has colour and thick walls. Renovating Khruchevkas properly actually makes really nice looking apartment houses.

The most important part of your video was the statement "don't fall into this trap." So true. It's not about stuff. It's about your state of mind. And, your mind is lovely and very well adjusted. You are a grateful person and that is a gift. Bless you.

Hello, I am retired American male married 15 yrs to a Russian wife in US. The last 4 years living mostly in Russia but traveling to other countries. I am living in a 1 room old Soviet apartment but I like it a lot. But after watching all that is happening in the US I made the right move to stay in Russia.

I LOVE THE WHOLE content AND the SO SPECIAL "ATMOSPHERE" of these public buildings and of course of the private house!!!
Congratulations and warmest Greetings from Crete in Greece Eli)))

Much love to you and Russian People)))

Eli: just found your videos. I am impressed by your fluency in English as well as that of your Siberian roommate. I finally have a window into a Russia that few of us know much about. No propaganda. No political messaging. Just informational and very very entertaining.

Hi Eli, thank you for this video! I am Hungarian and in Hungary we have very similar buildings. The ones you live in we call "panel" houses because of the gray coloured blocks they built from. Many people lives in them and they always remind me of my grandparents and my sweet childhood. Around these flats in Hungary you always have a school, a kindergarten, a pharmacy, little post office and corner shops around with fruits and vegetable, and a big playground in the middle of more blocks. 😊

Eli, we too in America have our grey buildings. We called them “The Projects”.. We were poor living in Northern California.. Thank you for your tours, they are so informative and educational!

Чуть ли не каждый посмотрев вспоминает своё детство. Занятный экскурс в глубины памяти. Ох уж эти ассоциации.

This honestly blows my mind I had no clue or idea of how much history and culture were in Russian apartment buildings. I always thought like “oh in America we just build apartments and stuff like that”;and I thought everyone else was similar. And I was wrong. I’m so happy that I clicked on this video and got to learn about something new,and so interesting and cool. Also thank you for sharing your history and culture as well knowledge about Russia. I hope you find a space that feels like home for you;wherever you see fit. This was also such a fun watch too; keep creating friend☺️🙇🏻‍♂️🩵

I did not know about the types of Soviet buildings so thanks for sharing.

We have somthing similar in the UK. During the urbanisation of the industrial revolution, a specific style of terraced houses were built everywhere. They have people homes and a break from the horrific conditions of factories at the time. Today, these terraced houses have not been maintained well so people often say they are ugly but they had a purpose and were necessary at the time.