Établissement universitaire « Gigant »9 photos

Studential Town \"Gigant\"

Let us begin our brief overview with the main building of this town – the «Gigant» dormitory.

The design for this building (1928) was created by architects A.G. Molokinin and G.D. Ikonnikov. Its original name was „House No. 1 for Proletarian Students“.


The building consists of ten five- or six-story sections connected by corridors. These sections are arranged in a linear layout.<>
Construction of the building began in 1931 and was completed in that same year.
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During the construction phase, a comprehensive health inspection system was established for the students living there. Facilities such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, disinfection equipment, and sterilization chambers were provided. Additionally, a small isolation ward was set up for patients with minor skin conditions who did not require hospitalization. All new residents underwent medical examinations upon arrival and regular monthly check-ups were conducted.

It should be noted that such facilities were more of the exception than the rule in student dormitories at that time. Accounts from the 1923 census in Kharkov provide a vivid picture of the conditions in many dormitories: „Rooms are overcrowded, and sanitation facilities are completely absent. Roofs leak in several areas, and the rooms are damp. The overcrowding makes it impossible to meet even basic sanitary standards, leading to an increase in skin diseases and tuberculosis.“

Photo from 1941: all buildings in the town are still intact.

During the war, the dormitory building suffered severe damage. Reconstruction work began in 1949, and the first four sections were put into use in the 1951/1952 academic year.
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During the restoration process, the building was also renovated and redesigned (architects N.M. Podgorny and A.M. Pokorny, 1950 and 1957, respectively). As a result, its architectural appearance underwent some changes.

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