State Kremlin Palace

The State Kremlin Palace (the Palace of Congresses), built in 1960-61 by a team of artists led by M.V. Posokhin, is the most modern building within the precincts of the Kremlin - a structure of triangular marble pylons and gleaming glass. The architects were awarded the Lenin Prize in 1962, and the Palace of Congresses became the model for modern Soviet urban architecture. The objective of the planners was to create a building which would be in harmony with the late medieval facades of the cathedrals and towers; accordingly, the permitted height of the building, which was the subject of an architectural competition, was restricted, so that much of the structure is underground. But at the same time, the building - erected within the Kremlin precincts, which until 1958 had been almost sacrosanct - was to be open to all.

The Palace of Congresses is, therefore, also designed as a theatre and public hall, and used for congresses, ceremonial occasions, performances by the Bolshoy Company, film festivals and political rallies, as well as meetings of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

The main auditorium is the largest in Russia - 50 m (165 ft) long and 20m (65 ft) high, with seating for 6000. It is equipped with 7000 concealed loudspeakers and has excellent acoustics. Escalators lead up to the Banqueting Hall, which seats 2500 people, where refreshments are served during intervals in performances, and which affords magnificent views of the Kremlin and of Moscow.

Although admission to the Palace of Congresses is normally possible only with special permission, visitors can, of course, see it on evenings when there is a public performance of some kind.