Book Review: Spatial Revolution: Architecture and Planning in the Early Soviet Union.

The book review discusses "Spatial Revolution: Architecture and Planning in the Early Soviet Union" by Christina E. Crawford. The book explores the rapid industrialization and urbanization that occurred in the Soviet Union after the adoption of the first Five-Year Plan. It examines how Soviet planners sought to create workers' settlements and new towns and cities to accompany the construction of factories. The book emphasizes the on-the-ground design activity and site-specific approaches taken by planners during this period. It also discusses case studies in Baku, Magnitogorsk, and Kharkiv, highlighting the influence of international architectural design and the unique bureaucratic procedures and planning philosophy of the Soviet Union. The review acknowledges the rich primary sources used by the author but notes the limited discussion of gender dynamics and the human experience in Soviet planning. Overall, the book is praised for its eloquence and contribution to the field of architecture and planning history. [Extracted from the article]