Vancouver photographer David Burdeny photographed Moscow's most majestic metro stations.
Arbatskaya Metro Station —
Vancouver photographer David Burdeny photographed Moscow's most majestic metro stations.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Baroque, Art Deco and Futurist architecture are all represented, among other styles.
Kiyevsskaya Metro Station (East) —
Baroque, Art Deco and Futurist architecture are all represented, among other styles.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Some feature stained glass windows, marble columns, crystal chandeliers, gilded mosaics and painted scenes from Russian history.
Prospekt Mira Station —
Some feature stained glass windows, marble columns, crystal chandeliers, gilded mosaics and painted scenes from Russian history.
Courtesy David Burdeny
"Typically, a metro station is a pedestrian place which serves as a utilitarian device to get you from one place to another. But these were extraordinarily built and constructed, [with] a whole architectural narrative built into them," Burdeny said.
Belorusskaya Station —
"Typically, a metro station is a pedestrian place which serves as a utilitarian device to get you from one place to another. But these were extraordinarily built and constructed, [with] a whole architectural narrative built into them," Burdeny said.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Burdeny had originally planned to focus on stations in both Moscow and St Petersburg, but changed his mind after stepping into Komsomolskaya station for the first time.
Komsomolskaya Metro Station —
Burdeny had originally planned to focus on stations in both Moscow and St Petersburg, but changed his mind after stepping into Komsomolskaya station for the first time.
Courtesy David Burdeny
"They just completely blew away the St Petersburg stations," he says.
Mayakovskaya Station —
"They just completely blew away the St Petersburg stations," he says.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Burdeny shot 20 stations in total. He would visit them between 12:30 am and 5:30 am, when the stations were closed, shooting three or four a night.
Sokol Metro Station —
Burdeny shot 20 stations in total. He would visit them between 12:30 am and 5:30 am, when the stations were closed, shooting three or four a night.
Courtesy David Burdeny
The Moscow Metro, which opened in 1935, was conceived by Joseph Stalin as part of his first Five-Year Plan to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union.
Elektrozavodskaya Station —
The Moscow Metro, which opened in 1935, was conceived by Joseph Stalin as part of his first Five-Year Plan to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union.
Courtesy David Burdeny
The spectacular stations were meant to show the world the power and possibilities the Communist Party presented.
Kiyevsskaya Metro Station —
The spectacular stations were meant to show the world the power and possibilities the Communist Party presented.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Impressively, Novoslobodskaya Metro Station features 32 stained glass panels by Latvian artists.
Novoslobodskaya Metro Station —
Impressively, Novoslobodskaya Metro Station features 32 stained glass panels by Latvian artists.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Originally intended to connect to the never-realized Palace of the Soviets (an ambitious neo-classical state building), Kropotkinskaya Station was designed to be both seem both professional and sophisticated.
Kropotkinskaya Station —
Originally intended to connect to the never-realized Palace of the Soviets (an ambitious neo-classical state building), Kropotkinskaya Station was designed to be both seem both professional and sophisticated.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Taganskaya Metro Station is decorated with portraits of Communist war heroes.
Taganskaya Metro Station —
Taganskaya Metro Station is decorated with portraits of Communist war heroes.
Courtesy David Burdeny
Aeroport station, which was inspired by aviation, is an example of Russian Art Deco architecture.
Aeroport Metro Station —
Aeroport station, which was inspired by aviation, is an example of Russian Art Deco architecture.
Courtesy David Burdeny