The Red Gates high-rise incorporates the northern entrance to Krasnye Vorota station, built into its residential wing on Sadovaya-Spasskaya Street. During construction, engineers froze the ground beside the metro’s inclined tunnel and calculated a deliberate tilt for the frame: once the ground thawed, the tower was expected to settle into an upright position. The side entrance reveals the connection between the residential wing and the station, something the familiar photograph of the spire does not show.
From the series ‘A Familiar Building from an Unfamiliar Angle’.
What does the entrance on Kalanchevskaya Street reveal?
The northern entrance hall of Krasnye Vorota station opens through a portal in the residential wing, rather than the central tower. In the photograph of the entrance, taken by Andreykor in May 2015, the focus is precisely this junction between the metro and the high-rise. In the view from the square, the sheer scale of the building obscures this connection and draws the eye towards the upper tiers.
The northern entrance to Krasnye Vorota station is built into the ground floor of the high-rise’s residential wing. May 2015. Wikimedia Commons, Krasniye Vorota north entrance.JPG, author: Andreykor, licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 source, license
The station opened on 15 May 1935 with a southern entrance pavilion designed by Nikolai Ladovsky. The northern entrance opened on 31 July 1954 as part of the new building. These are two different architectural solutions for the same station: the southern entrance stands on its own, while the other is incorporated into the building. The distinction is documented in the materials from the state historical and cultural assessment of the entrance hall.
In the 1953 book by architect V. K. Oltarzhevsky the ground floor of the wing on Kalanchevskaya Street is allocated to shops and the metro entrance hall. The author specifically noted how convenient this arrangement was for residents and those working in the tower.
Why was a circular hall built inside?
The circular underground hall was needed because of the angle between the axes of the high-rise and the station: it divided the inclined passage into two sections. The 2015 assessment names Alexey Dushkin and Boris Mezentsev as the architects of the northern entrance hall; the 2025 report attributes it to Dushkin. Neither report specifies who proposed the circular hall itself.
The residential wing houses two upper halls — a ticket hall and an escalator hall; according to the heritage description, they occupy the ground and first floors of the ten-storey wing. Below them is a circular hall finished in red marble. Its decoration connects the passage visually with the station, while the spaces above ground complement the high-rise’s interiors. The heritage assessment records later alterations: in 1966, the marble wall cladding near the ticket offices was replaced, and in 1978, tiles replaced the wooden cladding in the entrance vestibules. The street portal marks the beginning of a route through several levels of the building and the underground passage.
The circular intermediate hall of the northern entrance to Krasnye Vorota: a dome with decorative plasterwork, red wall cladding and a descent to the escalators. Wikimedia Commons, Krasniye Vorota north middle hall.JPG, author: Andreykor, licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 source, license
Why was the ground beside the foundations frozen?
The high-rise at Red Gates was built beside the metro’s inclined tunnel; the ground was stabilised by freezing during construction. The right-hand edge of the tower’s foundations lay above this area, so the escalator tunnel and the building’s foundations had to be constructed together on a confined site. A detailed sequence is given in the historical background section of the assessment report for premises at 21/1 Sadovaya-Spasskaya Street.
Excavation began in May 1949. Freezing along the main perimeter began on 15 October; its effects became apparent by 10 November, and the main works were completed by 20 April 1950. Freezing raised the edge of the foundations by 23–62 millimetres. The resulting excessive stress brought work on the tower to a halt from August to November 1950. In designing the foundations, the engineers had to allow for both the temporary ground heave and the subsequent settlement after thawing.
How did the calculated tilt help the building straighten up?
The structural engineers allowed for the ground’s future settlement after thawing and incorporated a deliberate tilt into the construction. The heritage assessment gives the expected deviation of the 100-metre frame as 16 centimetres. Viktor Abramov was the project’s chief structural engineer; the foundation calculations used Professor V. N. Zhemochkin’s method.
These figures should not be treated as three measurements of the completed building. The assessment gives a predicted foundation heave of 50 millimetres; the range of 23–62 millimetres describes the rise of its edge during freezing, while 16 centimetres is the expected deviation of the 100-metre frame. According to the same document, after the ground thawed, the high-rise settled into a vertical position.
What can be seen in the photograph, and what is known only from documents?
Andreykor’s 2015 photograph confirms the portal’s position in the residential wing. The history of freezing and subsequent settlement is described in the 2025 assessment report on mos.ru. A 2007 report on archi.ru describes a subsequent tilt of the residential wing’s foundations in the opposite direction. Neither the photograph of the entrance nor these texts provides a current measurement of the tower’s alignment.
The rear of the Red Gates high-rise: two residential wings flank the central tower. Wikimedia Commons, Red Gates Administrative Building rear view (10006284625).jpg, author: Sergey Norin from Moscow, Russia, licence: CC BY 2.0 source, license
On tour of the Basmanny District the route begins at Red Gates and includes the high-rise. The bureau’s report dated 29 November 2025 records a discussion about the construction of this building. In the next instalment of our series ‘A Familiar Building from an Unfamiliar Angle’, we will look at another Moscow address from a fresh perspective.
Sources
- State Historical and Cultural Expert Assessment Report on the Adaptation Project for Premises No. 3N at 21/1 Sadovaya-Spasskaya Street (2025)
- State Historical and Cultural Expert Assessment Materials for the Northern Entrance Hall of Krasnye Vorota Metro Station
- Andreykor. Krasniye Vorota north entrance, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basmanny District on a cool day: the grotto, the Red Gate, and the Kurakin House
- Basmanny — a private tour of the Basmanny District
- V. K. Oltarzhevsky. Administrative Building at the Red Gate, a chapter in the book ‘The Construction of High-Rise Buildings in Moscow’, 1953
- Irina Filchenkova. The Skyscraper at the Red Gate, archi.ru, 2 November 2007
- Moscow Unified Transport Portal. The History of Krasnye Vorota Metro Station and Its Southern Entrance Hall
- METRO.Photo Album. Krasnye Vorota Metro Station: The History of the Northern Entrance Hall
We took a tour of Taganka designed for 12-year-old children. It was an excellent programme. We covered a great deal of ground and learnt so much. We discovered the story of Dryanaya Street and discussed the Vladimir Highway, the surrounding monasteries and churches, and the Old Believers. We now know where Korovin was born, where Stanislavsky was born and raised, where the Morozov merchant children lived, and why Arseny Morozov was considered such an outrageous figure in his day. We also discussed Solzhenitsyn, discovered where Stalin Avenue was supposed to be built, saw the bunker, walked to the Russian metochion of the Mount Athos Monastery, and learnt why the Illuzion cinema made Taganka famous. Of course, no tour would have been complete without Vysotsky and Lyubimov. We also touched briefly on Taganka Prison, although naturally we did not go there. All in all, it was an exceptionally rich and informative tour! Our guide Alexander was superb!
Our thanks to our guide Alexander for a magnificent sightseeing tour. Alexander’s love for Moscow and its history, his wide-ranging knowledge, elegant and engaging delivery, and personal charm make the tour not merely interesting and informative, but truly delightful! Thank you, Alexander! Tatiana and Tatiana, St Petersburg
On July 18th, we participated in the "Soul of Moscow" group tour led by Alexander. Kitay-gorod and its surroundings revealed a new side to us, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of us began intensively studying related materials to broaden our horizons. We'll be back, and we highly recommend it! You won't regret it.
Good afternoon, on June 23rd we had a tour called " The Soul of Moscow ," led by Alexander. He's a very pleasant young man. We visited such lovely courtyards and alleys with him that we never even knew existed, and we learned so much. We really enjoyed everything, and we hope to continue our acquaintance. Alexander! Thank you! We had a great time with you, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. See you there!
This isn't my first time with Radius. This time, I took the Moscow metro . The goal was not only to admire the underground palaces but also to learn how to navigate the metro. As a resident of a region without a metro, I was a bit apprehensive and didn't understand how to navigate the metro. Of course, the internet helps, but live communication is much better. Tour guide Yulia handled this task perfectly. The information was accessible and interesting, the presentation was calm, and the communication style was very friendly. Thank you very much for the tour and the practical experience.
Good afternoon! I gave the "Soul of Moscow" tour to some of the capital's guests. We were thrilled to hear our guide, Anton. It was so informative and engaging, and very warm. To say we were absolutely delighted is an understatement. It turned out to be a truly family-friendly excursion. We learned so many interesting facts. The material was presented professionally, all our questions were answered, and we saw so much. It was simply WOW! Thank you so much, Anton, he's the best!!!!! From now on, I'll only come to you, the Radius team. I highly recommend it. I promise we'll see each other again soon on other tours.
Overall, the tour left a positive impression! Thanks to Alexander for the walk through the courtyards and atmospheric spots of Kitay-Gorod; we certainly wouldn't have done it on our own. The tour was comfortable, and the guide spoke confidently and calmly. One thing we personally missed: we would have liked more of the historical part, relating to ancient Moscow and the history of Kitay-Gorod. There were quite a few stories about the Soviet period and the bar scene, but for our group, this wasn't particularly relevant. We think the program could be a little more tailored to the age and interests of the group. It would also have been interesting to add more historical facts, monuments, and details about old Moscow and the area itself. That said, the tour was still interesting, and some places and churches were truly memorable. These aren't really "cons," but rather suggestions for an even more comprehensive program.
Hello! We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide. He lives this history and is delighted to share his knowledge and create an unforgettable experience. Everything went well. I highly recommend it!
Thank you for a fascinating tour! It gave me so much food for thought to explore! Note: Review of the "Zamoskvorechye" tour with guide Maria.
I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of our team! Thank you for keeping to our scheduled schedule despite our lack of organization. Our colleagues appreciated your preparation for the tour! It was informative. Note: Review of the "Modern Residential Complexes, Factory Past, and Avant-Garde" tour of the ZILART residential complex with guide Maria. Maria prepared and conducted a customized tour for employees of the Samolet Group of Companies development company.
Thank you! You have great talent. Good luck! ☺️ You're a wonderful guide! Thank you again! Note: This is a review of the corporate tour "The Heart of the Capital" with guide Maria.
Thank you for a wonderful day today!!)) Note: review of the excursion "The Soul of Moscow" with guide Maria
On behalf of the whole family, I want to thank you for a very informative and interesting tour! Note: This is a review of the "Palace Dungeons" tour with guide Maria.
Good afternoon! I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my guide for organizing the tour! We were very pleased. We'd like to do it again in October, but on a different route — ZIL. Note: This refers to the tour for Samolet Group developers, led by guide Maria.
Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour of Baumanka ! It was fun, exciting, and we discovered so many new places! Awesome! May we reach new heights!
Good afternoon! I was on a tour of Sukharevskaya Square — we went all the way to Tsvetnoy Boulevard. I didn't expect it to be so interesting! For those wondering whether to go — go for it! It truly became one of my most memorable summer memories!
Anastasia, good morning! Thank you and Masha for yesterday! The speakers are happy. The connection through the headphones was often lost, especially at the checkpoint, but that's just our current situation. You could hear if you were standing close, no more than 1.5 meters away. Colleagues have already asked for your contact information. I'd be happy to share it and look forward to another opportunity to work with you. Special thanks to the Director for the Bureau . Note: " Heart of the Capital " tour for participants of the 2025 Moscow Oncology Forum. Guides: Anastasia and Maria.
We'd like to thank Anton and Alexander for leading the tour! It was fascinating to hear how the Krasnaya Presnya district developed and how Prokhorov's influence on our city's development. It was a pleasant immersion into a quiet, previously unexplored area!
Good afternoon, thank you so much, Anastasia. The " Uncle Gilyai " tour was fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.
Thank you for the " Heart of Moscow " and " Khamovniki " tours. Anton, a knowledgeable and passionate Moscow guide, gave me the tour. He's a great storyteller, intelligent, well-read, and captivating. You've truly opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer to explore Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful tour program to all my friends!
Excursions with the Radius travel agency are always a positive experience if you choose them. We planned a tour of Zamoskvorechye on our next visit. We've worked with our guide, Anton, before. We'll definitely recommend him to everyone we know. The tour is informative, not overloaded with dates, and the information is comprehensive yet easy to understand, as it's presented in a light, narrative manner, not like a history textbook, dry and academic. Thank you for this approach. We'll definitely use the Radius agency again on our next visit to Moscow.
Thank you so much for the tour of Zamoskvorechye . Despite the weather, it was very interesting and informative! Note: this refers to the tour with guide Anton.
A huge thank you to Anastasia. We had a fantastic tour of the Patriki district. We learned so much. Anastasia is a true master of her craft. The tour was captivating, not at all boring, lively and interesting. Everyone was delighted. We were full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed!
We explored the Soul of Moscow with my family and Radius on my birthday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk! Anton shared so many interesting facts about the capital and its history, taking us into spiritual depths no one else had even suspected. Most of us were either born or longtime Moscow residents who spent a lot of time walking around. It was educational, heartwarming, and unforgettable. 🙂 Overall, this wasn't my first time walking around Moscow with Anton, and each time was a real adventure!