UNITED NATIONAL BUILDINGS

The United Nations Headquarters in New York is a group of building set in beautifully landscaped grounds. At night, from across the East River it seems to float on a platform of light above the shining water.

Some people consider it a brilliantly planned, superbly executed example of functional design; some call it an architectural monstrosity. But all agree that the buildings have the striking beauty of their own. The different buildings of the group, each individually distinctive in design, are closely associated stylistically and functionally.

The Secretariat Building is one of the most remarkable structures in the world. The building is 505 feet high. It has 39 storeys above ground and several below. It is 289 feet long. The windows are set in aluminium frames. The blue-green glass of the windows is of a special composition to permit a maximum of light with a minimum of heat. The ends of the building are entirely of marble from Vermont, 2,000 tons of it. It is connected at various levels with the other buildings.

The Conference Building contains a wide range of facilities: three large council chambers, each containing about 400 public and 120 press seats. There are also several big committee rooms, the main delegates' lounge and a restaurant.

The General Assembly Building and the Auditorium. This building is of curious double concave shape. Its chief function is to provide a suitable meeting hall for the annual Assembly meeting. The great auditorium is 380 feet long, varies from 160 feet wide on the south to 220 feet on the north. It seats 920 delegates and advisers, 1,000 visitors, 420 press representatives.

EXERCISES

I. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is the United Nations Headquarters situated? 2. How many storeys has the Secretariat Building?3. What kind of glass was used for the windows of this building? 4. What facilities does the Conference Building contain? 5. What shape is the General Assembly Building of?

II. Complete the following sentences:

1. This group of buildings is set in.... 2. These buildings are individually distinctive in... 3. The glass of windows is of special composition to permit... 4. The ends of the building are of.... 5. The Secretariat Building is connected with....6. The chief function of the General Assembly Building is to provide…

III. Read and translate the following word combinations:

THE MANEGE

The Manege (Manezh) is a building in Moscow, standing on the square on the western side of the Kremlin. Officially, it is called now the Central Exhibition Hall.

The Manege was built in 1817 for parades and the training of the Moscow garrison cavalry, and as a memorial of Russian victory in 1812. So it had to be one of the largest and most attractive buildings in the city.

Its project was worked out by General Bethencourt. The walls of the building were 166.1X44.7 m long. There is not a single internal support. The roof rests on crosswise timber rafters (a canopy).

Architect Bove, who did a lot to restore Moscow, ornamented the building with strong half columns and decorated the walls with stucco moulding. The building was completed in 6 months and won praise from all. Contemporaries wrote that there was "nothing anywhere in Europe that had such architectural grandeur or such an original roof". Many engineers have made a study of the roof, which has been described in many building textbooks. Its architecture still gladdens the eye by its harmony, classicism and simplicity.

In the 19th century the Manege became a major cultural centre in the city. It was used for architectural, agricultural, scientific, technical and ethnographic exhibitions. In 1908 the building was used for the first international exhibition of cars, bicycles and sports equipment.

The finest musicians in Russia and Europe, including Hector Berlioz, have played at gala concerts at the Manege building. On December 27,1867, Berlioz conducted a choir and orchestra of 700 there, playing his own music and that of Russian composers, before an audience of 12,000.

In 1957 the Soviet Government decided that the Manege should be turned into a Central Exhibition Hall. Since then it has housed many art exhibitions which attract over a million visiters a year.

EXERCISES

1. Answer the following questions:

1. Where does the Manege building in Moscow stand? 2. When was this building built? 3. What was the Manege built for? 4. Who worked out the Manege project? 5. What can you say about the roof of this building? 6. What is the Manege used for now?

II. Read and translate the following word combinations:

not a single internal support; cross-wise timber rafters; a major cultural centre; for architectural and technical exhibitions; its architecture still gladdens the eye

III. Translate the following sentences:

1. This building has been described in many building textbooks. 2. There is not a single internal support for the roof. 3. The architecture of this house gladdens the eye by its simplicity. 4. In 1957 this building was turned into an exhibition hall. 5. This is a memorial of Russian victory in 1812.

MOSCOW'S TELEVISION CENTRE

In the north of Moscow, and visible for miles around, rises the giant reinforced concrete tower of the Moscow's TV centre. The tower was built in 1968 to a design by D. Burdin, M. Shkud and L. Shchipakin. Altogether 533-m high, the TV tower has an observation platform and a restaurant at the height of 328 metres. The restau­rant revolves slowly round the tower and offers a splendid circular view of Moscow. Despite its enormous size the tower seems amazingly light. It replaced the old iron-girder tower in Shabolovka Street, built by the engineer I. Shukhov shortly after the Great October Socialist Revo­lution. Yet, unlike its predecessor, this TV tower does not play a purely functional role but is at the same time a most important architectural landmark. The multistory building of the TV centre stands alongside the tower.

I. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the TV tower in Moscow made of? 2. Who designed the building of the TV centre? 3. What is the height of the Moscow TV tower? 4. What tower did this TV tower replace? 5. What stands alongside the TV tower in Moscow?

II. Read and translate the following word combinations:

giant reinforced concrete tower; visible for miles around; enormous size; a most important architectural landmark; a purely functional role; multistory building; to stand alongside

III. Translate the text using a dictionary:

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