Dachas

Dacha is a Russian word for a holiday home, where people from big cities escape for the weekend to relax and to cultivate their own gardens (Ogorod). The tradition of Ogorod is deeply rooted in Russian culture – for example, almost each Muscovite has a piece of land in a countryside, where he spends a considerable amount of time, growing tomatoes, cucumbers and beetroots. This custom partly owes its popularity to a romanticized notion of countryside life, but also witnessed a resurgence during the 80s, when small-scale farming was seen as a practical solution for food shortages. During soviet times, the government prohibited citizens from having second homes with heating, so many opted to build small dachas, which they could use during the summer. While these photos were shot in Repka, a village some 100km from Moscow– they could have easily been taken elsewhere in Russia. Partly abandoned, partly alive, each one of them has their own individual character. In contrast to the sea of tower blocks that are seen as an inherent part of the urban Russian terrain, each façade has its own touching impression, reflecting a post-soviet heritage that struggles to adjust to a historical transition.