You have bought an apartment in a Stalinist building and dream of an open-plan layout. The idea of knocking down a wall and combining rooms seems very tempting. But before you grab a hammer drill, it is worth stopping and thinking things through.
Stalinist buildings are famous for their solid construction, but their interior partitions are not just plasterboard. They are often brick or even cinder block walls, which may not just be partitions, but part of the overall structure of the building. Their accidental demolition can weaken the floors and lead to cracks.
Therefore, the first and most important step is to invite a specialist. You don't need a designer, but an experienced engineer or architect. They will determine which walls are load-bearing and which can be demolished. Without their opinion, any work is Russian roulette, where the safety of your family and neighbors is at stake.
If a wall turns out to be load-bearing, it's not the end of the world. It is often possible to make an arch or a wide opening in it, reinforcing it with a metal structure. But this must be calculated and approved by the same specialist. Remember: remodeling in a “Stalinka” requires not only effort and money, but, first and foremost, knowledge and respect for the old house.
Initial data
First, the good news: at least most, and sometimes all, interior walls in apartments in “Stalinist” buildings are non-load-bearing. These partitions are usually constructed of boards, covered with “shingles” and plastered. This significantly expands the possibilities for redevelopment. At the same time, the floor slabs rest either on longitudinal load-bearing walls or on beams resting on these walls. The beams perform a load-bearing function and cannot be dismantled under any circumstances.
Very often, rooms in “Stalin-era” buildings are walk-through, and non-load-bearing partitions between them allow you to change their position, without forgetting the requirements for living rooms (the presence of natural lighting and compliance with the minimum area of 8 square meters). Without moving the partitions, you can change the layout of the passageways by closing some doorways and creating new ones in other walls. This allows you to optimize the space in terms of the location of common and private areas.
Design: Irina Krasheninnikova
Restrictions
The bad news is that not every non-load-bearing wall can be demolished or have an opening created in it, at least without reinforcement. Over time (and a lot of time has passed since the 1930s–1960s, when Stalinist buildings were constructed), non-load-bearing partitions can take on part of the load from sagging floors, becoming load-bearing.
In order to determine the condition of the floors in a particular house or apartment, a technical report on the condition of the structures is required, which will include calculations of the load-bearing capacity. If there are load-bearing walls inside the apartment, they will definitely not be allowed to be dismantled. However, it is possible to obtain permission to create a small opening with mandatory reinforcement with a metal structure.
Thus, non-load-bearing partitions that do not bear the load of the floors can be dismantled (and openings can be made and filled in them), load-bearing partitions cannot, except for the creation of small openings, and load-bearing partitions cannot be dismantled completely and with restrictions, as their dismantling is potentially unsafe.
Technical conclusion
If the project is not included in the list of standard projects, a technical report on the condition of the structures from the author of the house project is required (clause 3.7 of Appendix 3 to Moscow Government Resolution 508). Since the authors of Stalin-era houses are unavailable, technical reports are prepared by the state design organization GUP Moszhilniiproekt.
It is easy to order a technical report here through the “single window” service, although it is (relatively) expensive. You will also have to wait a long time. The speed can be reduced, but with an increasing coefficient — again, it is expensive. If the house has wooden or mixed floors, you will not be able to do without a technical report.
If the floors are reinforced concrete and no major alterations are planned, the housing inspectorate may either not require it or accept one prepared by a private design organization with SRO accreditation. If the technical report shows that non-load-bearing partitions have become load-bearing and that the floors need to be reinforced in order to dismantle them or create openings, the project must be ordered from the “author” of the house.
If the technical condition is determined to be operational, there is an option to create a project in a private design organization with SRO admission, which will save time and money.
The technical report, the project based on it, the technical passport for the apartment, and the title documents (the list can be found on the public services portal) are submitted to the district center “My Documents” for subsequent transfer to the district office of the Moscow Housing Inspection.
Walls around the perimeter of the gasified room
Non-technical restrictions are related to the dismantling of the partition between the gasified kitchen and the adjoining room. This is only possible if a tightly closing door is installed in the resulting opening. The material of the door is not regulated, but the width and height must be planned based on the condition of the structures.
If the partition between the kitchen and the room is subject to demolition, but the door does not fit into the design project in any way, the only legal way to do without it is to contact Mosgaz, weld the gas pipe, and use an electric hob and oven in the future. Before deciding on this option, you need to check the cross-section of the incoming cable to determine whether the power allocated to the apartment is sufficient to service all the electrical equipment.
However, it is possible to remove the partition and door between the kitchen and the hallway, even if the kitchen is gasified, provided that there are doors to all living rooms. This allows natural light into the hallway and solves a number of other design issues. But again, find out the opinion of the relevant housing inspection on this issue.
Exceptions
Strictly speaking, these are not exceptions, but variations in the interpretation of regulatory acts. For example, they prohibit the expansion of the bathroom at the expense of the kitchen (with the exception of the first floors). Does this mean that it is also prohibited to expand the kitchen at the expense of the bathroom?
There is no direct ban, and officials' opinions differ—in some housing inspectorates, the latter can be agreed upon by attaching a notarized letter to the application stating that you voluntarily agree to a deterioration in your living conditions (which is considered to be the fact that your kitchen is located under your neighbors' bathroom, with all the consequences that this entails, pardon the pun).
Sometimes you can take such a risk and move the walls in order to enlarge a small kitchen, and the bathroom, in turn, can be expanded at the expense of the corridor or storage room, which is easily agreed upon with the condition of waterproofing the bathroom along the new boundaries.
It is possible to knock down walls in a “Stalinka” building, but only after checking which ones are load-bearing and which ones are partitions. Load-bearing walls cannot be touched: this is dangerous for the entire structure of the house. Even if the wall seems thin, it is better not to take any risks without a specialist's opinion. Before any renovation, it is worth consulting with an architect or the BTI (Bureau of Technical Inventory) — this will save you nerves, money, and fines.
Exterior walls
The possibility of dismantling the masonry under the window in a “Stalinist” building in order to lower the opening to the level of the balcony door is determined by whether the window sill block is involved in pinching the balcony slab. In some buildings, the balcony slab does not lie under the entire room, but is held by the window sill block, which acts as a counterweight.
If there is no balcony, but you want to install French windows, approval will also be required, as their installation will alter the external appearance of the building.
In both cases, approval is given based on the project, and a technical conclusion from the “author” of the building or a private design organization is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Ventilation
Ventilation ducts must not be touched — everyone knows that. However, in apartments in “Stalinist” buildings, there are sometimes more than two of them. This is inconvenient and can hinder the merging of rooms, but you will have to put up with it.
In addition to the prohibition on cutting ventilation ducts, it is important to use them correctly. Ventilation in “Stalinist” buildings is not designed for powerful extractor fans installed in every apartment. Nevertheless, they are connected — after all, something has to be done about the smells from the kitchen.
If a problem arises, it is solved on an individual basis; you just need to remember this and discuss it with an engineer at the specific site. In addition, if there is a gas stove in the kitchen, you cannot cover the entire diameter of the vent hole with a pipe from the extractor fan, but only part of it, leaving free ventilation.
Design: Anastasia Kamenskikh
So, is it possible to break walls in a “Stalinist” building? As can be seen from the opinions of experts, there is no direct and unequivocal ban on this. These buildings, unlike later Khrushchev-era buildings, often have a solid construction “safety margin” and spacious layouts that one would like to improve.
However, the key word here is “reasonable.” The first and most important step should always be to consult a competent engineer or designer. They will determine which walls are load-bearing and which are simply partitions. Without this knowledge, starting work is like playing roulette with the safety of your home and neighbors.
If you have received approval for the redevelopment, remember the bureaucratic side of the issue. Any changes affecting load-bearing structures must be officially approved. This is not just a formality, but a way to ensure that all work is carried out correctly and legally. Neglecting this step can create huge problems in the future.
Ultimately, renovating a Stalin-era building is a balance between the dream of a modern space and respect for the reliability of an old house. With a competent, responsible approach and the involvement of professionals at every stage, you can combine both, creating comfortable and safe housing for many years to come.
