citylikeyou — Belaya Ploshad — Moscow by Max Sher

Moscow / Area

A brand new business district called Belaya Ploshad (White Square) built around an early 20-century old-believers’ church. Old believers are a fundamentalist sect that’s split from the official Orthodox Church in 17 century. Many prominent Russian tsarist-era businessmen were from the old-believers’ background. During Soviet era, this church was desecrated, then, in the 1990s, returned to an old-belivers’ community and renovated. A good example of Moscow contrasts - a fundamentalist church (with a Facebook page) and modern office blocks next door. Plus - on the other side of Belaya Ploshad there is Belorussky Station Square - a large intersection with an endless construction site, a railway station, full of dirt, primitive street trade, homeless, and… nice cafes.

Address
Belaya Ploshad, 5 Lesnaya Street, Moscow, Russia

Photographer

Current city: Moscow

maxsher.com

I was born in St Petersburg, then, at 11, moved to Siberia where I have lived for 12 more years, graduated from a local university before returning to my hometown in 1998. I took various jobs there before finally turning to photography. From last August I am based in Moscow, a mad metropolis full of contrasts, energy and drama at every corner. In terms of urban design and architecture, many consider it a failed city, and you really have to know it from the inside to be able to appreciate its vibrance and dynamics. In this nostalgic picture (by Savva Bogatyrev), I am on a tram back in St Pete with my wife Veronika.

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