V. G. Shukhov was the first in the world to use steel mesh shells for the construction of buildings and towers. Subsequently, high-tech architects, the famous Buckminster Fuller and Norman Foster, finally introduced mesh shells into modern practice construction, and in the 21st century shells have become one of the main means of shaping avant-garde buildings.

Shukhov introduced the form of a single-sheet hyperboloid of rotation into architecture, creating the world's first hyperboloid structures.

In 1876 he graduated with honors from the Imperial Moscow Technical School (now Moscow State Technical University) and completed a one-year internship in the USA.

Main areas of activity of V. G. Shukhov

• Design and construction of the first oil pipelines in Russia, development of theoretical and practical principles construction of main pipeline systems.
• Invention, creation and development of equipment and technologies for the oil industry, cylindrical oil storage tanks, river tankers; introduction of a new method of oil airlift.
• Theoretical and practical development of the fundamentals of petroleum hydraulics.
• Invention of a thermal oil cracking unit. Design and construction of an oil refinery with the first Russian cracking units.
• Invention of original gas tank designs and development of standard storage designs natural gas with a capacity of up to 100 thousand cubic meters. m.
• Invention and creation of new building structures and architectural forms: the world's first steel mesh shells and hyperboloid structures.
• Development of methods for designing steel structures and structural mechanics.
• Invention and creation of tubular steam boilers.
• Design of large urban water supply systems.
• Invention and creation of sea mines and platforms of heavy artillery systems, bateauports.

Member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Lenin Prize (1929). Hero of Labor (1932).

Development of the oil industry and thermal engines

Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov is the author of the project and Chief Engineer construction of the first Russian oil pipeline Balakhany - Black City (Baku oil fields, 1878), built for the oil company "Br. Nobel". He designed and then supervised the construction of oil pipelines of the Br. Nobel", "Lianozov and Co." and the world's first heated fuel oil pipeline. Working in the oil fields in Baku, V. G. Shukhov developed the basics of lifting and pumping oil products, proposed a method for lifting oil using compressed air - airlift, developed a calculation method and technology for constructing cylindrical steel tanks for oil storage facilities, and invented a nozzle for burning fuel oil.

In the article “Oil Pipelines” (1884) and in the book “Pipelines and their Application in oil industry"(1894) V. G. Shukhov cited the exact mathematical formulas to describe the processes of oil and fuel oil flow through pipelines, creating the classical theory of oil pipelines. V. G. Shukhov is the author of the projects of the first Russian main pipelines: Baku - Batumi (883 km, 1907), Grozny - Tuapse (618 km, 1928).

In 1896, Shukhov invented a new water-tube steam boiler in horizontal and vertical versions (patents of the Russian Empire No. 15,434 and No. 15,435 dated June 27, 1896). In 1900, its steam boilers were awarded high reward- at the World Exhibition in Paris, Shukhov received a gold medal. Thousands of steam boilers were produced using Shukhov's patents before and after the revolution.

Around 1885, Shukhov began building the first Russian river barge tankers on the Volga. Installation was carried out in precisely planned stages using standardized sections at the shipyards in Tsaritsyn (Volgograd) and Saratov.

V.G. Shukhov and his assistant S.P. Gavrilov invented an industrial process for producing motor gasoline - a continuously operating tubular thermal cracking unit for oil (patent of the Russian Empire No. 12926 dated November 27, 1891). The installation consisted of a furnace with tubular coil heaters, an evaporator and distillation columns.

Thirty years later, in 1923, a delegation from the Sinclair Oil company arrived in Moscow to obtain information about oil cracking, invented by Shukhov. The scientist, having compared his 1891 patent with American patents of 1912-1916, proved that American cracking plants repeat his patent and are not original. In 1931, according to the design and technical leadership of V. G. Shukhov, the Soviet Cracking oil refinery was built in Baku, where for the first time in Russia Shukhov’s patent for the cracking process was used to create installations for the production of gasoline.

Creation of building and engineering structures

V. G. Shukhov is the inventor of the world's first hyperboloid structures and metal mesh shells of building structures (patents of the Russian Empire No. 1894, No. 1895, No. 1896; dated March 12, 1899, declared by V. G. Shukhov 03/27/1895 - 01/11/1896 ). For the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896 in Nizhny Novgorod V. G. Shukhov built eight pavilions with the world’s first ceilings in the form of mesh shells, the world’s first ceiling in the form of a steel membrane (Shukhov Rotunda) and the world’s first hyperboloid tower of amazing beauty (it was purchased after the exhibition by philanthropist Yu. S. Nechaev- Maltsov and moved to his estate Polibino (Lipetsk region), preserved to this day). The shell of a hyperboloid of revolution was a completely new form, never before used in architecture. After the Nizhny Novgorod exhibition of 1896, V. G. Shukhov developed numerous designs of various mesh steel shells and used them in hundreds of structures: floors public buildings and industrial facilities, water towers, maritime lighthouses, masts of warships and power line supports. The 70-meter mesh steel Adzhigol lighthouse near Kherson is the tallest single-section hyperboloid structure by V. G. Shukhov. The radio tower on Shabolovka in Moscow became the tallest of the multi-section Shukhov towers (160 meters).

“Shukhov’s designs complete the efforts of engineers XIX century in creating an original metal structure and at the same time pointing the way far into the 20th century. They mark significant progress: the core lattice of traditional spatial trusses, based on main and auxiliary elements, was replaced by a network of equivalent structural elements"(Sch?dlich Ch., Das Eisen in der Architektur des 19.Jhdt., Habilitationsschrift, Weimar, 1967, S.104).

Shukhov also invented arched roof structures with cable ties. The arched glass vaults of V. G. Shukhov’s coverings over the largest Moscow stores have survived to this day: the Upper Trading Rows (GUM) and the Firsanovsky (Petrovsky) Passage. IN late XIX century Shukhov, together with his employees, drew up a project new system water supply of Moscow.

In 1897, Shukhov built a workshop with spatially curved mesh sail-shaped steel shells of double-curvature floors for the metallurgical plant in Vyksa. This workshop has been preserved at the Vyksa Metallurgical Plant to this day. This is the world's first arched convex ceiling with double curvature.

From 1896 to 1930, over 200 steel mesh hyperboloid towers were built according to V. G. Shukhov’s designs. No more than 20 have survived to this day. The water tower in Nikolaev (built in 1907, its height with a tank is 32 meters) and the Adzhigol lighthouse in the Dnieper estuary (built in 1910, height - 70 meters) are well preserved.

V. G. Shukhov invented new designs of spatial flat trusses and used them in designing the coverings of the Museum of Fine Arts (Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts), the Moscow Main Post Office, the Bakhmetyevsky Garage and numerous other buildings. In 1912-1917 V. G. Shukhov designed the floors of the halls and the landing stage of the Kievsky station (formerly Bryansk) in Moscow and supervised its construction (span width - 48 m, height - 30 m, length - 230 m).

During the First World War, V. G. Shukhov invented several designs of sea mines and platforms of heavy artillery systems, and designed the bathoports of sea docks.

Construction in 1919-1922. towers for the radio station on Shabolovka in Moscow was the most famous work V. G. Shukhova. The tower is a telescopic structure 160 meters high, consisting of six mesh hyperboloid steel sections. After an accident during the construction of a radio tower, V. G. Shukhov was sentenced to death penalty with a suspension of execution until construction is completed. On March 19, 1922, radio broadcasts began and V.G. Shukhov was pardoned.

Regular broadcasts of Soviet television through transmitters at the Shukhov Tower began on March 10, 1939. Long years The image of the Shukhov Tower was the emblem of Soviet television and the screensaver of many television programs, including the famous “Blue Light”.

Now the Shukhov Tower is recognized by international experts as one of the highest achievements of engineering art. International scientific conference “Heritage at Risk. Preservation of 20th Century Architecture and World Heritage,” held in April 2006 in Moscow with the participation of more than 160 specialists from 30 countries, in its declaration named the Shukhov Tower among seven architectural masterpieces of the Russian avant-garde recommended for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In 1927-1929 V.G. Shukhov, taking part in the implementation of the GOELRO plan, surpassed this tower structure by building three pairs of mesh multi-tiered hyperboloid supports for crossing the Oka River of the NiGRES power line in the area of ​​the city of Dzerzhinsk near Nizhny Novgorod.

The Shukhov Towers in Moscow and on the Oka River are unique monuments of Russian avant-garde architecture.

Last major achievement V. G. Shukhov’s work in the field of construction technology was the straightening of the minaret of the ancient Ulugbek madrasah in Samarkand, which tilted during an earthquake.

last years of life

The last years of Vladimir Grigorievich’s life were overshadowed by the repressions of the 30s, constant fear for his children, unjustified accusations, the death of his wife, and leaving service under pressure from the bureaucratic regime. These events undermined his health and led to disappointment and depression. His last years take place in solitude. He received only close friends and old colleagues at home, read and reflected.

Photo gallery of designs

Hyperboloid grids of the Shukhov towers on the Oka River, bottom view, 1989

Shukhovsky metal-glass landing stage of the Kievsky railway station in Moscow

Railway bridge designed by Shukhov across the Ashe River near Sochi, 1989

Metal-glass floors of GUM designed by Shukhov, Moscow, 2007

Named in honor of Shukhov and bear his name

• Hyperboloid mesh towers corresponding to the patent of V. G. Shukhov, built in Russia and abroad.
• Belgorod State University of Technology named after V. G. Shukhov
• Shukhov Street in Moscow (Former Sirotsky Lane). Renamed in 1963. On it (the street) there is the famous Shukhov radio tower.
• Street in Tula
• Park in the city of Grayvoron
• School in the city of Grayvoron
• Golden medal named after V. G. Shukhov, awarded for the highest engineering achievements
• Auditorium named after Shukhov at the Moscow Architectural Institute

Memory

• On December 2, 2008, a monument to Vladimir Shukhov was unveiled on Turgenevskaya Square in Moscow. The team of authors who worked on the monument was headed by Salavat Shcherbakov. Shukhov is immortalized in bronze, in full growth with a roll of drawings and a cloak draped over his shoulders. Bronze benches are installed around the monument. Two of them are in the form of a split log with a vice, hammers and other carpentry tools lying on them; another one is a structure of wheels and gears.
• On the territory of TsNIIPSK named after. A bust of Shukhov was erected by N.P. Melnikov.
• In 1963, a USSR postage stamp dedicated to Shukhov was issued.

• Memory of Shukhov

Monument to Shukhov in Moscow

Monument to Shukhov in Belgorod

USSR postage stamp

Publications

• Shukhov V.G., Mechanical structures of the oil industry, “Engineer”, volume 3, book. 13, No. 1, pp. 500-507, book. 14, No. 1, pp. 525-533, Moscow, 1883.
• Shukhov V. G., Oil pipelines, “Bulletin of Industry”, No. 7, pp. 69 - 86, Moscow, 1884.
• Shukhov V. G., Pumps direct action and their compensation, 32 pp., “Bul. Polytechnic Society", No. 8, appendix, Moscow, 1893-1894.
• Shukhov V.G., Pipelines and their application to the oil industry, 37 pp., Ed. Polytechnic Society, Moscow, 1895.
• Shukhov V.G., Direct action pumps. Theoretical and practical data for their calculation. 2nd ed. with additions, 51 pp., Ed. Polytechnic Society, Moscow, 1897.
• Shukhov V. G., Rafters. Research of rational types of rectilinear trusses and the theory of arched trusses, 120 pp., Ed. Polytechnic Society, Moscow, 1897.
• Shukhov V.G., Combat power of Russian and Japanese fleet during the war of 1904-1905, in the book: Khudyakov P.K. “The Path to Tsushima”, pp. 30 - 39, Moscow, 1907.
• Shukhov V. G., Note on patents on the distillation and decomposition of oil during high blood pressure, “Oil and shale economy”, No. 10, pp. 481-482, Moscow, 1923.
• Shukhov V.G., Note on oil pipelines, “Oil and shale economy”, volume 6, no. 2, pp. 308-313, Moscow, 1924.
• Shukhov V.G., Selected works, volume 1, “Structural mechanics”, 192 pp., ed. A. Yu. Ishlinsky, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, 1977.
• Shukhov V.G., Selected works, volume 2, “Hydraulic engineering”, 222 pp., ed. A. E. Sheindlina, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1981.
• Shukhov V.G., Selected works, volume 3, “Oil refining. Thermal engineering", 102 pp., ed. A. E. Sheindlina, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1982.

Inventions of V. G. Shukhov

• 1. A number of early inventions and technologies of the oil industry, in particular, technologies for the construction of oil pipelines and reservoirs, are not formalized by privileges and are described by V. G. Shukhov in the work “Mechanical structures of the oil industry” (magazine “Engineer”, volume 3, book 13, No. 1, pp. 500-507, book 14, No. 1, pp. 525-533, Moscow, 1883) and subsequent works on structures and equipment of the oil industry.
• 2. Apparatus for continuous fractional distillation of oil. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 13200 dated December 31, 1888 (co-author F.A. Inchik).
• 3. Airlift pump. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 11531 for 1889.
• 4. Hydraulic reflux condenser for distillation of oil and other liquids. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 9783 dated September 25, 1890 (co-author F.A. Inchik).
• 5. Cracking process (installation for oil distillation with decomposition). Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 12926 dated November 27, 1891 (co-author S. P. Gavrilov).
• 6. Tubular steam boiler. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 15434 dated June 27, 1896.
• 7. Vertical tubular boiler. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 15435 dated June 27, 1896.
• 8. Mesh coverings for buildings. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 1894 dated March 12, 1899. Cl. 37a, 7/14.
• 9. Mesh arched coverings. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 1895 dated March 12, 1899. Cl. 37a, 7/08.
• 10. Hyperboloid structures (openwork tower). Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 1896 dated March 12, 1899. Cl. 37f,15/28.
• 11. Water tube boiler. Privilege of the Russian Empire No. 23839 for 1913. Class. 13a, 13.
• 12. Water tube boiler. USSR Patent No. 1097 for 1926. Class. 13a,13.
• 13. Water tube boiler. USSR Patent No. 1596 for 1926. Class. 13a, 7/10.
• 14. Air economizer. USSR Patent No. 2520 for 1927. Class. 24k, 4.
• 15. A device for releasing liquid from vessels with lower pressure into a medium with higher pressure. USSR Patent No. 4902 for 1927. Class. 12g,2/02.
• 16. Cushion for sealing devices for pistons of dry gas tanks. USSR Patent No. 37656 for 1934. Class. 4 s, 35.
• 17. A device for pressing sealing rings for pistons of dry gas tanks against the tank wall. USSR Patent No. 39038 for 1938. Class. 4 s.35

Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov (August 16, 1853 - February 2, 1939) - great engineer, inventor, scientist; honorary member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Hero of Labor. He is the author of projects and technical manager for the construction of an oil refinery with the first Russian oil cracking units and oil pipelines. Vladimir Grigorievich contributed outstanding contribution in oil industry technology and pipeline transport. He was the first to use steel mesh shells for the construction of buildings and towers. After him, high-tech architects, the famous Buckminster Fuller and Norman Foster, finally introduced mesh shells into construction practice, and in the 21st century. shells became one of the main means of shaping avant-garde buildings. Shukhov introduced the form of a single-sheet hyperboloid of rotation into architecture, creating the world's first hyperboloid structures. Later, hyperboloid structures were used by such famous architects as Gaudi and Le Corbusier.

Born in the city of Grayvoron, Kursk province (now in Belgorod region) in a noble family. He spent his childhood years on his mother's family estate, Pozhidaevka. He showed a knack for design since childhood. In 1871, after graduating with honors from the 1871 gymnasium in St. Petersburg, he passed brilliantly entrance exams to the Imperial Moscow Technical School (now Moscow Higher Technical School named after N.E. Bauman), receiving the right to study at public expense. While still a student, he made his first invention - a nozzle for burning liquid fuel (which was highly praised by D.I. Mendeleev and was produced in thousands of copies long before the Laval nozzle). In 1876 he graduated from college with a gold medal and completed a one-year internship in the USA.

Shukhov is the inventor of the world's first hyperboloid structures and metal mesh shells of building structures (patents of the Russian Empire No. 1894, No. 1895, No. 1896; dated March 12, 1899, declared by V. G. Shukhov 03/27/1895 - 01/11/1896). V. G. Shukhov developed numerous designs of various mesh steel shells and used them in hundreds of structures: floors of public buildings and industrial facilities, water towers, sea lighthouses, masts of warships and power line supports. The 70-meter mesh steel Adzhigol lighthouse near Kherson is the tallest single-section hyperboloid structure by V. G. Shukhov. The radio tower on Shabolovka in Moscow became the tallest of the multi-section Shukhov towers (160 meters).

The world's first steel mesh tower in the shape of a hyperboloid of revolution was built by Shukhov for the largest pre-revolutionary All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod, held in 1896.

Shukhov's hyperboloid tower at the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition in Nizhny Novgord.
On the left is a photo from the late 19th century. On the right is a modern image

The single-sheet hyperboloid of rotation of the first Shukhov tower is formed by 80 straight steel profiles, the ends of which are attached to ring bases. The mesh steel shell of diamond-shaped intersecting profiles is reinforced with 8 parallel steel rings located between the bases. The height of the hyperboloid shell of the tower is 25.2 meters (excluding the heights of the foundation, reservoir and viewing superstructure). The diameter of the lower ring base is 10.9 meters, the upper one is 4.2 meters. The maximum diameter of the tank is 6.5 m, height is 4.8 m. A beautiful steel structure rises from the ground level from the center of the base of the tower to the level of the bottom of the tank spiral staircase. In the central part of the tank there is a cylindrical passage with a straight staircase leading to an observation deck on the upper surface of the tank.

“Shukhov’s designs complete the efforts of 19th century engineers in creating an original metal structure and at the same time point the way far into the 20th century. They mark significant progress: the core lattice of the traditional spatial trusses of that time, based on the main and auxiliary elements, was replaced by a network of equivalent structural elements.”

Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov was the first in the world to use hyperbolic structures in construction, 16 years earlier than the brilliant Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi.

Shukhov also invented arched roof structures with cable ties. At the end of the 19th century, he and his employees drafted a new water supply system for Moscow. More than 180 steel bridges were built according to V. G. Shukhov’s designs.

In 1897, Shukhov built a workshop for the metallurgical plant in Vyksa with spatially curved mesh sail-shaped steel shells of double-curvature floors, which has been preserved at the Vyksa metallurgical plant to this day. This is the world's first arched convex ceiling with double curvature. V. G. Shukhov invented new designs of spatial flat trusses and used them in designing the coverings of the Museum of Fine Arts (Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts), the Moscow Main Post Office, the Bakhmetyevsky Garage and other numerous buildings. In 1912-1917 V. G. Shukhov designed the floors of the halls and landing stage of the Kievsky railway station (formerly Bryansk) in Moscow and supervised its construction (span width - 48 m, height - 30 m, length - 230 m). While working on the creation of load-bearing structures, he made a significant contribution to the final design of the buildings and unwittingly acted as an architect. In the architectural appearance of the pavilions of the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896, GUM and the Kyiv Station, Shukhov’s authorship determined the most impressive features of the buildings.

During the First World War, V. G. Shukhov invented several designs of sea mines and platforms of heavy artillery systems, and designed the bathoports of sea docks.

Construction in 1919-1922 towers for the radio station on Shabolovka in Moscow was the most famous work of V. G. Shukhov. The tower is a telescopic structure 160 meters high, consisting of six mesh hyperboloid steel sections. After an accident during the construction of a radio tower, V. G. Shukhov was sentenced to death with a suspended sentence until the completion of construction. On March 19, 1922, radio broadcasts began and V.G. Shukhov was pardoned.

Regular broadcasts of Russian television through transmitters at the Shukhov Tower began on March 10, 1939. For many years, the image of the Shukhov Tower was the emblem of Soviet television and the screensaver of many television programs, including the famous “Blue Light”. Now the Shukhov Tower is recognized by international experts as one of the highest achievements of the art of construction and is classified as a world cultural heritage site.

In 1927-1929 V. G. Shukhov, taking part in the implementation of the GOELRO plan, surpassed this tower structure by building three pairs of mesh multi-tiered hyperboloid supports for crossing the Oka River of the NiGRES power line in the area of ​​​​the city of Dzerzhinsk near Nizhny Novgorod.

The Shukhov Towers in Moscow and on the Oka River are unique monuments of Russian avant-garde architecture.

The last major achievement of V. G. Shukhov was the straightening of the minaret of the ancient Ulugbek madrasah in Samarkand, which tilted during an earthquake.

V. G. Shukhov is a cyclist. Photo by unknown author from the 1880s.

Vladimir Grigorievich loved music and literature , spoke ten foreign languages. He was devoted to sports, for which he always found time (one year he was even the champion of Moscow in bicycle racing). But his greatest hobbies were chess and photography. Shukhov jokingly said: “I am an engineer by profession, but at heart I am a photographer.” His camera captured many historical episodes from the life of Moscow. Shukhov's knowledge, work and experience were highly appreciated: he was elected a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the workers of Moscow in 1927 and 1928 elected him a member of the Moscow Council of Workers' Deputies, in 1928 he was awarded the title of Hero of Labor, and in 1929 one of the first - the title of Honored Worker science and technology, laureate of the Lenin Prize. Academicians P. P. Lazarev and A. N. Krylov, in connection with the presentation of Shukhov as a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1927, wrote: “All of Shukhov’s work is based on his scientific works and is the result of deep theoretical thought.” In 1929 he was elected honorary academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

Shukhov died on February 2, 1939. He was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery more

Monument to Shukhov on Sretensky Boulevard

V.G. Shukhov. Brilliant Russian engineer-inventor.

1. Trying on "Pythagorean pants". Shukhov's ancestors, both on his mother's and father's sides, were in one way or another connected with military affairs. Mother, Vera Kapitonovna, is the daughter of second lieutenant of the Russian army Podzhidaev, her father’s ancestor received a personal title of nobility for participating in Battle of Poltava. Military environment- this is exactingness, a desire for order, the ability to cope with life's difficulties. Along with this, the desire to study and learn something new was encouraged in the family. My father was fluent in several languages, knew history very well, was interested in art, his close friend was the famous surgeon N.I. Pirogov. But, nevertheless, nothing foreshadowed the birth of a brilliant engineer in the family.

Vera Kapitonovna Shukhova.

True, the mother was amazing person, she had a special heightened intuition bordering on clairvoyance. And my father is a successful lawyer with clear logical thinking.

Grigory Petrovich Shukhov.

It was the ability to think logically and special mathematical intuition that led young Shukhov to his first success. As a 4th grade student at the Fifth St. Petersburg Gymnasium, he found a new proof of the Pythagorean theorem. The teacher looked at the portrait of the great scientist and shrugged: “Correct, but... immodest!”

"Pythagorean Pants"

2.Theory or practice?

Vladimir Shukhov. Youth.

It could be considered immodesty refusal of tempting proposals to stay at the Moscow Imperial Technical School (MITU, in the future Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School) after graduation in order to prepare for a professorship. Vladimir entered the school on the advice of his father in 1871. MITU is the best technical university Russia. Studying is incredibly difficult: a crazy program that combines fundamental physical and mathematical training with mastery of applied crafts necessary for a practicing engineer, the most stringent requirements for students, strict academic discipline. Student Shukhov not only easily copes with curriculum, he has the strength and time to invent. First student special class Vladimir Grigorievich made his first practically valuable invention: he developed his own design of a steam nozzle for burning liquid fuel and made its experimental model in the school workshops. This invention was highly appreciated by D.I. Mendeleev, who even placed an image of Shukhov’s nozzle on the cover of the book “Fundamentals of the Factory Industry” (1897). The principles of this structural system are still used today.

Shukhov is in good standing with the school’s teachers, including N.E. Zhukovsky, A.V. Letnikov, D.N. Lebedev. It was N.E. Zhukovsky makes a flattering offer to the young mechanical engineer about joint scientific and pedagogical activity at school after receiving a diploma. By the way, Shukhov did not have to prepare a diploma project. He was awarded the title of engineer “based on the totality” of his academic merits. And the famous Russian mathematician P. L. Chebyshev, an honorary member of the MITU pedagogical council, invites Shukhov to work at St. Petersburg University, to the Department of Mathematics. Shukhov refuses again. Not out of pride. Choosing between theory and practice, he chose “life,” and for him life was precisely practice.

Moreover, it was a wonderful time - the “golden age” of technology. Industry developed rapidly, posing more and more new tasks and problems for engineers. It was necessary to work at the intersection of technical “genres”, and this required encyclopedic knowledge, non-standard, sometimes paradoxical thinking and “animal” technical intuition. Engineers were a commodity; Shukhov was unique in terms of talent, education, and ability to work.

Moscow Imperial Technical School.

3. Shukhov - Bari. Who makes money from whom?

His future employer, Alexander Veniaminovich Bari, an American entrepreneur with Russian roots, immediately understood this. And he literally grabbed hold of him. They met in America, where Shukhov came for a year-long internship after IMTU. And on next year Bari was already in Russia, where he opened his own office, offering Shukhov the position of chief engineer. And Shukhov, who rejected more prestigious work, agreed. Moreover, the money he was given was not very large. The company flourished, its annual turnover reached 6 million rubles per year. The amount was fabulous for those times. The prosperity of the office had virtually no effect on Shukhov’s fees.

Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov.

Alexander Veniaminovich Bari.

"My personal life and the life and fate of the office were one whole... They say A.V. Bari exploited me. This is right. Legally, I always remained a hired employee of the office. My labor was paid modestly in comparison with the income that the office received from my labor. But I also exploited him, forcing him to carry out even my most daring proposals! I was given the choice of orders, spending funds in the agreed amount, selecting employees and hiring workers. In addition, A.V. Bari was not only a clever entrepreneur, but also a good engineer who knew how to evaluate the novelty of a technical idea. Which of the entrepreneurs of that time would have undertaken the construction of the pavilions of the Nizhny Novgorod exhibition in six months, if they, even when built, raised doubts about their reliability? I had to endure wage injustices for the sake of engineering creativity.

My main condition for working in the office is to win a profitable order under the contract, and at the expense of a lower one. than competitors, cost and more short terms execution and at the same time provide the office with a profit no lower than that of other offices. The choice of the competition theme is up to me."

Bari paid Shukhov for ideas, for knowledge, and ultimately for profit. Shukhov, without demanding a lot of money, paid for his own happiness with his talent - the opportunity to engage in projects that were interesting to him.

4. Chekhov's rival.

Money was never something particularly important for Vladimir Grigorievich. Not when he was a “free, unmarried Cossack,” nor when in 1893, at the age of 40, he married 19-year-old Anna Nikolaevna Medintseva and “grew up” with a large family. His wife came from an ancient but impoverished Akhmatov family, being, by the way, a distant relative of Anna Andreevna Akhmatova. Despite her youth and the age difference with her husband, Anna Nikolaevna turned out to be very wise woman and managed to create a good family and a wonderful home.

Dining room in the house of V.G. Shukhov in Skaterny Lane. 1900. At the table, Vladimir Grigorievich’s mother Vera Kapitonovna and wife Anna Nikolaevna.

Vera and Sergei Shukhov in a house on Smolensky Boulevard. 1912.

But there was another romantic story in the life of Vladimir Grigorievich. His first love is Olga Leonardovna Knipper, the future wife of A.P. Chekhov. Young Olga was friends with his sisters. Their romance lasted two years and left a deep mark on their souls. “I entered the stage with the firm conviction that nothing would ever tear me away from it, especially since personal life the tragedy of the disappointment of my first young feeling passed through me..." - Olga Leonardovna wrote in her memoirs.

O.L. Knipper.

Olga Leonardovna Knipper (center), V.G. Shukhov’s sisters Olga (left) and Alexandra, Konstantin Leonardovich Knipper at the dacha in Vishnyaki. 1885.

5. From grateful oil workers. In the 90s of the 19th century, Shukhov was forced to change the climate for health reasons and, on a “tip” from A.V. Bari, went south to Baku. Baku was then the oil capital of Russia. Although the oil industry was just getting back on its feet. Kerosene used for lighting purposes was considered a valuable component of oil. Gasoline was sold in pharmacies as a stain remover. Lubricating oils made from petroleum were also not in demand. Many problems arose. It is not clear what to do with the huge amount of waste material - fuel oil. Where to store oil, how to transport it? Don’t carry it on donkeys and camels in wineskins, spilling exactly half of it on the way to your destination. General impression M. Gorky expressed the process of oil production with his characteristic imagery: “The oil fields remained in my memory as a brilliantly made picture of a gloomy hell. This picture suppressed all the fantastic inventions of a frightened mind that were familiar to me...”

This is the state of affairs that Shukhov found when he arrived in Baku to improve his health.Not tolerant creative downtime Vladimir Grigorievich got down to business. And in a short time the “oil girl” was fully “equipped”.

The transformations affected the entire chain: production, storage, transportation, processing.

When extracting oil, Shukhov proposed using compressed air, wittily calling his invention an airlift - an air lift. I solved the storage problem by building large riveted tanks that were as cheap and economical as possible. Transportation relied on three pillars: tankers for transportation across the Caspian Sea, huge riveted river barges and oil pipelines. Oil tankers were built according to Shukhov's drawings. For oil pipelines, Shukhov developed and put into practice the basics of oil hydraulics. The “Shukhov Formula”, which substantiates the most rational way of pumping oil through an oil pipeline, is still used today.

Finally, the first steam nozzle for burning oil and oil waste was put into production and the cracking process was patented - a method of producing gasoline and kerasin from oil residues by splitting large molecules into smaller ones. high temperature and under pressure. Shukhov received a patent in 1891. But grateful humanity was able to appreciate all the genius of the invention of the cracking process later, 25 years later, when a huge number of insatiable cars appeared, demanding gasoline, gasoline, gasoline...

Ancient riveted oil tank Shukhovan railway station in the city of Vladimir

6. “Hyperboloid of engineer Shukhov” - crooked from straight or at the forefront of the avant-garde. Shukhov often “worked for the future,” ahead of his time. Although, he never invented anything just like that, “out of nothing to do.” He called himself a "man of life." Life was his main muse. She posed questions to him, she helped him find answers. He often learned from nature. “What looks beautiful is durable. The human gaze is accustomed to the proportions of nature, and in nature what survives is what is durable and purposeful.” A simple basket of willow twigs, turned upside down, gave Shukhov the idea of ​​​​creating openwork structures, and the fundamental mathematics education gave "allowed" to recognize in it a hyperboloid of revolution. This is how Shukhov’s famous steel mesh shells and hyperboloid towers were born, in which curved surfaces are formed by straight elements.

The “debut” of mesh shells as components of buildings took place at the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896 in Nizhny Novgorod. This was a completely extraordinary event, which was supervised by Emperor Nicholas II. There was a lot to see. Suffice it to say that at this exhibition, or rather next to it, for example, the famous “Princess of Dreams” by Vrubel was exhibited. Nevertheless, Shukhov’s pavilions were the most popular. Huge pieces of iron web “incorporeally” hanging above my head stunned my imagination. The most amazing thing was that this web was still “draped” in bizarre folds.

Construction of an oval pavilion with a mesh steel hanging covering for the All-Russian Exhibition of 1896 in Nizhny Novgorod, photo by A. O. Karelina, 1895

V. G. Shukhov built eight pavilions with the world’s first ceilings in the form of mesh shells, the world’s first ceiling in the form of a steel membrane (Shukhov Rotunda) and the world’s first hyperboloid tower of amazing beauty (it was purchased after the exhibition by philanthropist Yu. S. Nechaev-Maltsov and moved to his estate Polibino (Lipetsk region), has survived to the present day.

Rotunda Shukhov at the Nizhny Novgorod exhibition. 1896.

The world's first hyperboloid Shukhov tower, Nizhny Novgorod, photo by A. O. Karelina, 1896

This was a real breakthrough, not only in engineering, but also in architecture. It was Shukhov’s architectural ideas that were picked up by such famous architects as A. Gaudi, La Corbusier and O. Niemeyer. They used hyperboloid structures in their work. And representatives of much later high-tech, Buckminster Fullery and Norman Foster, finally introduced mesh shells into modern construction practice, and in the 21st century shells became one of the main means of shaping avant-garde buildings...

By the way, the Shukhov Tower is now recognized by international experts as one of the highest achievements of engineering art. And the International Scientific Conference “Heritage at Risk. Preservation of 20th Century Architecture and World Heritage,” held in April 2006 in Moscow with the participation of more than 160 specialists from 30 countries, in its declaration named the Shukhov Tower among seven architectural masterpieces of the Russian avant-garde recommended for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Radio tower on Shabolovka.

Shukhov also invented arched roof structures with cable ties. The glass vaults of V. G. Shukhov over the largest Moscow stores have survived to this day: the Upper Trading Rows (GUM) and the Firsanovsky (Petrovsky) Passage.

Metal-glass floors GUM designed by Shukhov, Moscow

GUM floors.

Hotel "Metropol"

Hotel "Metropol". Interior.

And V.G. Shukhov came up with new designs of spatial flat trusses and used them in designing the coverings of the Museum of Fine Arts (Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts), the Moscow Main Post Office, the Bakhmetyevsky Garage and other numerous buildings. In 1912-1917 V. G. Shukhov designed the floors of the halls and the landing stage of the Kievsky railway station (formerly Bryansk) in Moscow and supervised its construction (span width - 48 m, height - 30 m, length - 230 m).

Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin.

Moscow post office.

7. Give me a point of support and I... will put the tower of Ulugbek in place. In 1417-1420, a remarkably beautiful madrasah of the famous eastern astronomer and mathematician Ulugbek was built in Samarkand. It was bordered by two minarets. Time passed and the minarets went on a spree. Especially the northeast one. It deviated from the vertical by more than 1.5 m. The people of Samarkand looked at it with alarm, rightly fearing that one fine day the minaret would collapse on their heads. In 1918 it was secured with cables. The wind howled in the cable-strings of the “damn guitar,” as the Samarkand residents now called the minaret. It got on their nerves. And it is unknown how it would have ended if Vladimir Grigoryevich Shukhov had not come to the aid of the exhausted Samarkand residents in 1932. He decided to return the minaret to initial position. He was 79 years old at that time, and this was, if not his most difficult project, then at least one of the most spectacular.

V.G. Shukhov straightens the Ulugbek minaret. Friendly cartoon by Sukhov.

He was not only the author of the project, but also supervised the work. Although many did not believe in the success of the enterprise. Compatriots doubted silently, convinced previous works engineer in the infallibility of the slogan: “Shukhov said, Shukhov did.” Foreigners allowed themselves the courage to express seditious thoughts out loud: “This is too daring. This is contrary to the laws of universal gravity. The minaret will collapse as soon as they begin to lift it.”

Ulugbek madrasah. Samarkand.

After 3 days, the minaret was already standing strictly vertically. Vladimir Shukhov solved the problem. With the help of jacks and winches, as always, without using a single extra person.

Minaret of Ulugbek madrasah. Fragment.

8. Life as a bonus for work.

Shukhov himself, by the way, did not doubt the success of the enterprise for a second. He is used to calculating everything “with millimeter accuracy.” “There was no risk in completing the order. The destruction of the structure is not only a loss for the office, but also the loss of my engineering authority, the loss of the opportunity for independent creativity, which means the end creative life"Sometimes the question was even more acute. Not only creativity was at stake, but also physical life. This was the case during the construction of Shukhov’s most famous brainchild - the radio tower on Shabolovka. In 1919, Shukhov developed a project. The beautiful tower should rise to a height of 350m, eclipsing its French rival - the Eiffel Tower (305m), while weighing almost three times less. But the country is in devastation, famine, civil war, and there is not enough metal. The height is limited to 160 meters (6 spans instead of 9). Sections - spans must be assembled on the ground and, using winches, lifted to the top one by one. Shukhov makes calculations. As his colleagues recall, he usually did not trust anyone with this matter. At the same time, he operated with approximate round numbers, but later he certainly made an amendment that made the result clear and unmistakable. As always. But this time the unexpected happens. The fourth section collapses. damaging the lower three when falling. Representatives of the Cheka appear at the scene of events. Their verdict is swift, categorical and unjust - execution. For sabotage. There are no brave people to take Shukhov’s place. He is offered to continue working. The execution is postponed. The employees are terrified. "How can you work when every mistake threatens mortal danger"No mistakes," Shukhov answers and, as always, throws himself into his work. By the way, as a commission more competent than the Cheka will later establish, there were no mistakes, there was “fatigue” of low-quality metal. Everything will end in another success.

But the brilliant engineer will continue to walk, even despite government awards.“on the edge of a knife”, under the articles: his sons participated in the White movement, through the naval department Shukhov collaborated with A. Kolchak in 1917. Yes, and undoubted talent is not a reason for persecution. Fortunately, Vladimir Grigorievich had no time to think about this, he worked too much. “We must work regardless of politics. Towers, boilers, rafters are needed, and we will be needed.”

“With great excitement I remember my life spent near V.G. Shukhov. Every day, hour, every minute was full of happiness and enthusiasm of discovery. I did not have time to wrap my head around everything I saw and heard. And he, this thinker, told everyone generously gave, generously poured in, as if from a cornucopia, everything new and new, one more interesting and more brilliant than the other,” recalled A.P. Balankin, who worked in the office for more than 40 years and was the main producer of work on the construction of the Shabolovskaya Tower.

Radio tower on Shabolovka.

9. In the same ranks with Leonardo. Shukhov, indeed, bombarded his colleagues with a heap of new ideas in completely various areas human activity, reminiscent of the power of his talent and the scope of the great Leonardo da Vinci, the “chief engineer” of the Renaissance. He was certainly a "Renaissance" man. By talent, breadth of knowledge and interests. It is difficult to list his inventions; the list will be huge. It is equally difficult to list his “non-work” hobbies. Literature, art, music. Shukhov loved the theater. By the way, he designed the world's first rotating stage for the Moscow Art Theater.

Photography has always remained Vladimir Grigorievich’s great passion. “I’m an engineer by profession, but a photographer at heart.” He left a huge collection of the most talented, unique photos and negatives. Family history, Moscow history, country history.

And, of course, sports. Shukhov was an avid athlete. In winter - skates and skis, in summer - bicycles. Moreover, Vladimir Grigorievich was involved in cycling, one might say at a professional level - he took part in races. They say that one day A.V. Bari, who wandered into the Manege to watch the competition, suddenly recognized with horror his chief engineer in the red-haired winner.

Self-portrait on a trapeze near a house on Smolensky Boulevard. 1910.

Sport helped to maintain excellent physical shape, necessary for life and work. Shukhov lived to work and worked to live.

10. Care. Once upon a time, many years ago, Vladimir Grigorievich’s mother, Vera Kapitonovna, dreamed horrible dream- a son engulfed in flames in the family crypt. She waved away the terrible vision. Unfortunately, the dream turned out to be prophetic. Shukhov was working in his office. The overturned candle set his clothes on fire. Burns covered a third of the body. For 5 days doctors fought for his life. But he failed to help. On February 2, 1939, Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov died.

He left to his descendants open laws, derived formulas, perfect mechanisms, beautiful buildings, bridges, boilers, photographs... and faith in limitless possibilities human mind.

Materials used: tower on Shabolovka

When Vladimir Shukhov was building a radio tower on Shabolovka, he was sentenced to suspended execution due to a technical accident. Then the world-famous openwork hyperboloid structure (“Shukhov hyperboloid”) served as a symbol and emblem of the great achievements of the USSR. At the same time, the tower has never been properly repaired in 92 years. Now the rusting and crumbling monument of engineering represents real threat. Everyone understands that something needs to be done with it, but no one knows exactly how.

The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation has prepared a bill on moving the Shukhov Tower to a new location and carrying out repair and restoration work “in restoration mode.” Repair and restoration work after moving the tower, according to the project, will include dismantling and subsequent restoration of the object in a new location in volumes and proportions repeating the structure built in 1922. The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the capital's government are asked to prepare sources of funding by May 1, 2014, where the tower will be moved.

Russian Leonardo

Last year, 2013, was declared in the architectural world as the year of Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov - on August 28, the “first engineer of Russia,” the great designer and inventor, the “Russian Leonardo da Vinci” turned 160 years old. And most importantly, what was discussed at all conferences and round tables, exhibitions and meetings: Shukhov’s buildings are under threat today.

“There is a lot of talk, books are published, but Shukhov’s legacy, visual and engineering, is disappearing before our eyes,” says the engineer’s great-grandson, his namesake Vladimir Shukhov, who heads the Shukhov Tower Foundation.

Not only the tower on Shabolovka, but also other objects of Shukhov, of which hundreds were built, but only a few remain, are in a state of varying degrees of neglect. The world's first hyperboloid tower, built by Shukhov for the Nizhny Novgorod exhibition in 1896, is also corroded by rust. It was bought by the merchant-philanthropist Nechaev-Maltsov for his estate in Lipetsk region, and by some miracle she has survived there to this day.

At the metallurgical plant in Vyksa, a unique monument of industrial architecture is rotting - a workshop with the world’s first sail-shaped steel mesh ceilings-shells of double curvature.

Come on Vyksa - the Melnikov-Shukhov garage on Novoryazanskaya Street in Moscow needs serious restoration. And the fate of unique metal-glass ceilings Pushkin Museum, built by Shukhov, in connection with the upcoming reconstruction remains very vague.

They say that Shukhov came up with his hyperboloids after seeing an overturned wicker basket. It was a revolution in engineering and architecture - with the help of this basket, he came up with a way to build strong and stable structures of any height with minimal material. This is exactly how all the most complex high-tech structures are built to this day - be it TV towers or skyscrapers. Mesh structures are even used in rocket science.

Shukhov and black gold

Strictly speaking, Shukhov was not an architect, did not have a special education, but in all architectural textbooks, in all international reference books you will find his name in the most honorable place. Its design is incredibly light, durable and economical (three times less metal was used per unit height of the Shukhov Tower than per unit height Eiffel Tower), they are mechanically brilliant, but they are also visual masterpieces. All leading modern architects, including Norman Foster, who is so beloved in Moscow, use these ideas in their designs.

“Now professions are being isolated - architect separately, designer separately, calculation specialist separately. And this man did everything brilliantly,” admires Andrei Bokov, president of the Union of Russian Architects. He compares Shukhov to Steve Jobs. Only if the American anticipated the computer revolution by decades, then Shukhov, in his opinion, “impeccably accurately predicted the fate of the profession, the country, the world for 150 years, and maybe even further.”

Not only his brilliant mind and fundamental education, but also the easy, adventurous character of the engineer allowed him to make the most daring discoveries. When Shukhov wanted to know how a living organism works, he entered the medical academy and studied for two years. If he was interested in something, he immediately plunged into it headlong.

Contemporaries called Shukhov a “factory man.” The engineer himself came up with another definition - “symphonic thinking.”

Most often Shukhov is compared to Leonardo da Vinci. He really made his mark in many areas: oil and gas, military and maritime affairs, construction, mechanics, mathematics. Only, unlike Italian genius, Shukhov realized almost all of his discoveries.

At the end of the 19th century, Shukhov invented cracking, a method of oil refining that is used all over the world to this day. He also built the first oil pipeline in Russia. In a sense, all of our current well-being was built thanks to the engineer Shukhov.

“But how much more he could have done! If you imagine, it’s breathtaking,” says Andrei Bokov. “But he left on takeoff.”

The towers were demolished

What is happening to Shukhov’s legacy today can be explained by the “diseases” of our time.

“2003. A meeting is being held at the Moscow City Hall to mark the 150th anniversary of Shukhov’s birth, guests from 25 countries have arrived, in the Luzhkov Presidium, everything is wonderful, everyone says that Shukhov’s legacy must be preserved. The State Duma adopts a corresponding resolution. At the same time “The Shukhov Tower in Podolsk has been demolished for a year,” recalls the engineer’s great-grandson. A bus stop was built on the site of the tower.

Soon the beautiful water tower in the center of Yaroslavl was demolished. Miraculously, the last of the six transmission towers on the Oka River was saved - it is this tower that European experts today consider the pinnacle of Shukhov’s engineering creativity. Until recently there were two towers, but the second one was simply dismantled for scrap metal.

The fate of the radio tower in Moscow causes the greatest sadness, melancholy and even despair among specialists. The 90th anniversary of the start of operation of the world-famous Shukhov Tower on Shabolovka was widely celebrated in March 2012. This 150-meter structure, which once amazed with its strength, lightness and beauty, met its honorary anniversary in a pre-crash state. Its condition is worsening every day and threatens not only the masterpiece of design, but also the surrounding houses and people.

The examination revealed that today the foundation of the Shukhov Tower and its components are almost completely damaged by corrosion, which can no longer be stopped. Moreover, the surveys were carried out three years ago, and most likely, during this time the condition of the tower worsened even more.

A few years ago, experts warned that restoration could not be postponed: “the condition of the tower is unacceptable and poses a danger to equipment and people.”

Everyone agrees that Shukhov’s legacy must be preserved. But no one knows how to do this: no one has yet received any reasonable proposals on how to stop the corrosion of the Shukhov Tower and not turn it into a cheap remake.

“There are no and cannot be simple solutions here. We must understand that these are non-renewable valuables, antiques, every millimeter of which is important to preserve if possible.” “We have lost interest in fine work, a sense of the value of the material with which we are dealing, and in ingenious solutions,” complains Andrei Bokov, president of the Union of Russian Architects.

An interesting detail: restorers discovered a factory where steel was poured for the Shukhov Tower in 1919. Then he was in Germany, now it is the territory of Poland. So, the plant not only still operates, but also produces, among other things, the same steel as it did then, almost a hundred years ago. A good example of careful preservation of the past.

Ladimir Shukhov was called by his contemporaries a “factory man” and a “Russian Leonardo.” He developed the oil industry and construction, heating engineering and shipbuilding, military and restoration affairs. According to his drawings, oil pipelines were laid and river tankers were designed, towers were erected and factories were built.

“Man of Life” Vladimir Shukhov

Vladimir Shukhov was born in 1853 in the district town of Grayvoron, Kursk province. His mother came from an ancient noble family, my father worked as a lawyer and auditor at the Ministry of Finance. The family was not rich and lived on the salary of the head of the family. My father was often transferred during his service: first to Kursk, then to St. Petersburg.

At the age of 11, Vladimir Shukhov entered the Fifth St. Petersburg Gymnasium. Even then the boy showed the ability to exact sciences, especially in mathematics. In fourth grade, he created his own proof of the Pythagorean theorem - logical and concise.

In 1871, Shukhov graduated from high school with honors. He entered the Moscow Imperial Technical School (today - Bauman Moscow State Technical University). Among his teachers were the famous mathematician Alexei Letnikov, a scientist in the field of railway transport mechanics Dmitry Lebedev, and the founder of modern hydro- and aerodynamics Nikolai Zhukovsky. They required students to have an impeccable knowledge of physics and chemistry, mathematics and architecture. Vladimir Shukhov was a diligent student: he read further reading, worked with enthusiasm in the school’s workshops. In 1874 he created his first invention, which was practically valuable. It was a steam nozzle for burning liquid fuel. This small detail made the process safer, more convenient and more economical.

Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov - high school student. Photo: arran.ru

Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov - student of the Moscow Imperial technical school in Moscow. 1875. Photo: arran.ru

Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov - engineer. 1877. Photo: arran.ru

In 1876, Shukhov graduated from college with a gold medal. Nikolai Zhukovsky invited him to teach and do science together, and famous mathematician Pafnutiy Chebyshev invited me to work at St. Petersburg University. However, Shukhov was not attracted theoretical research, he dreamed of inventing. "I am a man of life"“, he said, that’s why he decided to become a practical engineer.

In the same year, Vladimir Shukhov, as the best graduate of the Imperial School, went to the USA for a year as part of a scientific delegation. There was a lot to learn in America: the latest technical ideas were rapidly introduced here, and huge amounts of money from various charitable foundations were spent on engineering developments.

Founder of the oil industry

A year later, Vladimir Shukhov returned to St. Petersburg, where he got a job in the drawing bureau of the Warsaw-Vienna railway. Gray everyday life began. However, soon the life of the young engineer changed dramatically. He was found by successful entrepreneur Alexander Bari, whom Shukhov met back in America. Bari concluded a lucrative contract with the Nobel brothers partnership, owners of the Baku oil fields, and invited Shukhov to head the branch of his company in Baku. The young engineer agreed.

When Shukhov arrived at the Baku field, he saw disorganization, numerous fires and oil slush. Oil was extracted in buckets and transported in barrels. Kerosene was then considered the only useful product from it - it was used for lighting needs. And gasoline and fuel oil obtained during the production of kerosene were considered industrial waste. Gasoline evaporated, and fuel oil was poured into pits, which polluted the surrounding nature.

The twenty-five-year-old engineer began to introduce his innovations into production. He installed steam nozzles and cylindrical tanks on the equipment, and designed the first pipeline for pumping oil.

Oil station of the V.I. Partnership Ragozin and Co. in Konstantinov on the Volga. Built according to the design of V.G. Shukhov construction office of engineer A.V. Bari. 1881. Photo: arran.ru

Reservoirs of the Lebed Shipping Company Partnership in Tsaritsyn on the Volga. Built according to the design of V.G. Shukhov construction office of engineer A.V. Bari. 1882. Photo: arran.ru

The beginning of the oil pipeline route, about 3 kilometers long, in the city of Batumi from the Y. Nashauer reservoir station. Built according to the design of V.G. Shukhova. 1886. Photo: arran.ru

But most importantly, Vladimir Shukhov discovered the cracking process, which made it possible to separate oil into fractions. Now, when distilling it, it was possible to obtain not only kerosene, but also motor oils, diesel fuel, fuel oil, and gasoline. The first in the world industrial installation continuous thermal cracking of oil was designed and patented by Vladimir Shukhov together with his assistant Sergei Gavrilov in 1891. His invention began to be used more widely a little later, when it appeared a large number of cars running on gasoline.

Vladimir Shukhov worked in the Bari office for almost half a century. Here he had the freedom of action so necessary for any inventor.

"Factory Man"

In the early 1890s, a period of greatest prosperity began in the life of Vladimir Shukhov, which one of his employees later called “a complete triumph of intelligence and wit.” The engineer began to devote more time to the field of metal structures. Shukhov developed this interest when he was working on the design of the ceilings of the Upper Trading Rows (today GUM) on Red Square in Moscow. For the roof of the building, he created unique translucent ceilings - arched truss structures. Weight iron parts the rafters were more than 800 tons, but, as composer Alexander Razmadze wrote, “the appearance of the grid of floors was something so light and thin that it looked from below like a cobweb with glass embedded in it”.

In 1896, at the All-Russian Art and Industrial Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir Shukhov presented several of his inventions in the field of metal structures: the already well-known arched truss and new mesh coverings. Also at the exhibition was a hyperboloid water tower invented by an engineer. To create it, Shukhov took two metal rings and connected them with equal-sized slings, and then rotated the rings relative to each other. Absolutely straight lines formed a curved figure - a single-sheet hyperboloid. The design invented by Shukhov was elegant and durable, yet simple and cheap to assemble: its construction required only metal base rings, straight slats and fasteners.

The building of the construction and engineering departments with a mesh covering system engineer Vladimir Shukhov. Photo: arran.ru

The water tower was built according to the design of engineer V.G. Shukhov for the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod. Photo: arran.ru

Bridge over the Yenisei River in Krasnoyarsk. Built according to the design of V.G. Shukhova. Construction manager Evgeniy Karlovich Knorre, civil engineer. 1899. Photo: arran.ru

After the Nizhny Novgorod exhibition, Vladimir Shukhov began to receive numerous orders. The engineer designed and built hundreds of water towers, built several railway bridges with spans, compiled new project water supply of Moscow. He invented new designs of spatial flat trusses and used them in designing the coverings of the Museum of Fine Arts (Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts), the Moscow Main Post Office, the Bakhmetyevsky Garage, the halls and landing stages of the Kievsky Station in Moscow.

After the coup d'etat of 1917, Shukhov rejected numerous invitations from abroad. He wrote in his diary: “We must work regardless of politics. Towers, boilers, rafters are needed, and we will be needed". The Bari company and plant were nationalized, Shukhov was evicted from the mansion. Difficult times have come for the engineer and his family.

“Father [Vladimir Shukhov] lived at Soviet power not sweet. He was an opponent of autocracy and did not put up with it during the Stalinist era, which he foresaw long before it began. I didn’t know Lenin closely, but I had no love for him. He told me more than once: “Understand that everything we do is not needed by anyone or anything. Our actions are controlled by ignorant people with red books, pursuing unclear goals" Several times my father was on the brink of destruction.”

Sergey Shukhov

In 1920 he went to prison younger son Shukhova. To free him, the engineer handed over Soviet state all their patents are worth 50 million in gold. The son was released, but he was so exhausted and exhausted that he never came to his senses and died. That same year, the engineer’s mother died, followed by his wife.

Shabolovskaya TV tower. Built according to the design of Vladimir Shukhov. 1920–1922. Photo: places.moscow

However, Vladimir Shukhov continued to work hard, for which his contemporaries nicknamed him “the factory man.” The inventor designed a tower for the radio station on Shabolovka in Moscow: it consisted of six mesh hyperboloid steel sections 160 meters high. On March 19, 1922, the first radio broadcasts began to be broadcast from it. An architectural masterpiece of the avant-garde era not only fulfills its functions - the Shukhov Tower is included in the List of cultural monuments with protected status and is recommended for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Hyperboloid towers of this design are still being built today in many countries around the world.

All large soviet construction sites the first five-year plans were associated with the name of Vladimir Shukhov. The engineer participated in the implementation of the country's electrification plan: he created the tower structure of the power transmission line across the Oka River. He designed the open-hearth shops of the Vyksa, Petrovsky, Taganrog plants, the Azovstal plant, and launched the Soviet Cracking plant in Baku.

In 1929, Vladimir Shukhov received the Lenin Prize for the invention of the oil cracking process, in 1932 - the star of the Hero of Labor and became a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences, and then an honorary academician. He continued to work until the end of his days.

Vladimir Shukhov died in 1939. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.