ABSTRACT
This chapter starts with an overview of the universal genesis of modernism in the world, later moving towards modernist architecture development in countries under the influence of the Soviet Union. We recall the modern movement in architecture was based on international values but seen through the lenses of the locality (building traditions, political context and social attitude towards new architecture). Particularly in CEE countries, modernism became a part of social upgrade supporting social and political transformation. New tendencies in architecture reflected the process of creating a “new man,” which is notably visible in bold structure which, due to the use of reinforced concrete, appears even to deny physical laws. They were also a tool of “cold war” rivalry between East and West, demonstrating socialist architecture to surpass capitalism. The second part will describe soc-modernist architecture after socialism through the dissonant heritage lenses. Thirty years after the collapse of the regime, the perception of such heritage is changing. Soc-modernist architecture gains in importance, although still, the public perceives it as a battlefield of values. Increasingly, the preservation policy and the attitudes of non-public property owners are changing, although at different paces depending on the local context.
