Central House of Cinema

In 1908, an Alexeevsky people’s house was opened on the site of the modern CDK. It was intended as a cultural complex for the workers, sponsored and managed by the Moscow Temperance Society. Muscovites and their family members went there to watch theater shows, open readings, art and physical classes. After the revolution, the building was given to the Soviet administration for offices.[1]

In the early 1930s, Sergei Eisenstein put forward the idea to establish a cinema house in Moscow. The old building was reconstructed and reopened in 1934, its seating capacity exceeded 700.[1] Soon, a plan to construct additional floors was proposed, so CDK had to relocate. It changed several other locations in Moscow, until a final return in 1968. By then, a new building was constructed right next to the old one. It was designed by Eugene Stamo in the then fashionable Constructivism style.[2][1] A massive stained glass panel by Fernand Léger was donated by the artist's widow Nadia Khodasevich to the new venue.[3]

In the 1970s, CDK was one of the most important cultural venues in the USSR, open only to members of the Cinematographers Union or visitors with special invitations.[3][2]

in August 2022, the Union of Cinematographers announced the plan to reconstruct CDK. According to the project, the reconstructed complex will include an apartment building of 29250 square meters, while the cinema hall will be of only 4500 square meters.[2]