Moscow Communal Courtyard as a Social Phenomenon

The relevance of this research lies in the fact that conflicts in society arise not only from political and economic miscalculations but also from poor living conditions and the collapse of the residential environment maintenance system. In Moscow, the special leisure and social zones that courtyards once served have disappeared. This article analyzes the sociocultural evolution of the Moscow courtyard as a public space. The communal courtyard became the primary unit of urban society, possessing its own distinctive architectural and planning form and spatial and symbolic significance. The courtyard community was the most stable informal institution, a site of immediate sociality, and a model for social instruction. Citizens' interactions in courtyards emphasized various forms of social interaction, honing useful behavioral stereotypes. The gigantic wave of urbanization that swept the country in the late 1950s decisively changed the appearance and structure of the familiar living environment. The first signs of the disintegration of courtyard collectivism appeared. The sociopsychological consequences manifested themselves in a sharp increase in the alienation of the urban environment, the formalization of interpersonal relationships, and increased indifference to their immediate surroundings. The study draws on a wide range of sources contained in the collections of the Central State Archives of the City of Moscow. The methodological basis of the study is a combination of general scientific and specialized historical methods. The research is based on a problematic historical analysis, taking into account the social conditions of the time.