Human Housing (title): A descriptive title for the panels of images on page four that flow from left to right, towards page 5, in technology and chronological precedence. This sets up the following page as a “next step” from past forms housing from all around the world to a new kind of Soviet housing. This reflects marxist theory in the idea that communism is the final and best form of society build upon the iterations of others. https://www.marxists.org/archive/fromm/works/1961/man/ch02.htm

Shelter Under a Tree

“Make models of these buildings” (instructions to reader). Here, the child is encouraged to engage with the book and follow constructive directions, rather than only read or be passively entertained. The "do it yourself" model was a key feature of the Soviet children's book, from El Lissitzky's iconic Suprematist Tale of Two Squares (1922) to A Book-Film-Performance About How the Pioneer Hans Saved the Strike Committee, which instructions children in the making of their own cinema at home. See more selections here: https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/collex/exhibits/soviet-imaginary/technology/do-it-yourself/

Log Cabin

Stilt-houses appeared (in modern-day Germany) as early as the Bronze Age. Once again, this housing type looks different from the traditional Russian village dwelling: the izba. Stilt-houses in Russia were found in Kamchatka but differed from the home seen here. It’s important to note that such a structure would likely not be sole-standing but rather surrounded by other, similar homes.

The four-storey low-rise is a staple of early European construction found all over Europe. Such buildings were likely found only in a few select Russian cities and could be associated with pre-Revolution modernisation, which progressed relatively slowly and left Russia lagging behind its European counterparts.