Monotowns A photographic exploration of the Soviet monotowns urban settlements erected around single industries in the hinterlands of the former USSR ; some thriving others struggling to survive still others partially abandoned. Through nine chapters with over 130 photographs taken by Russian photographer Alexander Veryovkin Monotowns by Zupagrafika captures the post industrial landscapes and Soviet era architecture of the monogorods extending from the Arctic Circle to the Russian Far East such as Vorkuta Norilsk Mirny Kirovsk Tolyatti Cherepovets Magnitogorsk Monchegorsk and Nikel and the daily lives of their inhabitants. Includes informative texts providing a valuable insight into the urban development of the featured cities and a foreword by the architectural critic Konstantin Budarin. Monotowns is a follow up to Concrete Siberia and Eastern Blocks. On this occasion Zupagrafika expanded their research onto the Russian monocities and invited Alexander to capture a selection of them. The pictures featured here were taken over a two year period during winter with temperatures reaching 35° Celsius in some locations