Historically speaking, what causes Slav countries to look so dystopic? Is it solely a result of communism?

>>17756908 (OP)
Brutally rapid urbanization. Under communism, people went from grain farming to factories in a single generation. That required the cheapest, densest housing available to be built ASAP.

The Asian countries weebs simp for (Japan, Korea, China) are no better in terms of urbanism, btw.

>>17756913
Korea is also a dystopia. Japan and China have soul

>>17756908 (OP)
After the fall of communism in the late 1980s and early 1990s, many Slavic countries faced turbulent transitions to market economies. Hyperinflation, unemployment and corruption eroded living standards, leaving some areas with decaying infrastructure and abandoned industrial sites. This economic stagnation amplified the "dystopic" aesthetic—think rusted factories or crumbling public spaces.

Cold harsh climate requires brutalist utilitarian approach

>>17756939
This picture is from Ukraine, which has a temperate climate similar to Hungary or Austria

>>17756908 (OP)
>Is it solely a result of communism?

>>17756913
This. Planned cities also almost always look like dehumanizing shit. Towns that are allowed to organically grow and develop/redevelop in a disorganized fashion looks actually lived-in.
>>17757004
I have to say that one of the few things I guess were alright with the USSR was the lack of advertisement in your face trying to sell you bullshit you don't want. So they plaster lewd shit or borderline false advertising to catch your eye.

>>17756913
>went from grain farming to factories in a single generation. That required the cheapest, densest housing available to be built ASAP.
Yeah but. Should be noted that op buildings were built in 70s, long after rush urbanisation and industrialisation ended. For Soviets these buildings were luxury of developed socialism, not "cheapest, densest housing".
During Stalin's industrialisation for worker were built literally barracks with bank beds. Average living space per worker was 39 sq feet, and Stalin had no plans for improving living conditions of the workers. Building infamous commieblocks started in 60s with Khrushchev's rule.
Pic related was actual "cheap dense housing of rush industrialisation".
Things were much worse than people imagine.

>>17757095
And outside view

>>17756919
They are all chink dystopias

>>17756908 (OP)
This mainly looks dystopic for one or several of the following reasons:
1. The urban areas that initially looked clean and modern decayed because of poverty and neglect. As >>17757004's picture shows, it looked much nicer when it was just built. Also, in places where local authorities have enough resources to fix it all, it looks nice even now.
2. The photos you see are often shot in deliberately bad weather, sometimes even with a gray filter. While this is true that Slavlands weather is bad most of the year, in summer, with all the greenery around, it looks much better.
3. Westerners associate places like this with crime and danger because, in the West, they are usually inhabited by the underclass and feral immigrants. In Slav countries, they are just places where ordinary people live, sometimes up to the upper middle class. You are not going to get mugged or robbed or raped when you enter a neighborhood like this because 80% of big cities look like this. And it is has all the conveniences at hand. There is usually a grocery store in the next building, it is easy to get around without a car, there are childern's playgrounds and street workout areas all around, insulation and central heating are often so good that it gets hot inside even in the middle of winter, and, unlike Western Europe, utilities like water and electricity are very cheap (at least in Russia).

So, it's okay.

>>17757004

looks like africa during and after colonialism

after fall of communism, alot of social services collapsed. in some cities, there was no more money to fund mass transit, so tram lines and bus routes were completely abandoned and vehicles were sold for scrap. minibus taxis run by mafias filled the void, but created an african vibe

>>17757171

many of the commieblocks were poorly built and looked dilapidated only a few years after their completion. after collapse of ussr, things were made worse, since there was little money for maintenance, so sometimes elevators broke down and wouldn't get fixed for years.
also, after collapse, many residents covered their balconies with glass, making them look like high rise slums. this was avoided in places like Czechia and Poland, which introduced HOAs and mandated uniform facades.

>>17756908 (OP)
>is that an apartment building? I'M GOOOING IN SAAAAAANE

>>17757004
I actually don't see anything wrong with the bottom pic. I don't know why but I get an oddly comforting feeling whenever I see buildings like this in South East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. There's a story behind all those colorful signs, a random business or company from who knows where. It's cozy

>>17757004
not the same place btw