Why were fences with rhombuses made in the USSR? The secret of rhombuses and the history of the fence

In the USSR, they knew how to erect solid buildings and fences. Everyone is probably familiar with the diamond fence. And they still use it. The concrete fence was invented and created by the architect Boris Rakhman. In the 70s, they set the task to develop a project for a beautiful and durable fence.

The architect and his team made 3 options to choose from. However, the authorities chose the fence with rhombuses, although the author himself liked the fence with imitation of brickwork.

For the development of the diamond-shaped fence, Boris Rokhman was awarded a bronze medal and a cash gift - 50 rubles.

According to the stories of the developer of the fence, he saw the money right away, but the medal had to wait 10 years. He received it in America, where he moved with his family in 1981, when the opportunity arose. There he had to pass an exam, confirm a diploma issued in the USSR, obtain a license and open his own business (1990). Prior to that, he worked for Richard Bellamy's architectural firm.

The concrete fence was designed for construction and industrial facilities. They were fenced off railway tracks, military units, construction sites, landfills, factories, etc. The fence was approved for its design and simplicity. Then the fence was modernized several times without the participation of the creators.

The fence is reinforced with wire mesh. The rhombuses (protrusions) gave additional strength. The relief pattern creates a play of light and shadow. This made the fence look more attractive. They didn't even paint it. The rain washed away easily all the dust and dirt. There is one more plus of such a fence: a noise barrier (sound reflection) is created. This was important, especially when businesses were located near residential buildings.

The architect says he doesn't understand why his diamond fence is still popular today. This is not the most ingenious thing that he has created in his fruitful life. There is no nostalgia, and he doesn't think about it at all.

My father said that the fence was convenient because it was easy to climb over it thanks to the ledges.

By the way, this fence was banned in the capital. It is proposed to replace such barriers with more elegant designs. Do you still have such fences in your city?