Analogs of Soviet Khrushchevs in different countries: how panel high-rise buildings "spread" around the world

I live in a small Siberian town with a population of 120 thousand people. Construction in our country is not very active, therefore the lion's share of housing is made up of old brick and panel five-story buildings. The latter, which once received the name "Khrushchev", are very popular among young families. The apartments here, though small, are inexpensive - it is quite possible to get a mortgage.

Walking along the quiet streets of our provincial town, I involuntarily wonder if developed countries also have analogues of our Khrushchevs? It's time to find the answer to this entertaining question.

According to some sources, the country of origin of panel high-rise buildings is Holland. After the end of the First World War, social housing areas began to be built there. They were close to each other "panels" with narrow dark courtyards. Later, the quarters took on a more comfortable look. Houses began to be built in an orderly manner and at an acceptable distance from each other. However, massive panel construction began in the country only after World War II.

As for post-war Germany, the housing issue there was especially acute. The country needed new building technologies with fast and inexpensive construction of houses. The best solution was the East German "panels" called Plattenbau. The first house of this type was built in 1953. And already four years later, the construction of panel high-rise buildings became widespread in the country. The lion's share of such houses is concentrated in Berlin. At the end of the 20th century, a program for their modernization was launched.

By the way, several panel Khrushchevs were also reconstructed in my town. The facades were put in order, painted them in bright colors, and the roof was replaced. Now these seemingly doll houses have become a decoration of the city.

Surprisingly, even in modern Paris there is a typical Khrushchev quarter. The suburban area called Clichy-sous-Bois is deservedly considered one of the most depressed places in the country. Several centuries ago, a Templar village was located there. And in the middle of the last century, mass construction of budget housing started. Today, the area is a haven for migrants, where unemployment and crime are rampant. Thanks to the riots a few years ago, this suburban area of ​​Paris became famous throughout the world.

In general, panel construction gained wide popularity in Europe in the middle of the last century. Budget houses of a typical type, like tin soldiers, grew up in the cities of Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic. By the way, in the latter they were called "pannelaks" and were compared with cages for rabbits due to their very modest dimensions. I would also agree with this comparison. After all, Soviet Khrushchev apartments are also distinguished by tiny kitchenettes and very modest rooms, moreover, walk-throughs.

In my case, when choosing an apartment, the presence of separate passages almost played a decisive role. Therefore, our family does not live in a "panel", but in an old brick five-story building. The kitchen here, although scanty, but the rooms are not walk-through and in winter it is quite warm. What house do you live in? How do you feel about the good old "Khrushchevs"?