Why in the USSR were they massively produced slabs for fences with rhombuses?

Probably, there is no person who would not see concrete fences with an uncomplicated pattern of rhombuses. Rather, they are three-dimensional figures resembling a hip roof in shape.

The project of this fence was developed in 1974 by the architect B. Lakhman, who was then working at the Mosgorstroymaterialy Design Bureau. The design is called PO-2 (fence plate). The slabs were included in the album IZH 31-77 (prefabricated reinforced concrete fences). Dimensions of the PO-2 slab: height - 3 m, length - 2.5 m, width - 15 cm.

As part of this solution, a number of modifications of the fence plates were proposed: PO-1, PO-2, PO-3, PO-4, PO-11, PO-12, PO-13, PO-14, PO-15, PO-16... But the most popular variant turned out to be PO-2.

Weight of one slab: 1.42 tons. Volume of M200 concrete: 0.566 m3. Armature weight: 27.2 kg. The slabs are mounted in concrete boxes. But the space at the bottom of the slabs needs to be covered. Sometimes the boxes were buried so that there was no manhole under the fence. But there were also software modifications that covered the space between the supports under them.

On the second slide, there is another interesting modification of the PO-2 slab (self-contained fence EO 2.5x2.5)

Why, then, did almost all manufacturers of reinforced concrete products in the country give preference to PO-2 fencing slabs with such a pattern? Why not brick or natural stone? The fact that the concrete fence is vandal-proof is understandable. You can only spoil its appearance (by painting it with paint). It's about texture.

The first reason is that a fence with such volumetric elements does not look monotonous under side lighting. Facets that give contrast in shadow. The second reason: despite such a surface of the fence, it does not get dirty, dust or dirt does not accumulate on the surface. Whereas, in other cases, dirt could accumulate in the seams of a pattern or texture (like a brick or stone).

The third reason is that this form of fences with rhombuses was to some extent an acoustic barrier against noise.

All recording studios use foam acoustic panels also with a pyramid surface. Sound is reflected from such a surface in different directions, as if breaking into many directions with a weaker amplitude.

But, I think, the main reason for the massive use of this type of fence slabs is that it was included in the album of the IZH 31-77 series. And then all enterprises in the country adhered to GOSTs and other standards.