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BTS Series

Big thanks to Junna for making this asset possible as soon as it is, by providing the sources neccessary.

The BTS Series (Серия Объемно-блочных домов БТС) is an experimental series of prefabricated Soviet houses built in the 80's, using revolutionary volumetric-block technology. BTS was a regional project only appearing in the city of Tashkent.

The buildings in this asset have an extremely big triangle count for residential buildings (ranging between 22.5k to 17.3k) due to an aesthetic feature which I did not know how to optimize. As a result I planned to make another version of the BTS series, which would have been historically and architecturally inaccurate but more optimized.

However due to my extremely packed schedule, including but not limited to exams and general busyness, I have had way too little time to devote to myself and simply did not have the motivation to continue work on that version. As I do not want to delay this unique project any longer I will simply release it as it is currently.

Anyway, more on the asset

The BTS Series is a unique series which uses volumetric-block technology, differing from panel construction by the fact that whole blocks are completed in prefabricated factories instead of single panels, with finishing on interior walls. The block included ceiling and floor, two side walls and a front wall which had the entrance. This particular type of volumetric technology used by the BTS series is called the "lying glass" due to the resemblance of each block to a glass that was layed on its side. The size of the blocks varies between a 6m and a 4.8m long block, with the height of each being exactly 3m. The 6m blocks could also be completed with a "console balcony panel". The Series is easily identifiable by its unique shape, even from satellite imagery.

Volumetric construction was able to increase the efficiency of house-building, by decreasing labor intensity, increasing quality and improving working conditions, which allowed for greater leniency regarding planning, with BTS apartments reaching up to 6 bedrooms! Volumetric construction was also found to be much more resistant to seismic activity, being able to withstand 10-magnitude earthquakes!

Sadly the BTS Series did not catch on to mass production, as at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tashkent had only one plant producing the blocks for it, nowadays the plant has been converted into a pipe factory.

Fun fact! My Dad's uncle was the main engineer at this plant at the time of the BTS Series, and was familiar with the project. Unfortunately it has been a very long time since I last made contact with him, as their family had moved back to Russia, and my family moved away to another country. I guess this project can serve as an immortalization of his efforts.

As always, change color with the repaint tool, RICO only, without RICO its just a unique building.

The sections, despite the bas-relief on the side panels, can and should be inter-connectable using the move it mod.
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Real-life pictures used are not mine.

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Emboldened text = sections realized in this asset

Tags: Uzbekistan, Tashkent, UzSSR, Soviet, USSR, Russia, modernism, tenement, series, serial, panel, prefab, prefabricated, Central asia, eurasia, communism, socialism, commieblock, concrete, ОБД, панелька, советское, советский, панельное, ташкент, россия, ссср, снг, узбекистан, средняя азия, центральная, туркестан, модернизм