The history of Russian architecture dates back to the grand churches of the Kievan Rus, with its monumental structures heavily influenced by the Byzantines, and continues on to the Italian Renaissance-influenced Kremlin cathedrals of the Early Muscovite Period, the Baroque stylings of Imperial Russia, the Constructivist design of the Post-Revolution, and the conservative monumentalism of the postwar Soviet Union.

It wasn't until the 1980s that the Falling Block school of architecture was unveiled. This innovative technique involved blocks (actually structures made of four identically-sized cubes) being dropped inside of a transparent well and manipulated in mid-air before they reach their destination. Hailed for its juxtaposition of simplicity and chaotic unpredictability, the style quickly spread to America and Japan and enjoys worldwide popularity to this day.