Soviet bus stops captured by worldly photographer Christopher Herwig

World press photographer and enthusiast of the curiously mundane Christopher Herwig struck gold when he came across the bus stops in parts of the world previously designated as part of the Soviet Union. That term conjures images of terrifying car park-like blocks and grey, intimidating statues of fists – constructions that don’t really bear any resemblance to these very odd little bus stops.

It turns out that, during the Soviet period, all designated transportation-related buildings were spared from the strict function-over-aesthetic rule, and complete creative freedom was given to the people building them, making way for murals, statues and very inventive roof structures in most stations and bus stops. Christopher Herwig’s beautiful collection shows us what is left of these structures, most of which are maintained by locals as a nod to the die-hard, bus stop creatives of the past.