These Soviet bus stops are oddly beautiful
The disputed region of Abkhazia lies adjacent to Georgia. Though many have never heard of the region, Herwig says it contains many of his favorites from the collection.
Like this one, whose architect skipped designing a roof on artistic principle, Herwig says. "It's just so monumental."
Elsewhere in Abkhazia the designs are slightly more industrial.
In Kazakhstan, a bus stop resembling a mosque was erected beside a now-dried-up lake.
Much of the small-scale architecture in the country is designed with religious imagery in mind, Herwig says.
In these desolate areas, most of the structures can be dozens of miles from the nearest town or bus stop, he explains.
Often out of necessity, they are built from local materials. In Estonia, they are made of wood.
Other stops use specific color schemes to add a local flair.
In contrast to Estonia, the Belarus bus stops are typically fashioned from stone.
Shape also plays a big role, Herwig says ...
... as many of the Belarusian bus stops are triangular in design.
Other structures are given their own flair with murals and tile mosaics.
"In Ukraine, if there were a lot of sunflowers around, you'd have a bus stop with sunflowers on it," Herwig says. Local history and culture also made their way into the stops.
In Kyrgyzstan, for example, a dove's wings served as the shelter. "That's one of the more far-stretching interpretations of a bus stop I've seen," Herwig says. "I quite like it."
Others, like in Armenia's Saratak village, take a simpler approach.
Herwig came across numerous bus stops in the country, he says.
Including this one.
And this one.
And this one, located about 70 miles away in the Armenian capital city of Yerevan.
But his favorite overall is located in the Kazakhstan city of Taraz. "It kind of looks like a dog," Herwig says.
In Lithuania sits a similar design, just on a smaller scale.
No matter if it's a simple shoebox design with pastel colors or something more complex, Herwig says, the shelters are designed to delight people.
People seem to really appreciate it," he says. "I'm happy I can bring an underdog piece of art out to the forefront.
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