Architectural literalism - or a macabre metaphor in concrete?

December 15, 1988

Western intelligence analysts are fascinated by the satellite image of a massive, futuristic building on the outskirts of Moscow - the Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. The curious shape of the building suggests the structure of a human DNA molecule. A rendering of the building is at right. On the left is a model of a molecule of DNA, a substance that transmits genetic characteristics.

The rendering of the Shemyakin Institute was released to the Monitor by a US government agency - its first release to the public.