"The world of Prechistenka and Arbat" – The new society of Moscow merchants
Prechistenka street, Arbat street and several alleys in between them became one of the most aristocratic districts of Moscow since the end of the XVII century.
Rich merchants came here to replace old aristocracy at the end of the XIX century. This cycling rote dedicated to different sides of the Moscow bourgeois’ life.
Prechistenka street, Arbat street and several alleys between them became one of the most aristocratic districts of Moscow since the end of the XVII century. The names of famous owners from the past preserved in alleys’ names - Vsevolozhsky Lopukhinsky, Eropkinsky, Gagarinsky. Luxurious mansions of Khrushchevs Lopukhins, Ofrosimovs, Davydovs are also preserved.
At the end of the XIX century bourgeoisie, rich merchants came to replace the aristocracy - Morozovs, Yakunchikovs Berg, Vtorov, Porokhovshchikov. The new owners form the present shape of the district. Former Empire style mansions reconstructed in the eclectic style, and real masterpieces of the incoming style of Art Nouveau started to appear on side streets. Bourgeois did not skimp to hire good architects - pillars of the Moscow Art Nouveau, Kekushev and Shekhtel, masters of eclecticism and Mazyrin and Boytsov build for them.
The new owners know how to use land efficiently.
Huge apartment buildings grow over the roofs of mansions increasingly. They called it real tucherezy (as in pre-revolutionary Russia were called skyscrapers). Many of them - true masterpieces of architecture. Isakov house, built by Leo Kekushev or Ya. Rekk house - a striking example of rational modernism.
New Moscow merchants think not only about money. XX century bourgeoisie engaged in charity and philanthropy, open schools, hospitals, galleries. More and more centers of attraction for intellectuals appear at Prechistenka and Arbat. This is the way the "world Prechistenka and the Arbat," builds up as Boris Pasternak said.
We are going to discuss these different aspects of Moscow bourgeoisie life during our cycling on Prechistenka, Arbat and alleys. Our first stop is 10Prechistenka street.
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1
House of general Orlov
This mansion modest for luxurious Prechistenka belonged to General Mikhail Orlov, the hero of the war in 1812, subsequently one of the Decembrists. • Pushkin - poet, writer, member of the Russian Academy • Pasternak - poet
Going down the Prechistenka and stop at the gates of the house №16. -
2
House of scientists
Nikolay Arkharov, the military governor of Moscow lived here in the end of the XVIII century. Poet Peter Vyazemskij used to call Arkharov the "last burgraf of Moscow nobility." However, the manor acquired current view during merchant's wife Konshina times. She was the last owner of the estate. • Pushkin - poet, writer, member of the Russian Academy • IA Naryshkin - Senator, Chief Master of Ceremonies • AO Gunst - architect, artist, theatrical figure ...More info
Just look through the intersection. -
3
The tenent building of Yakov Rekk
This is one of the most luxurious tenements Prechistenka. Alexander Faberge, a relative of the owner renowned jewelry firm lived here before the Revolution. His luxury apartment with high ceilings and a huge chandelier may become one of the prototypes for the "bad apartment" of Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita". • YA Rekk - financier-entrepreneur • GA Gelrih- architect • MA Bulgakov - Writer ...More info
Going down the Prechistenka and stop at the house №20 with elegant wrought little balcony. -
4
A.P. Yermolov’s apartment building
Industrialist Ushkov was the owner of the house since the beginning of the 20th century. He arranged a rehearsal hall for Alexandra Balashova, his wife, prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater. It is not surprise that the new Soviet "bourgeoisie" - the dancer Isadora Duncan and poet Sergei Yesenin have started to live here. • MFKazakov - Architect • AP Ermolov - Russian commander ...More info
Going down the Prechistenka and stop at a luxury apartment building №28. -
5
Isakova apartment building
Another luxury apartment house Prechistenka - House Isakov. A true masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture in tenement houses. Leo Kekushev designed it. Kekushev was the favorite architect of Moscow bourgeoisie. • YA Rekk - financier-entrepreneur
Go further on to the junction with Prechistenka street and Small Levshinsky alley. At the crossroads go through the crosswalk on the other side of Prechistenka. Going back to the center to house number 19. -
6
Denis Davydov’s homestead
One of the most famous manor estates Prechistenka. Nikolai Arkharov, the chief of Moscow police lived here at the end of the 18th century. But the most famous owner of the manor was Denis Davydov, a poet and partisan. Homestead was named “The House chief partisan”. • Pushkin - poet, writer, member of the Russian Academy • DV Davydov - Lieutenant General of the Russian army ...More info
We go further to Lopukhinsky lane and at the traffic lights cross Lopukhinsky lane first and then Prechistenka street. Continue to go on Prechistenka alley. -
7
Mansion of Mindovskiy
Alleys of Prechistenka area are veritable alfresco museum of Art Nouveau. The first luxury mansion of the early twentieth century in our way - the mansion of the textile industrialist Mindovsky. Registry office was located here after 1917. Sergey Yesenin and Isadora Duncan mentioned earlier have registered their marriage here. • IA Mindovsky - merchant, industrialist • NG Lazarev - Architect ...More info
Go to the next house on the alley. -
8
K.A. Gutheyl’s mansion
Lovely house with typical Art Nouveau lines and smooth herbal Lorelei head above the entrance. It is the work of William Valkot, British architect. He worked in Russia for many years. The house was built by the order of the Moscow trade and construction company for sale to wealthy citizens. • YA Rekk - financier-entrepreneur ...More info
Go to the next house on the alley. -
9
Yakunchikova mansion
The next house in the style of northern modern is another work of architect Valkot for the Moscow Commerce Building Society. Yakunchikova Maria Feodorovna (née Mamontova), the niece of the famous Savva Mamontov bought the house later. • Stanislavsky - theatrical figure • YA Rekk - financier-entrepreneur ...More info
We go to the end Pretchistensky lane, turn right into the Bolshoy Vlasyevsky and immediately left into Maly Mogiltsevsky lane. We go to the end of the Maly Mogiltsevsky lane. -
10
G.E. Broido’s apartment building
The famous Broido’s house, or as it was called by Muscovites, the “House with writers”. This house was primarily known for its bas-reliefs. There you can easily recognize Nikolai Gogol, Alexander Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy surrounded by muses of somewhat frivolous kind. What a vagaries had bourgeois of that time! ...More info
Turn left at the Plotnikov lane and immediately right to Glazovsky lane. We go on to the house 8 on Glazovsky lane -
11
List’s mansion
Another work of Leo Kekushev is the mansion of industrialist Otto List. It was considered the first building in Moscow in the Art Nouveau style. William Walcott mentioned earlier likely made panels above the entrance. Serge Koussevitzky, the conductor and founder of the "Russian music publishing" owned the house after List . • Sergei Rachmaninoff - composer • LN Kekushev - Architect ...More info
We go to the end of the Glazovsky alley and turn left on the Smolensky Boulevard. -
12
M.K. Morozova’s mansion
Luxurious mansion was built for tea merchant K. Popov, the owner of a large mall at the Kuznetsk bridge. Popov was the first to plant tea plantations in the Caucasus. However, it was rebuilt by the architect Victor Mazyrin and acquired the present form by order of the famous industrialist Mikhail Abramovich Morozov. • VA Mazyrin - Architect • IV Zholtovsky - Architect ...More info
Go down Smolensky Boulevard, at the intersection with Big Levshinsky lane turn left. Again turn left at the crossroads with the Small Levshinsky and go house number 5. -
13
S.P.Berg’s City Estate
The architect Peter Boytsov, the master of eclectic style built the mansion for SP Berg, textile industrialist and millionaire. The house became famous after the revolution. The embassy of the German Empire housed there in 1918. German Ambassador Count Wilhelm von Mirbach was killed in a mansion.
Going on Trubnikovsky Lane, turn right onto the Composers street and right again in the Big Nikolopeskovsky alley. Go left Arbat street and go to the intersection with Starokonyushny Lane, where we turn right to house number 36. -
14
Porohovschikov’s house
Wooden house built for businessman Alexander Porohovschikov by architect Andrew Gun, and became one of the first examples of pseudo-style Moskve.
Go back to the Arbat and turn right. We go to the restaurant "Prague". -
15
Prague Restaurant
Restaurant Prague opened here in the early 20th century. It was one of the few restaurants in Moscow, and therefore enjoyed continued popularity among Moscow's wealthy bourgeoisie and the intelligentsia. • AE Erichson - Architect • Ilf and Petrov - writers ...More info
We cross the street and then use underpass towards Vozdvizhenka street. Stopped in front of the house 16 Vozdvizhenka street. -
16
Arseny Morozov's House
This house is yet another work of already mentioned Victor Mazyrin - and again for the Morozov’s family. At this time, for a cousin's nephew Arseny Morozov. Traveling to Portugal, Arseny Morozov fell in love with a Moorish style and ordered a similar house. This merchant fad pleases the eye of passersby today. • Meyerhold - director • VA Mazyrin - Architect ...More info
End of route.
