Ivan Ivanovich Alafuzov is a talented entrepreneur and successful businessman of his time. He managed to create a family empire, which consisted of a large number of factories, factories, workshops for the production of textiles, yarn, leather goods, threads, tarpaulins, canvas, waterproof fabrics and much more. His activity was launched in all major cities of our country. Having won his niche with high-quality goods at an affordable price, Ivan Ivanovich's family business reached the state level, equipping the Russian army with everything necessary from clothes, shoes and headgear. In addition to his merits in entrepreneurship, it is worth highlighting the social activities of his family: the construction of hospitals, schools, libraries, their financing (even after his death) was a socially significant contribution to the life of the cities of our country.
The starting point for the development of Ivan Alafuzov’s own business is 1865 in the city of Kazan. During this period of time, he, together with his father-in-law, built a textile factory and bought up several tanneries in the Berry and Admiralty settlement. We will talk about this historical place (Alafuzov’s factory in Kazan), where the development of the empire of a talented person began, today.
Factory life after oblivion
Interest in architectural buildings, which left the deepest mark in history, always attracts special attention. And even if this building was abandoned many decades ago, it has a special state protection status.
The Alafuzov factory in Kazan is located on Gladilova street, 55a in the Kirov district. At the moment, this building has turned into the first Kazan loft. Judging by the name, Kazan creative people chose it: photographers, artists and other fashionable hangouts. Now there are regularly held shootings for magazines, photo shoots in the daytime. And at night, the Alafuzov factory in Kazan becomes a place where young people flock to listen to music, chat and buy some things that are sold in the so-called "Alafuzov markets."
Who owns Alafuzov manufactory?
The owner of this building is one owner (Andrey Pitulov), although recently 5 more people were his partners. The partners, having fulfilled all the obligations to A. Pitulov to purchase a building, develop a business project, search for a partner bank and everything else, left the project, as was planned in 2014. Starting in 2017, one person became the owner.
What are your plans for the Alafuzov factory in Kazan?
It hosts exhibitions, Sunday markets, underground parties, film screenings. A special mood is in this space: the spirit of the last century reigns here. Dilapidated walls, vintage tiles, stained-glass windows and home decoration - everything is as if you are a hundred years ago in the past. Below is a photo of the factory Alafuzova (Kazan) how it looks now.
In the future, it is planned to create the first hostel for bikers, as well as rent out premises to free artists and creative people for holding performances, festivals and theme parties.
What is a "loft" in the modern sense?
This buzzword came to us in 30-40 years. last century from New York. Then it was decided to turn the abandoned warehouse, factories into art galleries, exhibitions. And later, luxury apartments began to be equipped in the stylization of a loft. The abandonment of buildings was due to a sharp jump in the rental of land in the city center. For this reason, many entrepreneurs of various crafts had to leave their factories and move to the outskirts of New York.
This trendy trend has reached our country relatively recently. So, Andrei Pitulov, the founder of the loft from the Alafuzov factory in Kazan, was inspired by the work of his Moscow colleagues at the Krasny Oktyabr factory. They created a successful factory loft project, which was in demand among Muscovites. In the photo below, the owner of the factory is Andrey Pitulov.
The revival of the manufactory Alafuzova
About a hundred million rubles are needed to revive (or revitalize, as is often the case with a loft) the Alafuzov factory. The initial phase, which was already completed by the summer of 2016, was estimated at twenty million. According to the current owner of the factory Alafuzov, this place can not yet be called a full-fledged loft, since restoration work is still ongoing.
Some parts of the buildings are closed, and only professional employees can get there, whose duty is to revive the pre-revolutionary buildings of the Alafuzov manufactory.
Tour of the first Kazan loft
At the entrance to the factory it seems that the place is uninhabited. The gloomy gates that meet newcomers create a certain entourage in the first seconds of their stay in this place. But the entrance to the building is through another part of the building, where previously there was a walk-through factory of the wool processing workshop.
Visitors are met by a security officer, collects payment for an admission ticket (100 rubles), puts on paper bracelets and briefly instructs in which parts of the Alafuzov factory building (Kazan) you can enter and which ones not to get lost.
After the visitors are released into "free swimming", having overcome several turns of the workshops, you find yourself in an open area. The first thing that catches your eye is the so-called night markets (or flea markets). It sells handmade bracelets and beads, hats and much more.
Among other things, here you can find a lot of pottery. Culinary master classes, theme nights are held periodically, and the musical accompaniment of Kazan performers has become a tradition here. There is a cafe where you can eat fried kebabs, taste tandoor cakes, grilled vegetables and sweet corn.
Local ghost watchman
Walking through the loft studio of the Alafuzov factory in Kazan, you can meet the ghost of Ivan Ivanovich. According to local legend, the spirit of a deceased merchant is walking along a gloomy building. The battered red brick walls that had lost plaster many decades ago, the sounds of dripping water, dilapidated posters about the stages of wool processing and other objects during the tour of a local watchman about a ghost make one believe in the truth of the legend.
The pictures of what is happening are so commonplace in simple gray everyday life that it gives the impression of the real mystery of this place. This enthralls visitors. According to the local guide, the ghost of Alafuzov is good. He was seen several times when the work on revitalizing his factory was just beginning. Most often he was seen on the landing in a short cloak and with a long beard, he quickly ran away and disappeared into the darkness.
Employees of the Alafuzov factory and Pitulov himself are of the opinion that there is positive energy, a good atmosphere. Even for the entire period of the pre-revolutionary factory’s work, not a single accident was recorded here. And the fact that this particular place became the starting point of the dizzying take-off of Alafuzov’s enterprises is evidence of this.
Reviews of modern factory visitors
As previously noted, the address of the Alafuzov factory in Kazan can be found in the Kirov region, at 55a Gladilova Street. Anyone can visit the building from Friday to Sunday, working hours - from 20:00 to 24:00. Photo sessions are often held here. Unusual locations and atmosphere create an impression on visitors very vivid and memorable. Those who have been here at least once confirm that the place is unusual and worth getting here.
The factory, equipped under a loft, attracts creative youth and allows it to develop, share creativity and share experiences, their thoughts. Bohemia is unlikely to be interested in this place, since the underground direction is everywhere.
Every night there are about 500 visitors to the factory. And this means that Kazan is interested in an unusual loft, and it has every chance of future development.