Pertsova’s apartment building in Moscow is one of the most amazing sights of the capital. The story of its foundation is the story of the realization of the dreams of a creative person.
Who is the author of the project for such a building?
The idea of creating an unusual house with apartments for residents and artists' studios arose from the railway engineer P.N. Pertsov, who lived in Moscow at the beginning of the twentieth century. Being an excellent engineer and a great lover of art, Pyotr Nikolaevich organized a closed competition for the best project at home. He appointed a prize of 800 rubles to the one whose project will take first place, and 500 rubles for the second.
According to his plan, Pertsova’s house was to reflect the spirit of Russian architecture and traditions, but at the same time be modern. Artist S.V. Malyutin, architect A.I. Diderikhs, architect-artist L.M. Brailovsky presented their works to the jury. The first prize went to Vasnetsov. But Pertsov nevertheless decided to build according to the project of Malyutin (the author of the painting of the first Russian nesting doll), since he was not so standard.
Pertsova's house in Moscow. Description
This Art Nouveau building, richly decorated, was built in two years. Pertsova’s house was exquisite and magnificent. The red brick structure, in the facade of which the motives of the Old Slavic tower are visible, looks like an organic whole. The sight of a tourist is striking with asymmetrically located windows, balconies, unusual tower-like ledges of the roof. Balconies decorated with sculptures of dragons, gilded lattice with lions, mounted on the ridge of the roof. And above the green tower, on the roof rises a gilt rooster. The facade is richly decorated with majolica panels depicting the sun, bull, fish, bears and other animals in a bizarre form.
An interesting story of the decoration of piers between the windows of the fourth floor and the pediments of the majolica. In those days in Moscow there was a certain company "Murava". It was organized by young artists of the Stroganov School. The guys were talented, ready to show their creative abilities, but, unfortunately, little-known. After all, all wealthy people preferred to deal with skilled, eminent artists. So the artel was one step away from closure. Peppers did not fail, entrusting his order to this company. Young artists were able to realize their mighty creative potential, taking into account all the wishes and tastes of the client.
During the construction of the house, the customer's requirements regarding modern technologies were also observed. There were no wooden floors in the house . Electrical wiring, plumbing, sewer communications were carefully hidden.
Home interior
The interior of the house was no less magnificent than the exterior. The bedrooms were with niches, while the smoking rooms were decorated in an oriental style. Original tiled stoves and stairs, decorated with unique carvings.
To decorate the front chambers of the house with carvings , the best masters of the Nizhny Novgorod province were invited . Pertsova’s apartment building provided apartments for residents of various social strata. There were options for the rich and poorer tenants. In total, the house had about 400 apartments, different in cubic capacity. The building had eighteen elevators, telephones, public baths and a reading room for residents.
In addition to private apartments, the house also houses a confectionery store "Mignon" and several offices of various importance. Within the walls of the house was the publishing house Ars, which published the magazine On the Banks of the Neva. Pertsova’s house was so cozy and modern that there were much more people wishing to settle in it than apartments.
Basement of a wonderful house. Description
Tourists are very interested in the history of the basement of Pertsov’s house. It was here that the cult, as it is customary to say, cafe “Bat” was located. It gathered the most famous representatives of the capital's bohemia. Mostly they were artists of the Moscow Art Theater. For example, V.I.Shreubovich, the most talented artist of his time, internationally known under the pseudonym Kachalov. Often, the wife of A.P. Chekhov, the outstanding actress O. L. Knipper-Chekhov, performed here. And the famous Nemirovich-Danchenko was a conductor created from among the actors and successfully performing an amateur orchestra. His friend and colleague K. S. Stanislavsky demonstrated unprecedented miracles of black and white magic. The atmosphere prevailing in the cafe can be judged by the clause from the charter “Do not be offended”. Actors and other visitors to the cafe showed themselves here in completely different roles, sometimes opposite to reality.
The apartment of the owners themselves was decorated with mahogany panels, the dining room was made of carved oak, the cornices and platbands covered with strange carvings were made of birch. Even a dishwasher was equipped to lower dishes from the kitchen to the buffet at the dining room. The rooms housed paintings by famous artists.
The reign of the Bolsheviks. What happened to the house?
After the Bolsheviks seized power, Pertsova’s house in Moscow was nationalized, and newly-fought fighters for the happiness of the people seized expensive apartments. For example, L. D. Trotsky put his eye on the most original four-room apartment of a certain eccentric Pozdnyakov. Then he moved to the personal chambers of the lady's owners, not forgetting to appropriate their unique things: rare paintings, sculptures, furniture, vases and more. What aroused admiration of foreign diplomats who, being at receptions in Trotsky's mansion, expressed their amazement at the refined taste of Lev Davidovich.
They did not suspect that he had just taken all these works of art and other accessories from the true owners of the Pertsovs house. Meanwhile, the creator of the unusual house was first evicted from his home, and then sent to prison, since Nikolai Petrovich openly opposed the destruction of temples. He stayed in prison for about 3 years, and then was released.
Address
Where is Pertsova’s house in Moscow? His address is as follows: 1st Kursovaya Lane, 1. Although a sign hangs on the house with the inscription “Prechistenskaya embankment, 35”.
How to get there?
Tourists, in order to get to such a unique attraction, should take the subway and get to the station called Kropotkinskaya. When leaving the metro, you need to go towards the sign "Ostozhenka, Prechistenka, Soymonovsky passage". Having walked four hundred meters in this direction, a tourist will be able to see the above-described apartment building of Pertsova in Moscow, a photo of which is presented in the article. True, the former splendor is already, unfortunately, no.
Pertsova's house in Moscow. What is there now?
In the fifties of the last century, here, among other things, there was a hostel at the station post office.
Nowadays, the building houses the Comedians Theater. And also in the house there are several dance and design studios, centers, offices, clubs. The post office and the prosecutor's office of the central district are also located in this interesting house.
Tourists can find shelter and eat here, as the building houses several mini-hotels and mini-hotels, as well as catering establishments.
Little conclusion
Now you know where Pertsova’s house is, as well as how it looks. We also touched on the topic of creating a project, erecting the building itself. We hope that the information presented in the article was interesting and useful to you.