two-storey country house built in 1936 Fedor Rozhnev, Andrei Alekseev, Alexander Egorov, Alexei Komov The aesthetics of the Soviet pre-war period and quotes from the English style of the time of George and Victoria, used in the reconstruction of the country house built in 1936

Passing the gallery

Text: Alla Dubrovskaya

A photo: Alexander Shebeko

Project author: Fedor Rozhnev, Андрей Алексеев, Александр Егоров, Алексей Комов, Алексей Муратов, Андрей Пчелин

Constructor: Alexander Solovtsov

Magazine: (Specific) 2002

The reconstruction of the country house, built back in 1936, is unusual in that the authors managed to organically combine the seemingly incompatible - academic “Stalinist classics” and the style of England in the times of George and Victoria. The building, dated by the era of the Soviets, the authors of the project decided to keep in a reliable and authentic form. And although the dilapidated walls had to be completely redesigned, the aesthetics of the Soviet prewar period, which now seems so distant and exotic, are recognizable in these strict, concise lines of the facade.Of course, the connection between Soviet times and Victorianism does not seem so obvious at first glance. However, there is no artificiality in this convergence. The “summer residents” of the Soviet thirties are already far from the blessed reality of the “noble nests” of the 19th century, but rather the nostalgic dream of it. In this sense, the English house - strict dark wood, green "damask" wallpaper, tapestries, Wedgwood porcelain - materializes the stability and "quality" of life. That spirit, which hardly corresponded to the sovereign fundamental nature of Stalinist buildings. The house in the English style, the reconstruction of which took a year, is quite worthy of its prototypes. The facade, especially from the side of the terrace, reminds of the famous Qween's House Inigo Jones - above all, with his huge, strict windows. Porcelain cones meter height in the corners of the roof, elegant rust, and then - the cold flawless pattern of cornices. In the interiors there are such dignity and impressive slow pace, which now, during the total fascination with constructivism (even in England), is rarely seen. Especially in the fireplace and living room: the color contrast is very expressive when viewed from the portal. Everything is exactly the same as in the good old days ... Careful quotations, the nuances of the Soviet era not only do not contradict "Anglicisms", but, on the contrary, give the atmosphere some mysterious and even exotic tint. The cabinet is truly English: strict windows, full wooden finish and solid Georgian cabinets. In the huge (35 sq. M.) Bedroom the order decor is “preserved”, the woven wallpaper on the walls is in delicate peach tones. The bay window and the huge four-poster bed give it romance, as if it really is an old English castle. But in the bathroom - an unexpected mixture of colonial Indochina and the luxury of the Roman term. Taking a bath, you can admire the view of the park through the blinds on the windows. The authenticity effect of antiquity is the result of skillful design work. Even all the mirrors in the house are made by the author's sketches. The refined artistry with which the “old patrimonial nest” is performed, however, does not look not only like kitsch, but even like imitation. A long history, ingrained traditions and family "roots" - here it all sounds absolutely accurate and convincing.Fedor Rozhnev: "We got a very good house, but it was almost completely destroyed. At the request of the Society for the Protection of Monuments, it was impossible to go beyond the contours" of the original construction. And we decided to preserve the image, the "style of Stalin's dachas." camouflaged styling, "replica", but quite a serious "story."