Miniature mansion in neo-Greek style, designed by architect A. S. Kaminsky: an organic combination of pure Japanese decor and Russian art

Passing the gallery

A photo: Evgeny Luchin

Text: Tatyana Konstantinova

Magazine: N10 (77) 2003

At first, the diplomatic mission of the Land of the Rising Sun occupied perhaps the most extravagant building in Moscow - the famous mansion of Morozov on Vozdvizhenka. But after the war, the Japanese embassy was given other apartments in two old buildings of the 19th century. About one of them, a charming house with a mezzanine in Kalashny lane, our story Russian merchants always loved to throw dust in their eyes. This feature of the new Russian bourgeoisie is widely known for its literary works, and for the remarkable stories that remain in the memory of the descendants. Depending on the size of the state, merchants surprised Muscovites in various ways with their houses. Millions of Morozovs, Ryabushinsky, Mamontov, Igumnovy erected fantastic palaces, from the contemplation of which Muscovites literally took your breath away. Less wealthy built their homes more modest, but with an indispensable claim to luxury. Often, as a model, they showed the architects postcards and lithographs brought from abroad with masterpieces of world architecture. And they asked to build something similar, but, of course, in miniature. Approximately so did the merchant Anna Ivanovna Sergeeva, deciding in 1884 to build in Kalashny lane. She ordered the project of the house to architect A. S. Kaminsky. The merchant wanted to see her future in the image of the famous buildings on Place de la Concorde in Paris - the Bourbon Palace and the Madeleine Church. The Russian architect suggested that the customer make a similar triangular entablature, but without reliance on the portico colonnade. Since due to the lack of space there was no place even for the porch. Thus, Kaminsky built a miniature mansion in the neo-Greek style. In the center of the facade is the main entrance, on both sides of which on the ants (square end posts) an entablature rests, decorated with a classical frieze with delicate stucco decoration. On the roof, according to all the canons of the ancient Greek temple, decorative acroteries were installed - special sculptural decorations. The drawing of the central part of the facade is repeated in the design of the four large bright windows of the one-story mansion. The second floor can be considered as a light with three narrow windows located under the entablature frieze. In Russia, such an add-on was called the mezzanine and was especially popular in the merchant environment. When forty-five years ago the embassy of Japan was housed in a house with a mezzanine on Arbat, the interior design changed dramatically: traditions of ancient Eastern civilization and European comfort, purely Japanese decor and Russian art organically combined in the mansion. “I was fortunate enough to work in Moscow for the third time,” says Japanese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Mr. Issei Nomura. “ In the 60-70s. And now, finally, now. During this time, the Russian capital has become one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But the character and traditions of Muscovites remained unchanged. I see this from my Russian friends. Although when the appearance of cities and countries changes, it affects the way of life and people's habits. We, the Japanese, are pragmatic people and try to live with the times in terms of convenience and comfort. But even in the world of modern technologies, we never forget about national traditions ... I observe the same phenomena in Moscow. "As if to confirm Mr. Ambassador’s thoughts, his spouse Ms. Noriko Nomura invites you to one of the living rooms, where in the interiors the century before last, next to the Ionic marble pillars, there is a colorful ritual composition dedicated to the important national holiday “Boy's Day.” “Gogatsu Ninge” is a traditional wish for every boy to grow beautiful and strong. to find luck. From the original interiors created for the merchant Sergeeva, there remained a hall with columns and a semicircular vault, friezes with five cartouches in the shape of medallions painted in oil. Shishkin and Aivazovsky. The front living room in our time is decorated with paintings by Japanese landscape painters. And in the next, "green" living room, a magnificent old fireplace with a mirror looks great against the background of paintings by Russian and European masters. That part of the house, which is located next to the series of living rooms, was rebuilt when in 1898 the mansion was acquired by Nikolai Nikolayevich Konshin, the owner of Serpukhov manufactory, one of the largest factories in Russia. For the sake of the fashion of the time, he styled this room as modern. The library is decorated with mahogany: wall panels with built-in shelves for decorative accessories, a fireplace in the Dutch spirit. And although the second half of the mansion after redevelopment somewhat lost its former empire majesty and acquired the frivolity of eclecticism, the house with a mezzanine and is still perceived as a complete architectural work. Eastern traditions in this sense fit perfectly into the image of the mansion that has been created over the centuries.