Residence of the Ambassador of Tunisia in Russia: the history of the estate, fragments of interiors

Passing the gallery

A photo: Dmitry Livshits

Text: Tatyana Konstantinova

Magazine: (64)

The “biography” of the house, where the residence of the ambassador of Tunisia in Russia is now located, is long and rather romantic. These walls have witnessed many events - both inconspicuous for a large history of private life, and for collisions of a national scale. Moscow city head Mr. Tarasov adored old times. Therefore, he wanted to have his house without fail overlooking any historical landmark. He searched for a long time and in vain, until he came across a plot of land opposite the Church of St. George, erected by order of the Orlov brothers in 1788 at the corner of Vipolny Lane and Malaya Nikitskaya Street. The authorship of this amazing church is attributed to Bazhenov himself. Tarasov entrusted the construction of his own estate to architect N.V. Karneev. In 1884, a one-story building was erected, and a quarter of a century later another architect, A.E. Erichson, attached to the mansion a two-storey outbuilding with a strict, very restrained decor. This "inconspicuous" shell, which hides elegant and comfortable apartments, already played a significant role in Soviet times, when the house was chosen as housing for one of the most sinister figures of the Stalin era - Lawrence Beria. Everything has changed since the embassy of Tunisia housed in the mansion. The current owner of the house, the ambassador of Tunisia in Russia, Mr. Khalifa Al Khafdi, considers him to be something of an exotic attraction. In any case, this is a reason to talk about the past, without which, as you know, there is no future. “I have always been fascinated by the breath of eternity,” says Mr. Khalifa El-Khafdi. “Tunisia, for example, has preserved original mosaics from the times of the Roman Empire: there are none even in Italy. Working in many countries of the world, I saw many works of art and architecture. But perhaps the strongest impression is the palaces of St. Petersburg. Real architectural poetry! Even Versailles has been inferior to them. Recently there has been a return to traditions. In Tunisia, for example, we recreate national crafts. Our culture is part of the Mediterranean: thisan amazingly harmonious "blending" of the East and the West ... "And in confirmation of what the Ambassador has said among the typically European interior are several paintings of Tunisian painting. One of them was made in an unusual for us, Europeans, writing technique with “boiled” colors - the unique technology makes the picture incredibly juicy and cheerful. The layout of the mansion is typical for the beginning of the 20th century. This is no longer a long suite of rooms, as in the previous century. Living rooms have become more compact. The doors are decorated with crystal glass. Solid marble staircase leading to the second floor is decorated with consoles with bronze rams. Once these mythological creatures kept more candlesticks. But designer excesses turned out to be alien to the puritanical nature of Comrade Beria - and the lamps were cut down. On the other hand, they left wonderful gilded mirrors, amazing stucco on the ceiling and stunning old-fashioned furniture with bulbous legs and silk upholstery ... The old house, old traditions, cordiality, hospitality with the indispensable dish - fragrant couscous ...