Light in the Art Nouveau windows: lucky tourists!
Let us begin with something unexpected: guests on one of our private walking tours of Moscow witnessed a truly unique event! During a stop outside A. I. Derozhinskaya’s turquoise mansion in Kropotkinsky Lane, built by the great architect Fyodor Shekhtel in 1902−1903, a member of staff at the Australian ambassador’s residence suddenly decided to switch on the light in the entrance hall. Our guide Maria, our expert on architecture and much more besides, shared the story. This gave our group of five charming ladies a rare glimpse of paintings and frescoes normally hidden from public view.
Masha, who had previously written a research paper about the residence, was delighted to share new details about the house. The light turned on in the former owner's living room allowed the participants to examine the panel based on Borisov-Musatov's sketches, which were added during the recent restoration. This moment was a real gift for the group, as such things rarely happen on the routes, despite the popularity of our walking tour.
After this incredible episode, the guide took the guests further along the streets of Moscow. The route included many city gems: the Abrikosov estate, where the press center of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs was once located, and a plaque dedicated to the legendary Kim Philby, about whom the guide told interesting facts. We also visited the Medyntsev estate, as well as the Finnish embassy. The participants studied the architectural features of the buildings with great enthusiasm, examining all the details and asking questions.
Of particular interest were the modern residential complexes on Prechistenka and Levshinsky Lane, such as the Stolnik residential complex. The guide and the group discussed how the new buildings fit harmoniously into the city's ancient architecture. Then the route passed by the Berg estate, where the Italian embassy is located. Here, the participants not only enjoyed the view of neo-baroque and neo-renaissance, but also learned about the intricacies of architectural styles.
The guide also took the group to the first mansion in Art Nouveau style In Moscow, the tour included Liszt's house. Participants enthusiastically recognized the distinctive features of Kekushev's architecture. They identified details that distinguished his style and shared their observations. Opposite this mansion, the tour participants examined a tenement house in the style of a Venetian palazzo, and then headed to the "house with writers," which drew widespread admiration thanks to the unusual and piquant frieze on its façade.
The tour guide gave a fascinating account of the design and artistic solutions of such houses, offering his own versions to the guests, which they happily discussed. The group then went to the Yakunchikova and Gutheil mansions, created by William Walcott. These two buildings, located nearby, turned out to be so different in style that the participants had heated arguments about preferences.
After a walk around the courtyard where Vera Mukhina's studio is located, the tour continued to Isakov's apartment building. Here the guide drew attention to elements of northern modernism, art nouveau and even Portuguese neo-Manueline. The participants, with glowing eyes, analyzed every architectural detail.
The route ended with the Syrian Embassy in the Northern Art Nouveau style and Zherikhov's apartment building, located next to Kekushev's private mansion. These buildings once again confirmed how harmoniously architectural styles of different eras coexist in Moscow. The end of the program coincided with the celebration of the birthday of one of the participants, which added even more warmth to this day.
P.S. A few days after the excursion, the customer sent a review along with photographs:
Thank you for the wonderful tour, you got us interested in Art Nouveau, we are looking for new buildings in Moscow in Art Nouveau style, but now on the Internet! 😀🤝