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House with Chimaeras

Coordinates: 50°26′42″N 30°31′43″E / 50.44500°N 30.52861°E / 50.44500; 30.52861
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House with Chimaeras
The front façade of the House with Chimaeras
Map
General information
Architectural styleArt Nouveau
Town or cityKiev
CountryUkraine
Coordinates50°26′42″N 30°31′43″E / 50.44500°N 30.52861°E / 50.44500; 30.52861
Construction started1901
Completed1902
Cost133,000 rubles[a]
Technical details
Structural systemConcrete piles
Continuous foundation
Design and construction
Architect(s)Vladislav Gorodetsky

House with Chimaeras or Gorodetsky House (Ukrainian: Будинок з химерами; translit. Budynok z khymeramy, Russian: Дом с химерами, translit. Dom s khimerami) is an Art Nouveau building in Kiev (Kyiv), the capital of Ukraine. Originally an upmarket apartment building, it was built in the period of 1901–1902 by noted architect Vladislav Gorodetsky, who was regarded as the Gaudí of Kiev.[1][2]

Situated on No. 10, Bankova Street, across from the President of Ukraine's office in the historic Pechersk neighbourhood, the building has been used since 2005 as a presidential residence for official and diplomatic ceremonies.[3][4]

The "House with Chimaeras" derives its popular name from its ornate decorations depicting various scenes of exotic animals and hunting scenes, which were added because Gorodetsky was an avid hunter. The name does not refer to the chimaera of mythology, but to an architectural style known as Chimaera decoration in which animal figures are applied as decorative elements to a building.

History

Construction and early history

The House with Chimaeras was designed by the architect Vladislav Gorodetsky in 1901–1902.[1] Gorodetsky was born in 1863 into a prosperous Polish szlachta family in the Podillia region.[5] After finishing the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg in 1890, he moved to Kiev, where he lived for almost 30 years.[5] At the time of the building's construction, Gorodetsky had already established himself as a prominent Kiev architect, having designed many city buildings, from the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Cathedral to the Karaim Kenesa and the current National Art Museum of Ukraine. Besides architecture, Gorodetsky was also interested in big-game hunting, which explains why his building features many animals.

Gorodetsky financed the house's construction with borrowed money,[1][6] with the intent for it to be an apartment building.[7][8] Each floor formed a single apartment, connected by an elevator and stairs.[b] Gorodetsky himself occupied the fourth floor of the building, measuring at about Template:M2 to ft2.[7][c]

Gorodetsky bought the first lot of land on February 1, 1901, with construction work commencing on March 18 of that year. Construction of the exterior walls was finished by August 21, and the roof installed and all masonry work was completed on September 13.[7][8] Due to the economic hardships within the Russian Empire, the completion of the building was delayed. In May 1903, only one apartment on the lowest level and Gorodetsky's own apartment were occupied.[7] The total cost of the land and construction amounted to 133,000 rubles.[a] In total, Template:M2 to ft2 of land were used for construction of the building and cost a total of 15,640 rubles.[6] The projected annual profit from the rentals was 7,200 rubles. A cowshed was located on the premises due to Gorodetsky's insistence on fresh in-house milk,[1][8] though it was specifically placed in a way that the smell of the cows would not disturb the tenants. On a lot adjacent to the building, a miniature alpine garden (approx. 320 m2 (3,400 sq ft)*) and a fountain were built.

Due to financial mismanagement which included his Safari hunting hobby,[1] in July 1912, Gorodetsky pledged the building as a collateral against a loan taken from Kiev Mutual Credit Association.[9] When Gorodetsky defaulted on the loan, the building was auctioned off in 1913,[9] and became the property of the engineer Daniel Balakhovsky,[1] the son of a Kiev trader,[6] who was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Blahodatinskoe sugar factory,[6] and a French сonsular agent in Kiev.[10] In 1916, the house belonged to the Blahodatinskoe sugar factory.[9] In 1918, the building's ownership changed again, to Samuel Nemets.[9] In 1921, after the Bolsheviks gained control of Kiev, several of the departments of the Kiev Military District took offices in the House with Chimaeras.

Ownership 1921–2002

A furnished interior room of the House with Chimaeras, seen with elaborate decorations.

After the period of unrest following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the building was nationalized and later converted for communal living.[11] Each apartment was occupied by about nine to ten families.[7] During the Second World War (1941–1943), the building was abandoned. Due to exposure to the harsh elements during the war, the building suffered significant damage to its structure.[7] After the war, the building was briefly used as a residence for evacuated actors from the Ivan Franko Theater;[6] however, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian SSR took ownership of the building and later transformed it into the Polyclinic (clinic) No.1 for their elite.[7] The polyclinic used the building up until the end of the twentieth century. During that time, the building almost split in half. One part sagged 22 cm (9 in), and a major vertical crack formed, having a width of about 40 cm (16 in).[7] Some of the building's architectural details had either been chipped away, or had cracked.

The building's restoration work was scheduled for 2002, however the operators of the polyclinic were reluctant to leave, having occupied the building for over 40 years. In order to force the occupants out of the building, the workers boarded up all of the windows and threatened to do the same to the doors if the polyclinic did not vacate the premises. Only the president's involvement in the matter forced the polyclinic to move out completely.[1]

Reconstruction and official use

During the time of the restoration, conducted by UkrNDIProektRestavratsiya and headed by Natalia Kosenko,[12] the workers unearthed the whole lower floor, which had been filled in during Soviet times to strengthen the building's foundation.[1] Restoration of the elaborate decor of the interior had to be fully redone. In the courtyard, the restorers placed an artificial lake, fountains, and a miniature garden—all of which had been in Gorodetsky's original plans.[1]

The building was opened as a filial "Masterpieces of Ukrainian Art" of the National Museum of Arts in November 2004.[13] It was expected that the building would serve a dual purpose as a museum and as the presidential meeting place for state visitors.

In April 2005, the Kiev City Council submitted a bill[14] for 104 million hryvnias (approx. US $20 million) to the Ukrainian Government for reconstruction and restoration of the House with Chimaeras.[15] The Council also allowed the Ukrainian government to construct a new square (closing off all automobile traffic) in front of the building for use in official ceremonies.[15]

Since May 2005, the building has been an official presidential residence, used for official and diplomatic ceremonies.[3][4] The House with Chimaeras was used as a meeting place between Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin, when the latter visited Kiev on December 22, 2006.[16] Included in the building are rooms for negotiations, tête-à-tête talks, the signing of official documents, as well as a special room for the press.[11]

Architecture

A detailed view of the architectural statues of mermaids and others, designed by Emilio Sala.
Volodymyr Yasiievych[17]
The House of Vladislav Gorodetsky can only be compared with the works of Antoni Gaudí, especially the famous Casa Milà in Barcelona, Spain, despite being constructed a couple of years later (1905-1910).

The building was designed in the Art Nouveau style, which was at that time a relatively new style and featured flowing, curvilinear designs often incorporating floral and other plant-inspired motifs. Gorodetsky featured such motifs in the building's exterior decor in the forms of mythical creatures and big-game animals. His work on the House with Chimaeras has earned him the nickname of the Gaudí of Kiev.[1][2]

Due to the steep slope on which the building is situated, it had to be specially designed out of concrete to fit into its foundations correctly. From the front, the building appears to have only three floors. However, from the rear, all of its six floors can be seen.[18] One part of the building's foundation was made of concrete piles, and the other as a continuous foundation. Usually, these two approaches do not mix well but Gorodetsky somehow succeeded in overcoming this technical problem.

The Italian sculptor Emilio Sala was responsible for both the internal and external sculptural decorations, such as mermaids, dolphins, and frogs on the roof of the building, sinking ships and hunting trophies on the exterior walls, and exuberant interior decorations, such as grand stairways and chandeliers depicting huge catfish strangled in the stems of lotus flowers. The exterior sculptures created by Sala were made out of cement. Production of the cement was by the «For» company of which Gorodetsky was the co-director.[19] Cement was used exclusively as the primary building material by the request of the company's head director, Richter.[20] At the time of the building's construction, cement was not popular as a building material, so its use was employed as publicity for both the house and the building material.[19]

  • Elaborate cement decorations, featuring deer and rhinoceroses, can be seen.
    Elaborate cement decorations, featuring deer and rhinoceroses, can be seen.
  • The building features interesting carvings, such as this elephant-head gargoyle.
    The building features interesting carvings, such as this elephant-head gargoyle.
  • One of the many figurines seen around the building.
    One of the many figurines seen around the building.

Floor plan

Gorodetsky's original blueprints of his own apartment, located on the sixth floor; early 1900s.

The House with Chimaeras was designed in such a way that the tenants would occupy the whole floor, each floor had all the necessary household rooms ranging from private kitchens to small powder rooms. The open floor plan and extra rooms featured throughout the building are characteristic of the houses of the wealthy of the early twentieth century.[18] In total, the building has an area of 3,309.5 m2 (35,623.16 sq ft).[12]

On the lowest level of the building, which is located deep in the hill, were two stables, two rooms for coachmen, a shared laundry, and two separate apartments. Each of the two apartments consisted of a foyer, a kitchen, one bathroom, and a storage room. The first of these apartments had two residential rooms, and the second three rooms.[d] Each floor above the lowest level was designed to house a single apartment only.

The apartment on the second floor consisted of six residential rooms in addition to a foyer, kitchen, buffet, three servant's rooms, a bathroom, two toilets, and two storage rooms. There were also four wine cellars on the same level.[e] The cellars belonged to the apartments on the upper levels. On the third floor, the apartment consisted of eight residential rooms, a foyer, a kitchen, dish washing room, two rooms for servants, a bathroom, and two toilets.[f] This apartment was placed slightly lower than the level of Bankova Street, from the front entrance.

The grandest apartment, which belonged to Gorodetsky, consisted of a study, a great room and a living room, a dining room, a boudoir, a bedroom, a children's room, a room for a governess, a guest room, three rooms for servants, a kitchen, dishwashing room, bathroom, two toilets, and two storage rooms.[7] On the floor above was an apartment similar in size and design to Gorodetsky's apartment.[g] The apartment on the top floor had one less room; to make up for this, there was a connecting terrace which provided a panoramic view of the city.[7][h]

Legends

The gardens adjoining the House with Chimaeras.

Throughout the years, the House with Chimaeras has had many legends associated with it:

According to the first legend, Vladislav Gorodetsky's daughter had committed suicide jumping into Dnieper River either because of some unfortunate love affair or because of a family feud.[i] As a result, Gorodetsky went slightly mad and built this gloomy house in his daughter's memory.[21]

A second legend has it that Gorodetsky made a bet with some other architects, including the architect Alexander Skobelev, who had tried to prove that was impossible to build a house on such terrain, because the site (near the Ivan Franko Theater) overhangs a swamp (Koz’ye boloto). The Construction Committee of Kiev had prohibited construction of any structures on this particular lot, but eventually the construction of the building allowed Gorodetsky to win the bet.[21]

According to the third legend, Gorodetsky had cursed the house when forced to leave it in 1913 (due to his inability to repay his creditors); all of the house's tenants would be either unhappy or would meet some sort of financial misfortune. This legend is given credence by the fact that all the businesses who rented a portion of the building either went bankrupt, had their funds stolen or were disbanded.[1]

Footnotes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ivanenko, Anna (2004). "Gorodetsky. Lord of Chimaeras". "МТ – Mir turizma" magazine (in Russian). Vol. 1–2. ISSN 1811-3583. Retrieved 2006-09-17.
  2. ^ a b Rinkus, Sonya. "heed the krai". elementmoscow.ru. Retrieved 2006-09-30.
  3. ^ a b Laws of Ukraine. Cabinet of Ministers decree No. 340: On the addition to the house on 10, Bankova St. in the city of Kyiv the status of a government residence. Adopted on 2005-05-11. (Ukrainian)
  4. ^ a b Shokalo, Marta (2005-04-01). "The aura is fine, but the place is too small" (in Ukrainian). BBC Ukrainian. Retrieved 2006-09-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Architector of century" (in Ukrainian). Vinnytsia oblast' universal science library named after K.A.Timiryazev. 2003-05-20. Retrieved 2007-07-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e Kalnitsky, Mikhail (2003-08-19). "The rebirth of the House with Chimaeras". Kievskie Vedomosti №179 (2984) (in Russian). Retrieved 2006-07-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Malakov, Dmytro (1999). Architector Horodetskyi. Kyi. ISBN 966-7161-30-7.
  8. ^ a b c Malikenaite, Ruta (2003). Touring Kyiv. Baltija Dryk. p. 50. ISBN 966-96041-3-3.
  9. ^ a b c d Ivashko, Yuliya. "Riddle of House with Chimaeras". Vash Kiev (in Russian). Retrieved 2006-07-14.
  10. ^ Fyodorovskaya, Olga. "Hunter from the House with Chimaeras". Ukrainskiy Dom (in Russian). Retrieved 2006-07-14.
  11. ^ a b "House with Chimeras". Official web-site of President of Ukraine. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  12. ^ a b Laws of Ukraine. Cabinet of Ministers decree No. 829-р: On the recognition of the project and the company carrying out the building's reconstruction as well as the restoration of the monument of architecture and the government monument of the city on Bankova St., 10 in the city of Kyiv. Adopted on 2003-12-31. (Ukrainian)
  13. ^ "A cultural museum center opens in the House with Chimaeras". Korrespondent (in Ukrainian). Bigmir-Internet. 2004-11-19. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Decrees of Kiev City Council Kiev City Council decree No. 380/2955: On the allowance of the change of ownership to the government authority with permission of conducting reconstruction and restoration works on the building of 10, Bankova Street. Passed on 2005-04-21. Template:Uk icon
  15. ^ a b ""House with Chimaeras" received the status of an official governmental residence". proUA (in Ukrainian). 2004-11-19. Retrieved 2006-09-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Yushchenko and Putin decided their goals for two years ahead". Korrespondent (in Russian). Bigmir-Internet. 2006-12-22. Retrieved 2007-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Yasiievych, V. E. (1988). Architecture of Ukraine at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries (in Russian). Kiev: Budivėlʹnyk. p. 93. ISBN 5770500883. OCLC 19693625. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  18. ^ a b Zharikov, N. L., ed. (1983–1986). "Residential house (Gorodetsky's), 1904.". Monuments of urban development and architecture in the Ukrainian SSR. 1-4 (in Russian). Kiev: Budivel'nyk. p. 38. LCCN 84-0. Retrieved 2006-09-16.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  19. ^ a b Klymenko, Sergiy. ""Budynok z Khimeramy"". Photos of Kyiv (in Ukrainian/Russian). Retrieved 2006-09-30. {{cite web}}: Text "Kyiv/Kyiv.Pechersk.htm" ignored (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  20. ^ explorer (2007-07-05). "Walks around Kyiv. House with Chimaeras". Narodna pravda (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2006-07-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ a b Pavlovsky, Viktor. "House with Chimaeras". Kiev Info. Optima Tours. Retrieved 2006-02-16.

Notes

a.1 2 This price is as of 1903. Government Archive of the City of Kyiv - Fond No. 143, Series 2, File No. 520, Item No. 9. Malakov

b.^ The only exception to this was that the lowest floor of the building contained two separate apartments.

c.^ His apartment is apt. No. 3, the main floor, if looking from the level of the Bankova Street.

d.^ The annual rental in 1903 was 540 and 420 rubles, accordingly. Malakov

e.^ The price for this apartment was 1,200 rubles in 1903. Malakov

f.^ The initial annual rent for the apartment was 2,000 rubles. Malakov

g.^ Both of these apartments were rented out for 3,500 rubles annually in 1903. Malakov

h.^ The rental cost for this dwelling was 2,750 rubles annually, (An average salary for a librarian was about 50 rubles per year.) Mir turizma

i.^ In fact, it was the previous owners' (Professor Mering) daughter who drowned. Mir turizma

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