NEO-RUSSIAN STYLE ARCHITECTURE: The Igumnov’s House
The Igumnov Merchant’s House
The Igumnov Merchant’s House is one of Moscow’s most renowned architectural landmarks, designed in the Pseudo-Russian style. Located on Bolshaya Yakimanka Street in the city center, the mansion draws the eye with the extraordinary intricacy and elaborate detail of its exterior ornamentation.
The building was constructed between 1888 and 1895 based on the design of architect Nikolai Pozdeev, with the participation of architects Ivan Pozdeev and Pyotr Boytsov. It was commissioned by the Yaroslavl merchant Nikolai Igumnov.
This two-story mansion is styled to resemble a traditional boyar *terem* (a multi-tiered Russian palace) and boasts exceptionally lavish decorative features: its brick facades are adorned with carved white-stone elements (such as pendant finials, colonnettes, and decorative bands), colorful porcelain tiles depicting plants and mythical creatures (based on designs by ceramic artist Semyon Maslennikov), and intricate brickwork patterns. Particularly eye-catching are the richly decorated window surrounds, the massive porch with a balcony, and the entrance gates featuring an ornate fence. The roofline is complex, featuring pointed tent-like spires that create the impression of a grand mansion reminiscent of ancient Russian palace chambers.
