Architectural heritage of St. Petersburg: the house of Baron KelchThe heiress of Siberian millions had a house built by her husband, the baron. And sovereign Petersburg was blinded by the brilliance of the standard interiors. There Gothic coexists with Art Nouveau, and classicism is framed in Rococo. And on a white night in the uncertain darkness, dreams easily penetrate into reality. The history of the owners is forgotten - there are no traces of meetings or partings, but the mansion shines famously, not noticing the heavy passage of centuries.
Lika Janich
In the development of the streets that developed during the 18th-19th centuries on the streets closest to the left bank of the Neva, facades (mansions) stand out, pleasing the eye with exquisite decoration. The architect's desire to express one or another style that has passed away and become historical, often having local characteristics - the Florentine Renaissance or French Rococo - revived and enriched the appearance of St. Petersburg. The already bored monotony of classicism and empire style is being replaced by historicism and romanticism in architecture. Freedom, complexity and variety of architectural forms are combined with the stylistic accuracy of the reproduced historical styles.
The Kelch mansion is a prominent representative of this romantic trend in architecture.
Mansion A.F. Kelkha, located on the street. Tchaikovsky (formerly Sergievskaya) house 28, is located in that part of the city center where many buildings built for the aristocratic and business circles of the St. Petersburg elite are concentrated.
A house that belonged in the mid-18th century to the daughter of the merchant Ivan Brother, who served as burgomaster. In the 18 century, merchant Ivan Brother bought a plot of land on Tchaikovsky Street for his beloved daughter, but did not build anything... For a whole century, this land passed from hand to hand : when it was acquired by the Greek consul Kondoyanaki in 1858, there was an unremarkable two-story house there. Within a year, the architect A.K. Kolman turned it into a mansion made in the best Baroque traditions.
The street-facing façade of the building is designed in the French Revival style. The cladding is made of natural stone - pinkish in the basement, and yellow sandstone in the upper floors. The first floor is decorated with rustication, the second - with Ionic pilasters between arched windows. The second floor is distinguished by a central bay window, which is symmetrically complemented by the side right and left bay windows. The right bay window was destroyed during World War II and was not subsequently restored. The richly decorated central bay window has unfolded side edges
The pediment above the bay window of a developed complex shape forms a compositional unity with the attic, on both sides of which there is a balustrade, and which in turn is crowned with a kind of portico with a sculpture in a niche. A high hipped pyramidal roof with a small scaly pattern completes the composition of the front facade
The site changed owners several times. In the 1790s it was divided, before which it formed a single household between Sergievskaya (Tchaikovsky) and Zakharyevskaya streets. Until the mid-19th century, a two-story house with a stone first floor and a wooden second floor remained here.
The three-story courtyard facades are made in the neo-Gothic style. The service wing closes the perspective of the courtyard. It houses a Gothic pavilion decorated with sculpture. The construction of the new building was also carried out with the participation of architect K.K. Schmidt, and was completely finished in 1903. Mansion A.F. Kelkha is an outstanding monument of late eclectic architecture.
And now - to Kelham.
Sashenka Kelkha's father was involved in public education. And he received the baronial title not just by birth, but solely thanks to his efforts. The holder of many orders - Vladimir, and Anna, and with bows, and with garters - in the prime of his career was awarded the baronial title and the title "Honorary Citizen of St. Petersburg." So Alexander Kelkh was a nobleman not so long ago - only in the second generation.The three brothers received an excellent education. Nikolai (senior) and Alexander became industrialists, Vladimir became an artist. And they received their education at Moscow University, where they were full-time students. This is what left a noticeable imprint on the family life of Nikolai and Alexander. Students, I mean.
Let's crawl off to Siberia for a while. Namely - to Irkutsk. The family of the richest gold miners, the Bazanovs, lived there. After the death of the head of the family, Ivan Bazanov, and later his son-in-law, the chamberlain of the court - Pyotr Sivers, the entire fortune, which included not only gold mines, but also the Lena-Vitim parish, went to Yulia Bazanova and her daughter Varvara.
Yulia Bazanova is the “mother of students,” a lady famous for her charitable activities. Having been widowed early, she was involved in the construction of hospitals and libraries, supervised educational institutions in Irkutsk, and also monitored the fate of Siberian students in Moscow. During her life, she, the owner of a huge fortune, spent about 2,000,000 rubles on charity. Just think about it - more than 2 million - this is comparable to the state budget!
Daughter Varenka followed in her mother’s footsteps. And, once going on business to Moscow University, I met Nikolai Kelkh. Well, it’s a young affair, passionate love, an almost instant wedding. Everything too beautiful ends quickly - two years later Nikolai dies. Moreover, no one still knows what caused such a sudden death.
Immediately after Nikolai's death, his younger brother Alexander proposes to Varvara. And she agrees. And Alexander becomes the manager of his wife’s huge fortune. By the way, they say that Varvara Kelkh (Bazanova) was a lovely creature. But at the same time, she is not a muslin young lady, but, on the contrary, a resemblance to the well-known type - Vassa Zheleznova.
So, so - married Nikolai in 1892. She was widowed in 1894. And immediately got married a second time.
And she decided that the young family would live in the most original house in St. Petersburg. For these purposes, from the Greek consul - Ivan Kondoyanaki - in 1896 they buy a house on Sergievskaya Street (a two-story mansion in the neo-Baroque style) and begin its reconstruction. For these purposes, they hire two architects - Vladimir Chagin and Vasily Shenet and give them carte blanche, including financial. Considering that both architects were simply indecently young - up to thirty, then they frolicked to their heart's content. The interior interiors of the mansion amaze not only with the richness of decoration, but also, most importantly, with the unexpectedness of the interiors. Not only eclecticism, especially since each room produces a very holistic feeling in terms of style, but precisely unexpectedness.
All materials used for work were only highest quality- Alexander Ferdinandovich did not look at the bills - he signed them. And, it should be noted, the result was amazing.
In two years, the architects built the front building. For this purpose, the Kondoyanaki mansion was demolished, and a new building in the French Renaissance style was built on its foundation. The work of Shenet and Chagin did not satisfy Varvara Petrovna Kelkh.
At her request, further work on the site was carried out by another architect - K. K. Schmidt. By 1903, he had built a courtyard building and stables. The architect gave the courtyard wing strictly Gothic features. The stables are made in the Art Nouveau style, which may mean involving another architect in the work.
Not only the façade of the house, but also its interiors were extremely richly decorated. The Kelch family was a client of the Faberge firm, ordering Easter eggs, cutlery, and precious jewelry. It was in their Yellow Living Room that the famous Easter eggs made by Faberge were displayed.
By 1905, Varvara Petrovna and Alexander Fedorovich Kelkh divorced. The mansion had to be mortgaged and then sold. Varvara Petrovna left for Paris forever, Alexander Fedorovich tried to start new life. After 1917, his ex-wife sent him money. Despite his second marriage, he did not refuse such help. Apparently this affected the fate of Alexander Fedorovich Kelkh. In 1930, he was arrested, exiled to camps, and then his fate is unknown.
On March 17, 1919, the School of Screen Art, the world's first cinematic educational institution, opened in the mansion. Acting and directing were taught here. Since 1922, the educational institution received the status of an institute. In 1924, one of the institute’s graduates was Sergei Dmitrievich Vasiliev, the creator of the popular Soviet film “Chapaev”. The students called Kelch's mansion the "Ice House." The heating in the building did not work, which is why fireplaces had to be used.
In 1936, the Dzerzhinsky district appeared in Leningrad. Its main governing institution (VKP(b) CPSU) was located in the Kelch mansion. Here the leaders of most enterprises were confirmed and new party members were accepted.
In 1941, part of the building with the left bay window was destroyed by a high-explosive bomb. The building was restored in 1944-1945, but the bay window was not recreated. The interiors located on the left side of the mansion were also lost.
In December 1991, the building was transferred to two organizations - the St. Petersburg Center in Support of UNESCO and the Organizing Committee for the preparation of the 1992 Banking Congress. Subsequently, these two organizations argued among themselves over ownership of the mansion. Until 1998, the Kelch mansion was empty. In 1998, the building was transferred to the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University for free use. Since then, the building has received the name of the Lawyer's House.There is a restaurant on the ground floor. It was opened to raise funds necessary for the restoration of the Kelch mansion. But subsequently, the restaurant’s management did not find a common language with the university’s law faculty and the establishment began to operate independently.
Grand Staircase and Lobby.
The ceiling of the main staircase is decorated with picturesque arabesques and plaster stucco in the Renaissance style. Along an elegant marble staircase with griffins, the visitor enters a luxurious lobby, decorated with sculptures - copies of Canova's works - “The Awakening” and “Venus of Italy”. Turning his gaze upward, he will see a light lantern made in the form of a stained glass window in the same Renaissance manner. The transition from the vestibule to the main rooms is made in the form of a Renaissance arcade with arabesques.
In 2010, Kelch's house was closed for restoration. In 2011, it was decided to transfer it to the Ministry of Justice.
Dining room.
Reminiscence in the Gothic style. Wall panels, furniture, frames of openings and ceiling are made of walnut wood. Gothic wall alcoves and a large fireplace are decorated with exquisite carvings and sculptures characteristic of this style. The narrow windows are decorated with stained glass windows, through which the light fills the room with a fabulous atmosphere. One can imagine what a wonderful impression this room had on visitors when the organ hidden behind the mezzanine began to sound within its walls.
And a ladder leads up to where the organ used to be.
From the Gothic dining room to the oak smoking room. And again - the carving on the ceiling will jump! There is a sickle, a shovel, and a rake. And something else very similar to a plunger. In the smoking room, of course, there is also a fireplace, just like without it - copied to order. Alexander Ferdinandych saw such a fireplace somewhere in Italy in a castle - and ordered it because he liked it. And they did it to him.
Yes, this woman on the stained glass window is Varenka.
White Hall.
The interior design of this luxurious room is in Baroque style. The pilasters, door frames, and the entire lower part of the wall are made of marble. The wall panels are decorated with plaster stucco in the form of compositions typical of the French Baroque.
The magnificent fireplace of light gray Italian marble, made according to a sketch by Maria Lvovna Dillon (1858-1932) in 1899 in Italian stone-cutting workshops, gives a special uniqueness to the interior. Maria Dillon is the first woman in Russia to graduate from the Academy of Arts in sculpture. The monument to V.F. Komissarzhevskaya (located in the Necropolis of Masters of Arts of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra), created in 1915 and recognized as one of the most notable phenomena in the artistic life of Russia of that period, brought her the greatest fame and glory. The White Hall fireplace is an earlier work by M. L. Dillon, but no less interesting. The complex multi-figure bas-relief of the fireplace “Awakening of Spring” embodies tender feelings and happy moments of love... Evidence of the outstanding talent of a female sculptor.
Alexander Ferdinandovich's office. Everything is strict there. The owner of the house was very fond of Karelian birch, so Karelian birch is on the ceiling, adjacent to peach silk wallpaper on the walls, a bookcase and a fireplace frame are made from it.
In the next room - an alcove - a relaxation room - the wallpaper is dark green and even the ones that were originally installed have been preserved. Mahogany ceiling with gilded bronze inserts, fireplace (by the way, the rule is that the window sills in the room are made of exactly the same stone as the fireplace. Preferably, from the same monolith). The bookcases are also made of mahogany.
The guide makes a slight movement with his hand - and the closet opens not only the doors, but also the spaces behind the doors. There are countless hiding places in the Kelch Palace. And behind these second doors there are not only safes, not only cavities for storing large items, but also a secret passage. And in general they say that now it has been walled up, but before it led to the 2nd metro line.
By the way, there is also something behind that bookcase in the office!The mansion is generally crammed with hiding places - there is also a clever cabinet in the bedroom. Having entered it, you can go up the spiral staircase to the second floor, down the other one again to the first floor, turn the desired decorative detail - and there it is, an armored room - huge, about thirty meters, meter-thick walls, safe locks (I’ll say right away, we’re there They didn’t take me there, because the archive of the law faculty, which owns the building, now lives there, they just told me), but I believe.
What did the Kelkhs keep there? That's right, gold brilliants. One necklace of Varvara Petrovna cost 35,000 rubles. And the diamond in it was thirty carats, for those who understand. And there was also stored something that aroused the envy of all high society St. Petersburg. Faberge Easter eggs. Despite the fact that Karl sculpted his gifts only for members royal family, there were, there were exceptions. These were the Duchess of Marlborough, Rothschild, Felix Yusupov and Alfred Nobel. And Varvara Kelkh, for whom the jeweler made seven eggs. Why the sovereign allowed such an embarrassment is unknown, but remembering the amounts spent by the Bazanovs on charity, we are no longer so tormented by this question.
Address: Tchaikovsky st., 28
Nearest metro stations: Chernyshevskaya
The mansion of state councilor and entrepreneur Alexander Kelkh is considered a property of Russian culture, one of architectural gems Petersburg and an excellent example of late eclecticism.
The building is a unique composition combining the styles of a Gothic castle, Rococo, French Renaissance, Baroque and Art Deco. This applies to both the external appearance and interior solutions.
History of the mansion
The original structure changed owners and was reconstructed several times. In 1896, it was acquired by Varvara Petrovna Kelkh (nee Bazanova), the heir to the dynasty of gold miners who owned the Siberian and Lena-Vitim Shipping Company, and placed an order to rebuild the house. Erected in 1897 by architects Vasily Shenet and Vladimir Chagin, the owner did not like the urban-type estate, and she entrusted the development of a new project to Karl Schmidt, a famous architect, thanks to whom by 1903 the Kelch mansion received its extraordinary appearance and interior design, becoming an example of late eclecticism.
During the formation of the Soviet state, the world's first educational institution for the art of cinematography was established in the Kelch mansion, which in 1922 acquired the status of an Institute where acting and directing were taught. One of the graduates of 1924 was Sergei Vasiliev, the creator of the wonderful film “Chapaev”.
In the 1930s, a nursing home was organized in the building, then the CPPS Committee of the Dzerzhinsky district of Leningrad worked here. During the siege, a high-explosive shell destroyed part of the building and the interior in the left wing, but by mid-1945, restorers managed to eliminate the main damage, except for the bay window and some interior elements.
In 1991, the Kelch mansion housed a UNESCO support center and the Committee for the Organization of the Banking Congress, which fought for a long time over the ownership of the beautiful building.
In 1998, the house became the free property of the State University, and the building housed the Faculty of Law. Since then, Kelch's mansion has become officially known as the Lawyer's House.
Architecture and interior
The high hipped roof, voluminous pylons, and the front facade made of pink and beige sandstone give the building an unusual and attractive aura. The courtyard facade of the mansion surprises with the fabulousness of the medieval outbuilding in the “flaming Gothic” style, and the interior design of the house is simply stunning with the complexity, richness and whimsical “fantasy” of the decor.
Behind the ancient oak doors of the mansion, the guest’s gaze is transfixed by the splendor of the design, color and luxury of the interiors: white-pink, golden, brown marble, complex carved ornaments on stone and wood, exquisite stucco decoration, old bronze, stained glass windows shining with thick colors, unique sculptural compositions, decorating niches, fireplaces, antique furniture. Each corridor, staircase, room is unique and differs in a variety of design styles.
The reliefs and patterns of stair railings, columns, and window frames are incredibly complex, bizarre and abundant. The walls are decorated with paintings, frescoes, and embossed wallpaper made of genuine leather. The work of master cabinetmakers and carvers, stained glass cassette ceilings, cornices with gilded elements, and damask panels are amazing.
Against the backdrop of the integrity of the decoration of each room, the interior decoration is distinguished by a variety of materials and “jewelry” elaboration of details. Stunningly beautiful multi-tiered fireplaces made of marble and labradorite are filled with multi-figure sculptural compositions and bas-reliefs.
The decor of the paneled ceilings is rich in expressive carvings on dark wood in the form of foliage, flowers, garlands, among which beautiful panels with arabesque paintings and landscapes delight the eye.
Of particular beauty are the White Hall in the Rococo style with huge mirrors between the windows, precious parquet floors made of different types of wood and a marvelous fireplace, a billiard room in the French Renaissance style and a stunning Gothic dining room with a huge fireplace decorated with figures of a knight and heraldic shields. Here, under the arched ceiling of dark wood, among the elongated window openings with small frames and multi-colored stained glass windows, the atmosphere of an elegant, mysterious Middle Ages reigns.
Kelch's mansion in the 21st century
In 2010, the building was closed for restoration, and a year later it was transferred to the Ministry of Justice. In 2017, private tour companies organized “tours” of the Kelch mansion. Unfortunately, today you can only get into the building with rare group excursions by appointment for certain days of visiting at the KGIOP St. Petersburg.
You can get to the wonderful house No. 28 on Tchaikovsky Street in a 5-minute walk from the Chernyshevskaya metro station.
Guests will be treated to the state rooms of one of the pearls of Old Petersburg - the Mansion of the Minister of War, Count Milyutin. While walking through the rooms and halls of the mansion, the guide will tell the story of the building and its owner - the reformer, the last Field Marshal of the Russian Empire Dmitry Milyutin, who, in particular, influenced the decree on the abolition of cruel criminal punishments - lashes, rods, branding, chaining to a cart and other things.
m. Gostiny Dvor, Mansion of the Minister of War, Sadovaya st., 4
The mansion of the philanthropist Polovtsev has preserved its historical interiors, which were worked on by the architects Messmacher, Brullo and Bosse in the 19th century. The house has unique state rooms - White and Bronze halls, a boudoir with a bay window, a Library and a dining room decorated in leather and walnut. During the tour, guests will learn Interesting Facts from the history of the mansion, which is intricately mixed with the life story of the South American revolutionary Francisco Miranda, Count d'Artois (French King Charles X), Ekaterina Dashkova and the life of the mistress of the house Nadezhda Polovtsova, the adopted daughter of the court banker Stieglitz.
You can find out more about upcoming excursions.
m. Admiralteyskaya, Bolshaya Morskaya st., 52
The first owner of this mansion in the Liteinaya part was Alexander Pushkin’s great-grandfather Abram Hannibal, and then his sons. At the beginning of the 19th century, they sold the building to Senator Ivan Neplyuev, and already in 1855 it was purchased by Prince Pyotr Trubetskoy, for whom the architect Bosse designed the mansion in different historical styles, which can be seen to this day. In the spring of 2012, during the restoration of the structure, a cache with cutlery, jewelry and awards from the 19th and 20th centuries was found between the ceilings. Most of the items bore the coat of arms of the Naryshkin family - evidence that the treasure was a family collection, which the owners decided to hide after the 1917 revolution, believing that soon everything in Russia would return to normal and then it would be possible to return for the treasure. Registration is required to participate in the tour.
m. Chernyshevskaya, Tchaikovsky St., 29
Kelch's house, according to many townspeople, is the pearl of St. Petersburg. At the very end of the 19th century, a plot of land on Sergievskaya Street (current Tchaikovsky Street) was acquired by Varvara Petrovna Kelkh. The mansion for Varvara Petrovna and her husband was built with luxury appropriate to the position of the mistress. The front façade was designed in the spirit of the French Renaissance and faced with sandstone in pink and light yellow tones. The interiors amazed contemporaries with their richness and variety of styles: Renaissance, Gothic, Rococo - no room is like the other. In early June, the mansion began to be restored. The only Gothic house in the city will be renovated this year. They promise to conduct excursions on an ongoing basis, but for now they offer sign up so as not to miss the first opportunity.
m. Chernyshevskaya, st. Tchaikovsky, 28
This is an inconspicuous building in an industrial area Vasilyevsky Island keeps many secrets and secrets of bygone times. It is here, if you believe numerous stories and legends, that the mystical mirror of Count Dracula is hidden. Shabby walls, preserved stucco patterns, fireplaces and huge hanging chandeliers still reflect all their former grandeur. old mansion. This house is one of the addresses that St. Petersburg may soon lose forever, so you just need to have time to get acquainted with it. To the mansion lead excursions, and they also arrange photo sessions for those suffering by prior arrangement.
m. Vasileostrovskaya, Kozhevennaya line, 27
In April 2016, for the first time, a Day of Open Excursions was held to inaccessible memorial places, where anyone is not allowed on a regular day. The Eliseevs' house became one of the addresses on the map of this event. This four-story house was built in the middle of the 19th century according to the design of the architect Nikolai Pavlovich Grebenka, who erected a simply unimaginable number of apartment buildings and mansions in the city for St. Petersburg snobs and prominent figures. The master's architectural solutions have survived to this day without noticeable changes. At that time, the shop of the Eliseev Brothers trading house was located here, as the massive display windows on the first floor remind us of. Now ITMO University is based here and they are showing an exhibition of light installations and holograms called Magic of Light. So, in addition to the interesting exhibition, you can also get acquainted with the chic interiors at
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Address: Tchaikovsky, 28
The Kelch mansion is part of the unique architectural heritage of St. Petersburg. This building seems to breathe with wealth and luxury, which takes the breath away of absolutely every visitor.
The Leningrad Symphony invites you to join an excursion to the Kelch mansion and see its magnificent interiors with your own eyes.
EXCURSION TO THE MANSION OF BARON KELCH: IN THE MAJESTIC WORLD OF LUXURY AND WEALTH
Excursion to the Kelch mansion – great opportunity have a fun and educational time. Experienced guides will tell you about the difficult fate of the owners of the building, about the history of the creation of the mansion and its further existence.Having crossed the threshold of Kelch's house, you immediately find yourself in another world - the world of an exquisite ceremonial interior. Is it any wonder, because the owner of such a luxurious mansion was a real rich woman: Varvara Petrovna Kelkh inherited gold mines, the annual income from which was 32,000 kg of gold.
You will see Italian marble, exquisite stucco, carved wood, picturesque arabesques, unique sculptures, bronze candelabra, and unusual stained glass windows. True architectural aesthetes will appreciate the organic and subtle interweaving of different styles in the mansion of Baron Kelch: Baroque, Art Nouveau, Gothic, Rococo, Romanticism.
Thanks to the excursion you will learn amazing facts from the life of the owners of this mansion: what Varvara Petrovna and Alexander Fedorovich spent cosmic sums on; why Varvara Petrovna emigrated to Paris, and Alexander Fedorovich went bankrupt and was arrested.
You can make sure that the Kelch mansion rightfully bears the name “pearl of St. Petersburg” only by seeing it in reality. “Leningrad Symphony” guarantees: you will spend an unforgettable day!
