Description of the attraction
The Egyptian House is located near the Chernyshevskaya metro station on Zakharievskaya Street. The Egyptian house cannot be confused with other houses; at first glance, it becomes clear that this is the very Egyptian house. On both sides of the entrance there are statues of the sun god Ra, resembling statues standing at the tombs of the pharaohs, above the entrance there is a Ra bas-relief in the form of a winged sun disc. Higher still is the sky goddess Hathor.
The building was built by order of the wife of the state councilor, Larisa Nizhinskaya, according to the project of the architect Mikhail Songailo. M. Songailo was an adherent of the Academy of Arts, which was very popular among graduates of the Academy of Arts at the beginning of the 20th century. style neoclassicism. Mikhail Songailo is a native of the Polish kingdom. In 1921 he emigrated to Lithuania, where he became the head of the Department of Architecture at Kaunas University.
Despite the fact that the building ordered by the architect was intended for rent, L. Nezhinskaya together with her husband wanted the house to be original in order to amaze everyone. In addition, at the beginning of the 20th century. most people in the arts showed an increased interest in everything related to mysticism and occultism, and Songailo was no exception. Especially, by the way, Egypt fell here. Various Masonic signs and other symbols of secret ancient teachings were popular.
The construction of the house lasted from 1911 to 1913. Nezhinskaya's wish was fulfilled - her house delighted the St. Petersburg public. Osip Mandelstam wrote in "The Egyptians" in 1913: "I have built a home for myself."
The Egyptian house was one of the most advanced at the time. With a lifting automated lift "Stiegler", carefully thought out layout. But, of course, his appearance made a special impression. The abundance of decor elements that echo the ancient Egyptian theme have made this house an outstanding work of Russian Art Nouveau. And the proportions of the building absolutely allow it to be attributed to neoclassicism.
The facade of the building is decorated with high protruding columns with goddesses' faces. In the center of the façade there is an archway that leads to the inner courtyard. Its walls and ceiling are adorned with images of winged solar disks and flying birds. On both sides of the arch there are two symmetrical entrances. Statues of the god Ra with crossed arms in hip straps stand near each door. The facade of the building is richly decorated with bas-reliefs with scenes from life, mainly agricultural work of the Egyptians, images of gods, pilasters, half-columns, discs with mythical creatures.
The courtyard contrasts strongly with the building's front façade. Despite the fact that the walls are also decorated with friezes, various decorative elements, and opposite the arches on either side of the elevator are the figures of the Tsar and Tsarina, on the whole it is a traditional gloomy St. Petersburg “well”.
At the beginning of World War II, a turret with a machine gun was installed on one of the corners of the building to fire at German bombers. During the war, the house was not damaged at all.
Before the First World War, the building housed the embassies of Romania and Belgium. Later, the editorial office of "The Art of Leningrad" was located here.
In 2007, as part of the facade restoration program, the house was restored. But the repairs were carried out with gross violations, the scaffolding was attached directly to the bas-reliefs, which could not but cause discontent among the architectural committees, which are responsible for the preservation of buildings. Under their pressure, repairs began to be carried out using more gentle methods. But the walls of the Egyptian house, which face the courtyard, continue to collapse, and the bas-reliefs made of textured plaster are crumbling before our eyes.
After the house was resettled and the interior was renovated, it became elite. Its courtyard is guarded. Now in the Egyptian House there is an arms shop, a cafe, offices of several firms, and there are classrooms for the Center for Technical Means for Anti-Terrorist and Operational-Investigative Activities.
