Embassy of Afghanistan (Moscow)

 mansion / manor house / villa, Neoclassical (architecture), embassy of Afghanistan, 1904_construction, object of cultural heritage of regional importance (Russia)

Mansion of M. G. Ponizovskov with service buildings and fence built in 1903-1904 by the architect L. N. Kekushev

Tel: (7) (495)928-7278,-5044
Fax: 924-0478, -21-9563
Telex: 413270 AFMB RU
E-mail: afghanem@online.ru
Consular department 928-7581
Commercial department 928-5978, 921-5992

Prior to the beginning of the 20th century on this site there was a wooden manor of privy councillor D. G. Volchkov which occupied the entire area between Skaryatinsky and Skatertny lanes. Drawings of the manor are contained in the architectural albums of the best Moscow buildings made about 1801 by the architect M.F. Kazakov. During a fire of 1812 all buildings of the estate burned but by 1818 they had been restored.

In 1902 the manor was demolished by the Moscow trading-building joint-stock company and the property was divided into two sites. The modern building № 42, forming a corner on Povarskaya Street and Skatertny lane and occupying the right part of the Volchkov manor, was constructed in 1903 in Style Moderne by the architect L.N. Kekushev.

Only after the construction was the private residence sold to the owner, textile manufacturer M.G. Ponizovsky. In 1910 change were made to the facade and some reorganization of the interior were made by the architect V.I.Motylyov. Then in 1914-1915 the faced was changed again so that all exterior signs of the original Style Moderne facade were lost and the only thing remaining from L.N.Kekushev's plan was the structural layout. During the same period the The same period a granite wall with spiral curl geometric design characteristic of the Moscow Art Nouveau was installed on the Street side of the building.

Since 1922 the Embassy of Afghanistan has been located in this building. The building was furnished in 1920s, and in its interior furnishing there are a considerable quantity of valuable items, including some personal things belonging previously to Napoleon and original pictures of well-known artists.

In 1958 a document was signed between Soviet Union and Afghanistan giving the building to the Afgani government rent free for a period of 99 years. Major repairs took place between 1994 and 2004 but the Afghani embassy again occupies the building.

In 2009 M.G.Ponizovsky's private residence together with service buildings and fencing were accepted under the state protection and declared objects of cultural heritage and regional value.