Dom Soyuz (House of the Unions) earlier the House of the Noblemen's Assembly (Moscow)

Russia / Moscow / Moscow / ulitsa Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 1
 building/structure currently being renovated/restored/reconstructed, interesting place, 1908_construction, 1780s construction, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia)

Originally this was the site of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov's mansion built in the first half of the 18th century (the prince was related the to the original Dolgoruky family). Purchased by a group of noblemen, it was redesigned and expanded in Russian classical style as the Moscow Nobleman's Assembly by Matvei Kazakov in 1784. Greatly damaged in the 1812 fire, it was rebuilt by a student of Kazakov's and then altered significantly again in 1903 when the third-story was added.

Several rooms, including the grand ballroom, were added during the Kazakov renovation. Most notably and relatively well preserved is the large, all wood, gold and white ballroom. Called the Hall of Columns for its twenty-eight, white, artificial marble Corinthian columns, it has been the site of many important events. In 1856 Tsar Aleksandr II (1818-1881) told the Russian nobility of his desire to the free the serfs. In 1919 Lenin passed the building to the unions. Over a million Russians filed by to pay their respects to Lenin in 1924. Then in 1931 George Bernard Shaw celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday here. In 1953 Stalin lay in state here as well. Today the space is sometimes used for concerts.
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Coordinates:   55°45'32"N   37°36'58"E
This article was last modified 6 years ago