House of Receptions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Moscow)

Russia / Moscow / Moscow / ulitsa Vozdvizhenka, 16
 interesting place, 1899_construction, reception house, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia)
One of the most interesting late 19th century private residences, Viktor Mazurin designed this project in 1894-1899 for Arseny Morozov. The two had traveled together in Europe and seen Portuguese and Spanish Moorish architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries, in particular the Pena Palace in Sintra. Upon his return, his mother gave him this property for his 25th birthday.

The asymmetric mansion has what appears to be the entrance gate to a fortress with high rounded archway topped by two rounded turrets. The building's stucco surface is covered with scallop shell decorations. The window frames, doorways, balcony edges and rooftops are also ornately decorated with lacy latticework, heavy ropes and sea knots. Inside the absence of symmetry continues and the eclectic tastes of the owner are also evident in the dining room called the Knights' Hall decorated in pseudoGothic style, the main drawing room in Empire style, the boudoir in Baroque fashion and other rooms in Chinese and Arabic style.

With the 1917 Revolution, the building became a theater for the Proletkultur, then the Foreign Affairs office took control of the building and it was the Japanese embassy from 1928-1940. During World War II the British produced a newspaper here. For a few years after its independence, this was the embassy of India. Subsequently, it became the House of Friendship with the People of Foreign Countries (Dom Druzhby). After major restoration work beginning in 2003, it is now one of several "House of Receptions of the Government of the Russian Federation".
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Coordinates:   55°45'11"N   37°36'13"E

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This article was last modified 13 years ago