Ivan Ivanovich Alafuzov is a talented entrepreneur and successful businessman of his time. He managed to create a family empire, which consisted of a large number of factories, plants, workshops for the production of textiles, yarn, leather goods, thread, tarpaulins, canvases, waterproof fabrics and much more. Its activities were deployed in all major cities of our country. Having won its niche with quality goods at an affordable price, Ivan Ivanovich's family business reached the state level, equipping the Russian army with everything necessary from clothes, shoes and hats. In addition to his merits in entrepreneurship, it is worth highlighting the social activities of his family: the construction of hospitals, schools, libraries, their financing (even after his death) was a socially significant contribution to the life of the cities of our country.
The starting point for the development of Ivan Alafuzov's own entrepreneurship is 1865 in the cityKazan. During this period of time, together with his father-in-law, he built a textile factory and bought up several leather factories in the Yagodnaya and Admir alteyskaya settlements. It is this historical place (the Alafuzov factory in Kazan), where the development of the empire of a talented person began, that we will talk about today.
Factory life after oblivion
Interest in architectural buildings that have left the deepest mark on history always attracts special attention. And even if this building is abandoned many decades ago, it has a special state protection status.
Alafuzov's factory is located in Kazan on 55a Gladilov Street in the Kirovsky District. At the moment, this building has become the first Kazan loft. Judging by the name, it was chosen by Kazan creative people: photographers, artists and other fashionable parties. Now there are regular shootings for magazines, photo shoots in the daytime. And at night, the Alafuzov factory in Kazan becomes a place where young people flock to listen to music, chat and buy some little things that are sold in the so-called "Alafuzov markets".
Who owns Alafuzov's manufactory?
The owner of this building is one owner (Andrey Pitulov), although recently his partners were 5 more people. The partners, having fulfilled all obligations to A. Pitulov regarding the purchase of the building, the development of a business project, the search for a partner bank and everything else, left the project, as planned in 2014. Since 2017, the owner has becomeone person.
What are the plans for Alafuzov's factory in Kazan?
There are exhibitions, Sunday markets, underground parties, film screenings. A special mood hovers in this space: the spirit of the last century reigns here. Dilapidated walls, vintage tiles, stained-glass windows and interior items - everything is as if you find yourself a hundred years ago in the past. Below is a photo of the Alafuzov factory (Kazan) as it looks now.
In the future, it is planned to create the first hostel for bikers here, as well as rent out premises to freelance artists and creative people for performances, festivals and theme parties.
What is a "loft" in the modern sense?
This buzzword came to us in the 30s-40s. last century from New York. Then it was customary to turn abandoned warehouses, factories into art galleries, exhibitions. And later, elite apartments began to be equipped in the style of a loft. The abandonment of buildings was due to a sharp increase in land leases in the city center. For this reason, many entrepreneurs of various crafts have had to leave their factories and move to the outskirts of New York.
This fashion trend has reached our country relatively recently. So, Andrei Pitulov, the founder of the loft from the Alafuzov factory in Kazan, was inspired by the work of his Moscow colleagues at the Krasny Oktyabr factory. They created a successful factory loft project that was in demand among Muscovites. Pictured below is the owner.factories - Andrey Pitulov.
Revival of Alafuzov's manufactory
On the revival (or revitalization, as it often appears in relation to the loft) Alafuzov's factory needs about one hundred million rubles. The initial phase, which had already been completed by the summer of 2016, was estimated at twenty million. According to the current owner of the factory Alafuzov, this place cannot yet be called a full-fledged loft, as restoration work is still underway.
Some parts of the buildings are blocked, and only professional employees can get in, whose duty is to revive the pre-revolutionary buildings of the Alafuzov manufactory.
Excursion around the first Kazan loft
When approaching the factory, it seems that the place is uninhabited. The gloomy gates that meet newcomers create a certain entourage already in the first seconds of being in this place. But the entrance to the building is through another part of the building, where the entrance of the factory of the wool processing shop used to be.
Visitors are met by a security officer, collects payment for the entrance ticket (100 rubles), puts on paper bracelets and gives a brief briefing on which parts of the Alafuzov factory building (Kazan) you can enter and which not, so as not to get lost.
After the visitors are allowed to "float freely", having overcome several turns of the shops, you find yourself in an open area. The first thing that catches your eye is the so-called night markets (or flea markets). Herehandmade bracelets and beads, hats and much more unusual are on sale.
Among other things, you can find a lot of pottery here. Culinary master classes, theme evenings are periodically held, and the musical accompaniment of Kazan performers has become a tradition here. There is a cafe where you can eat fried shish kebab, taste tandoor cakes, grilled vegetables and sweet corn.
Local ghost watchman
Walking around the loft-studio of the Alafuzov factory in Kazan, you can meet the ghost of Ivan Ivanovich. According to a local legend, the spirit of a dead merchant walks through the gloomy building. Shabby red brick walls that lost their plaster many decades ago, the sounds of dripping water, shabby posters about the stages of wool processing and other items during the local watchman's excursion about the ghost make us believe the legend is true.
The pictures of what is happening are so ordinary in simple gray everyday life that one gets the impression of a real mystery of this place. This delights visitors. According to the local guide, Alafuzov's ghost is kind. He was seen several times when work was just beginning to revitalize his plant. Most often he was seen on the landing in a short cloak and with a long beard, he quickly ran away and disappeared into the darkness.
Employees of Alafuzov's factory and Pitulov himself are of the opinion that there is a positive energy here, a good atmosphere. Evenfor the entire period of operation of the pre-revolutionary factory, not a single accident was recorded here. And the fact that it was this place that became the starting point for the dizzying rise of Alafuzov's enterprises is evidence of this.
Reviews of modern factory visitors
As previously noted, the address of Alafuzov's factory in Kazan can be found in the Kirovsky district, along Gladilov Street, 55a. The building can be visited by anyone from Friday to Sunday, opening hours - from 20:00 to 24:00. Photo shoots are often held here. Unusual locations and atmosphere create very bright and memorable impressions for visitors. Those who have been here at least once confirm that the place is unusual and worth visiting.
The factory, equipped as a loft, attracts creative youth and allows them to develop, share creativity and exchange experience, their thoughts. Bohemia is unlikely to be interested in this place, since the underground trend is everywhere here.
Every night there are about 500 visitors to the factory. And this means that Kazan residents are interested in an unusual loft, and it has every chance for promising development.
