Once again Moscow became the capital of Russia after the events of 1917. It was then that members of the government and various officials began to move to Belokamennaya. But with housing for high-ranking migrants, some difficulties arose. It was then that it was decided to start a grandiose construction, as a result of which a house on the embankment appeared. Did the keys to new apartments bring happiness to high-ranking residents, and is it possible to live in this building today?
From the project to the building of the future
The correct name of the government house is the House of Soviets of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars, but the people called it differently. The place for the construction of the high-rise was chosen for a long time. But in the end, they decided to build "in the swamp" - on the site of the Wine and S alt Yard, at the intersection of Bersenevskaya Embankment and All Saints Street. The construction was started in 1928, special attention was paid to the arrangement of the foundation. In 1931The house on the embankment was already accepting its first tenants. The total cost of construction was determined at 24 million rubles. In 1933, the majestic new building received a new address: Vsekhsvyatskaya Street was renamed Serafimovicha Street.
Everything for your own
The finished house was well ahead of its time. After cramped hotel rooms, residents were able to move into spacious apartments ranging from 100 m22, fully finished and furnished. The government new building offered its residents all the amenities: a garbage chute in the kitchen, hot and cold water, elevators, telephones. The word "infrastructure" was not yet known in the USSR, but in one house there was everything necessary for life. These are a cinema, a club, a canteen, a shop, a first-aid post, a kindergarten, a laundry, a post office and other organizations. The house on the embankment in Moscow was indeed unique for its time. It is only worth saying that a significant part of the country's population then huddled in barracks and communal apartments without any conditions. Happy new settlers at first sincerely rejoiced at all the benefits and successfully settled in apartments. However, this happiness did not last long.
Black days in the history of the house
Already in 1934, the first arrests of the inhabitants of the house took place. At first, this seemed like some kind of misunderstanding, well, how can there be the most-most deserved enemies of the people? However, soon the residents of the government building fell into a real panic. They came for everyone, regardless of rank and title. Disappeared not only civil servants, but alltheir families, and the apartments were sealed. In total, about 800 people who lived in this ill-fated house were repressed. Many residents who felt a suspicious look on themselves, without waiting for the arrival of the executioners, ended their lives on their own initiative. If light appeared in the windows at night, the neighbors knew that they had already come for someone. At the worst of times, half the house was always dark and lifeless. The situation changed with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, then all the residents were evacuated, and after the Victory many returned, empty apartments went to new heroes.
Local History Museum of a Bygone Era
After the end of the war, the house on the embankment begins its new completely peaceful history. In 1977 a complete reconstruction was carried out. All entrances were repaired, many large apartments were re-planned into somewhat more modest ones. Around the same time, the residents finally began to settle down in their own way, acquiring new furniture and making repairs.
Today, this building houses offices of reputable companies, including foreign companies, fashionable beauty salons and shops. Residential apartments are considered elite, and you can buy them, but only the cost of such an acquisition is quite high. There is also a local history museum here - "House on the Embankment" - its official name. The exposition is dedicated to the history of the building, all the events that took place here and the former residents. In the museum, you can see authentic furniture from the period when the legendary skyscraper was settled, as well as personal belongings of the people who lived here. Among the exhibits you can seea stuffed penguin, a wrist watch from the “To Muscovites from Roosevelt” series, books written by residents of the house and other authors about the house itself.
The Embankment House (museum): opening hours and exact address
The exact address of the legendary building: Moscow, st. Serafimovich, house 2.
The exposition dedicated to the history of the building is located in the first entrance. The museum is open every day except Monday. You can sign up for a tour by phone: (495) 959-49-36. You can get to the legendary house by public transport. The nearest metro stations: "Oktyabrskaya", "Kropotkinskaya" and "Polyanka" - then by land transport to the stop "Drummer Cinema".
It is interesting not only to visit the museum, but also to see the house on the embankment on your own. It has only 25 entrances, one of which does not have residential apartments, a cozy courtyard and an impressive facade are literally saturated with the spirit of bygone eras. The house also boasts an abundance of memorial plaques - only outside there are 25 of them, and in the entrances you can see 6 more.
