Ostozhenka is one of the oldest streets in the historical center of Moscow. Among the most interesting of its buildings is a wonderful example of Moscow Art Nouveau, the house of Anna Kekusheva. It is interesting not only for architecture lovers: literary critics and admirers of Mikhail Bulgakov's work consider it one of the prototypes of Margarita's dwelling from his most famous novel. The writer called it a "Gothic mansion" in a "garden in one of the alleys near the Arbat", mentioning the bedroom, "facing the tower of the mansion with a lantern."
The house was designed and built in 1901-1903 by the architect Lev Kekushev for his family. However, his wife Anna Ionovna was officially recorded as the owner, so he went down in history under her name.
The building reflects the features of Moscow Art Nouveau - asymmetric layout and composition, dynamism of forms, interest in combining different materials, colors, and types of decor. The turret reminiscent of a medieval castle - if the researchers of literature are right - could indeed have seemed "gothic" to Bulgakov. The figure of a proudly elongated upward lion, which originally crowned the street facade, disappeared in the interwar period, but during the last restoration its place was taken by an exact copy; in addition, the stucco eagles on the tower have been restored.
This restoration deserves a detailed story. The mansion is run by the GlavUpDK under the Russian Foreign Ministry, and in 2018 the restorers of the GlavUpDK completed large-scale work there. Previously, the roof, facade, interior were thoroughly studied, archival materials were also examined: all this became the basis for the restoration. At the same time, modern materials were selected that meet the main requirement - to preserve the monument of architectural heritage for as long as possible, without violating its original appearance.
In particular, high quality titanium-zinc "RHEINZINK prePATINA blaugrau (blue-gray)" was used for the restoration of the roof. It fully meets the main requirements of restoration - natural metal surface, durability and quality. This material, produced by the German company RHEINZINK according to the patented prepatinization technology (industrial "aging"), most harmoniously fits into the integral historical image of the house on Ostozhenka. All elements of the roof of the main part of the building and the tower, parapets and ebb tides were recreated by FABER master roofers according to archival drawings and individually made specifically for the Kekusheva mansion. Total for covering all roof surfaces with an area of 650 m22 5.5 tons of titanium-zinc "RHEINZINK prePATINA blaugrau (gray-blue)" were used.
The guarantee from the material manufacturer RHEINZINK is 40 years, and the service life is 100 years or more, which allows us to say with confidence: our children and grandchildren, just like us, will admire the “Gothic mansion” of Bulgakov's Margarita by the master of modern architecture Lev Kekushev.
