“Chukhonian Art Nouveau”


Petr Loskov’s revenue house located at 4/1 Mansurovsky Lane is an example of the Northern Art Nouveau architectural style which is a unique phenomenon for Moscow. The Northern Art Nouveau mansions were built in St. Petersburg and Vyborg in the early 20th century. In Moscow this style was not that popular – the creation of architect Aleksandr Zelenko was immediately called “Chukhonian (derogatory for “Finnish”) Art Nouveau”, and the architect himself was called Sashka Zachukhonsky beyond his back. 

Years later, architects and art historians praised Aleksandr Zelensky’s work as innovative and highly artistic. The Northern Art Nouveau is notable for using a rich palette of material, a complex combination of various textures. In addition, architect Aleksandr Zelenko composed the image of a romantic (fairy-tale) castle, using loopholes, complex roof of the tower dome.