GlavUpDK will restore the historical color solution of the Ya. A. Polyakov City Estate on Bolshoy Nikolopeskovsky Lane

09 april 2024

Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps under the MFA of Russia (GlavUpDK) is currently restoring the facade, roof, fence and gate, as well as adapting the Ya. A. Polyakov City Estate to modern use. This cultural heritage site of regional significance is located at 9 Bolshoy Nikolopeskovsky Lane, Moscow.

The first mention of the house under the modern number 9 dates back to the second half of the 18th century. In 1897, the property was acquired by a hereditary honorary citizen, a member of a wealthy merchant family that owned the Znamenskaya Manufactory Partnership, Yakov Alexandrovich Polyakov. The new owner decided to demolish all buildings except the old main house with a mezzanine, which by that time had been erected on the site.

Instead of those buildings a two-level mansion with a residential basement was built according to the project of architect Illarion Aleksandrovich Ivanov-Schitz. The building was designed to combine historicism and Art Nouveau compositional techniques, and its architectural appearance was complemented by a stone fence with a wrought iron lattice. Most likely, this idea also belonged to I. A. Ivanov-Shitz.

In addition, in 1899, Ya. A. Polyakov obtained a permission to build another building on the site – a non-residential maintenance building with a stable for two stalls and a carriage house. Neo-Gothic elements were used in the building design.

After 1917, the building was transferred to the Moscow Pedagogical Institute named after K. Liebknecht, and in 1947 to the Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps (the predecessor of GlavUpDK under the MFA of Russia).

The building has retained its original volume and impressive architectural design. The main entrance is made in the form of a portal completed with a pediment. The frieze of the portico is decorated with a meander and dentils, and the window apertures with pilasters, an artistic entablature and pediments. The pilasters on the windows of the main facade along the alley are decorated with caryatids. The motif of four crossed rays ("sun") can be seen in the pattern of the balcony parapet and the ridge of the roof with elegant turrets. The facades are crowned with an egg-and-dart cornice. Another striking detail is the porch area covered with encaustic tiles. The Art Nouveau-inspired metal lace of the fence complements the design of the building. The pattern of the fence and gate combines c-shaped curls and tulip-like elements.

The project implemented by the Major Projects Department of GlavUpDK under the MFA of Russia involves cleaning and restoration of facade and stucco decoration. The original idea of architect I. A. Ivanov-Shitz will be revived: a parapet flanked by bollards with pilasters will be installed on the avant-corps of the main facade – similar to the decor of the avant-corps at the base of the window, and the false fence will be decorated with a four-part decor – inspired by the motif of the crossed rays of the "sun", which are reproduced on the ridge of the roof. The house facade will be painted in the original colors, which will be identified after removing the previous layers of paint.

The lost elements of both the facade and the fences with gates will be recreated according to the preserved samples and sketches.

Historical window assembly will also be restored, while modern PVC windows will be replaced with carpentry restoration products. The lattice fences of the basement windows, recreated according to historical sketches, will also be installed.

The architectural lighting will help to highlight the accent details of the mansion's decor in the evening, and the adaptation of the building to modern use will ensure its comfortable and safe operation.