Moscow's famous Melnikov House finds itself in jeopardy once again as development plans threaten its existence
A Moscow Monument on the Edge
By Yury Arpishkin The Moscow News
Moscow's famous Melnikov House finds itself in jeopardy once again as development plans threaten its existence
The Melnikov House (see Fact Box) in central Moscow has been dogged by misfortunes with great regularity. Building No. 39 on old Arbat has just been pulled down, while No. 41 is to be demolished within the next few days. Both buildings are (or rather were) architectural landmarks, as listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Together, they formed a kind of a protection barrier around a house built by Konstantin Melnikov, a famous Russian architect (1890-1974).
This 77-year-old masterpiece of constructivism consists of two cylindrical towers, and is one of the city's best known architectural monuments. It is included in all textbooks and travel guides. Foreign tourists looking for "cultural impressions" in the Russian capital as a general rule search out two sites - the Kremlin and the Melnikov house. The latter, apart from other things, is remarkable in that it remained private property throughout the Soviet period: At first it belonged to the architect himself and then was passed on to his son. There are many legends as to how that could have happened.
One legend has it that as a reward for Melnikov's contribution to building the Lenin Mausoleum on Red Square, the Soviet authorities granted him full homeownership rights. Whatever the case, the house has remained as it was originally designed and built, void of any restructuring, remodeling, etc. But then no one has ever planned to renovate it either. The architect's descendants could simply not afford it, while the state did not consider it their duty.
A year ago, following the death of Melnikov's son Viktor, one half of the house somehow went to Sergei Gordeyev, a member of the upper house of the federal parliament from the Ust-Ordyn Buryat Autonomous District (East Siberia).
When it became known that a senator was involved, many assumed that he would do everything in his power to destroy the monument and build something more practical in its place. But it turned out that Gordeyev is an admirer of Russian avant garde and wants to save the structure. But urban development practice shows that in certain cases not even a member of the RF Federation Council can do anything.
According to the municipal authorities, the land that once sat under 39 and 41 on Arbat Street was bought by a commercial development firm called Trast Oyl. It is planning to build a retail trade and residential complex on the site with a vast underground area - a total of about 2,000 square meters. Apartments will be located on the upper floors.
The residential section is not a problem, but retail operations require regular deliveries and supplies, so trucks will be constantly moving along the narrow Krivoarbatsky Pereulok, past the Melnikov house. The house was built in 1930 and has a wood frame; when trucks pass by, the house noticably vibrates.
However, a subsoil study commissioned by Gordeyev earlier this year found underground cavities and sinkholes in close proximity to the Melnikov house. Furthermore, the construction project was authorized under a resolution by the Moscow administration that expired last year. In other words, the trade complex is being built in breach of the Law on the Preservation of Monuments of History and Culture, in a geologically unstable area.
DEVELOPERS DIG IN
The history behind the Melnikov house is rich. The architect's son bequeathed it to the state provided that it be used as a museum. The state, as represented by Mayor Luzhkov, expressed its enthusiasm with the project, even holding public discussions and expert conferences. But from every indication, it seems the city wants to be rid of the house.
Now the decision has apparently been made to let the property go - preferably by proxy, in a low key manner.
Therefore, the Moscow city authorities, in an intricate scheme, transferred Buildings 39 and 41 to nearby Vakhtangov Theater so that it could build yet another stage. Incidentally, a theater is well positioned to ensure the "preservation of monuments of history and culture." Once the property is commercialized, it could be expanded. Of course, the Melnikov house is of great cultural value, but is the Vakhtangov Theater any less? So while the debate rages, a retail complex could start going up on the quiet.
In this particular case, however, the trick did not work. Much to its credit, management of the Vakhtangov Theater refused to participate in the plan and swapped the plot for another. At this point, Trast Oyl came on stage - no one knows how or from where. There are too many players in this drama.
Preservation laws are not an impediment. Experts are always ready to oblige. Perhaps the only problem is the expired permission, but who will want to bother? Construction must go on regardless.
It is naive to think that someone has decided to destroy the monument. No, it is simply that some people want to profit from a very attractive piece of land.
If the house collapses, "We'll talk about it." But what if it does not?
