Hi! Today I invite you once again on a virtual stroll through Moscow. This time, I would like to tell you about the former residential house of the Commissariat of Finance (Narkomfin). This architectural monument from the Soviet era is notable not only for its unusual strict facades but also for the unconventional configuration of its living spaces.
How to Get There by Metro
The House of the People's Commissariat of Finance (Narkomfin House) is located at Novinsky Boulevard, 25. A few minutes' walk from here is the exit from the metro interchange station "Barrikadnaya" – "Krasnopresnenskaya." The building is residential, and you can't enter inside casually, but architecture enthusiasts can stroll around the structure and admire it from any angle.
A Bit of History
The construction of the Narkomfin House took place in 1928-1930. Its architects were M. Y. Ginzburg and I. F. Milinis. Interestingly, during the same period, both of these masters were also working on the creation of the Government House in Alma-Ata.
As mentioned at the beginning of the material, the house stands out among many other buildings of that time due to its internal spaces. The building consists only of two-level apartments. Surprisingly, such a configuration was considered the most advantageous in execution. Similar buildings, resembling the Narkomfin House, also appeared in Moscow, Yekaterinburg, and Saratov.
The Narkomfin House adheres to all the principles of the renowned Le Corbusier: the building is raised above the ground on columns, it has a flat usable roof (on which, by the way, the apartment of the People's Commissar of Finance was located), and ribbon windows. In the courtyard of the building, there is a communal block. According to the authors' intentions, a gym, kitchen, and two dining rooms were supposed to be located here. There were also plans to construct a separate building for a kindergarten, but it was never built.
Many readers will likely notice that the house, approaching the age of 100 years, looks very well-maintained. This is because a large-scale reconstruction was recently carried out here. Today, the house is considered elite. I came across information that 50 apartments in this complex were quickly bought up.
Lastly, I would like to share a link to my story about the Tsentrosoyuz building on Myasnitskaya Street in Moscow. This architectural monument is known as the only building in Russia designed by the famous Le Corbusier.
Have a nice trip!
