Mansion of Anna Kekusheva, Art Nouveau mansion in Khamovniki District, Russia
The Mansion of Anna Kekusheva is an Art Nouveau residential building in the Khamovniki District with an asymmetrical facade, windows of varying sizes, and a solid stone foundation. A bronze lion statue measuring roughly 3.2 meters tall crowns the roof, making the structure instantly recognizable throughout the neighborhood.
Architect Lev Kekushev designed this residence in 1903 for his family, registering it under his wife Anna's name for official purposes. The building represents the emergence of Moscow's Art Nouveau style during Russia's early industrial period.
The mansion has connections to Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita, where it may have inspired the character Margarita's residence. Visitors can trace literary history through the building's architectural details and interior spaces.
The building opens to visitors during Moscow's Historical and Cultural Heritage Days, while serving as a diplomatic mission site throughout the rest of the year. It helps to check the specific dates in advance since access is limited to these special occasions.
A comprehensive restoration in 2018 returned the building to its original design, including recreation of wooden stairs and decorative roof tiles using historical methods. The restoration work brought back details that had been lost or modified over decades of use and changes.
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