Nikolsky Trade Rows, Moscow, Art Nouveau commercial building in Tverskoy District, Moscow, Russia
The Nikolsky Trade Rows is a shopping arcade in Art Nouveau style with curved lines, ornate details, and sculptures across its facade. The building stretches with multiple shops under a glass roof structure that forms a connected shopping street.
Architect Lev Kekushev designed this shopping arcade in 1903 when Moscow was transforming its traditional marketplaces into structured retail spaces. The project was part of a larger urban modernization that redefined the old commercial landscape.
The building shows how Moscow transformed traditional markets into modern shopping centers in the early 1900s, reflecting the shift in urban commerce. The arcades were a place where buyers and sellers met under a covered, organized space, quite different from the open marketplaces before.
The building is near Red Square and easy to reach on foot, with a closed glass roof structure that protects from rain and snow. Visitors can walk through the arcade easily while exploring the various shops that line both sides.
The structure combines European arcade design with Russian architectural elements, creating a commercial space that has kept its original retail function. Many of the shops inside still operate the same way as they did at the start of the century, making this a still-used historic location.
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