Igumnov House, Russian Revival mansion in Yakimanka District, Russia
The Igumnov House is a grand residence built with red brick and white stone ornaments accented by colored ceramic tiles adorning its detailed facade. The three-story building features tall decorative windows, ornate doorways, and an interior filled with historical furnishings and painted wall decorations throughout its rooms.
The mansion was commissioned by wealthy merchant Nikolai Igumnov in 1895 and designed by architect Nikolai Pozdeev as his private residence. It transitioned to diplomatic use starting in 1979 when it became the official residence of France's ambassador to Russia.
The residence reflects Russian architectural traditions blended with European influences through its ornate decorations and craftsmanship. Visitors can observe in the rooms how the careful design choices express the owner's wealth and refined taste.
The building is located in a traditional Moscow residential neighborhood and can be easily reached on foot along Bolshaya Yakimanka Street. It is best appreciated from the exterior since it functions as the French ambassador's official residence and is not open for public tours.
The mansion fascinated observers for years due to the exquisite quality of its floor patterns created with rare imported materials at extraordinary expense. Speculation about gold being incorporated into the ornate floor designs circulated among locals and added to its reputation as a display of tremendous wealth.
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