Ryabushinsky House, Art Nouveau mansion in Presnensky District, Moscow, Russia
The Ryabushinsky House is an Art Nouveau mansion featuring a marble staircase shaped like an ocean wave as its central showpiece. Inside, visitors find elaborate details such as jellyfish-shaped chandeliers, shell-patterned windows, and richly decorated rooms that reflect the owner's dedication to artistic design.
The mansion was constructed in 1902 by architect Fyodor Schechtel for banker Stepan Ryabushinsky. It later became the home of writer Maxim Gorky, who lived there from 1931 to 1936 and kept his collection of Japanese miniature sculptures within its walls.
The rooms within display design elements representing underwater, air, and mountain realms, revealing how the architect connected nature and spirituality. Walking through these spaces, visitors experience how the owner sought to blend daily living with a symbolic journey through different worlds.
The mansion is open for visits Wednesday through Sunday, allowing guests to explore the rooms where Gorky lived and worked. Plan enough time to examine the fine details and collection pieces at a comfortable pace.
A hidden prayer room sits on the third floor, containing a miniature chapel with an iconostasis and dome. The room features a special window aimed at the sky, inviting quiet reflection under the stars.
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