Chocolate House, Kyiv, Art center in Kyiv, Ukraine
The Chocolate House is a two-story building featuring a brown facade with rusticated stonework patterns located on Shovkovychna Street in central Kyiv. Its interior consists of multiple rooms decorated in different architectural styles while preserving original staircases and fireplace systems from its founding period.
The building was completed in 1901 based on designs by architect Vladimir Nikolayev for merchant Semyon Mogilevtsev. It later functioned as a civil registration office from 1960 to 1982 before being converted into an art gallery.
The mansion operates today as a branch of the Kyiv National Art Gallery, hosting children's exhibitions and classical music performances throughout the year. The diverse rooms reflect the artistic tastes and creative interests of its original owners through their distinct design approaches.
The mansion welcomes visitors on certain weekdays and weekends with varying operating hours throughout the year. Advance planning is advisable since opening times can shift seasonally and special guided tours may be offered during specific periods.
Each room displays distinct artistic languages ranging from Renaissance details to Moorish motifs and Art Nouveau elements. The fine stuccowork, frescoes, and stained glass windows throughout the mansion reveal how wealthy residents of early Kyiv expressed their refined tastes.
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