Architectural anniversaries
We are congratulating Nizhny Novgorod on its anniversary
and cannot but dwell on what makes it unique among other
cities - its architecture. Today ancient Nizhny Novgorod
welcomes guests not only with its monasteries, the Kremlin,
numerous architectural monuments and its multifaceted historical
environment, but also with contemporary buildings that make
perfect neighbors with ancient ones. The past and the present
mutually enrich and add to each other.
Russia's most prominent architects used to work in Nizhny
Novgorod. These were Boitsov, the Vesnin brothers, Dal,
Kochetov, Malinovskiy, Pokrovskiy, Pomerantsev, Tseidler,
Shekhtel, Shreter, Shukhov and others. Local archil.cctiirc
has reflected all the stages that national architectural
schools have gone tliroiigli.
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780th
anniversary of Blagoveschensky Monastery
(1221-2001)
 Main
stonewalled buildings in the monastery that we can see today
were erected in the 17th century by architect Velyamin Cherstkin.
Other masters contributed a lot of efforts to complete the
ensemble in the early 18th century. Nowadays the monastery
is a spiritual education center. In 1993, a theological
school opened there under the guidance of archimandrite
Kirill, which was reestablished as the Theological Seminary
by resolution from the Holy Synod in 1995.
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370th
jubilee of Archangel Michael Cathedral
(1631-2001)
 1631 - the year when the Archangel Michael
Cathedral was completed. The Romanov royal family
decided to pay homage to the special role that the Nizhny
Novgorod patriotic campaign of 1611-1612 played in driving
Polish and Lithuanian invaders out of Russia. The restoration
of the dilapidated Archangel Michael Cathedral in the Nizhny
Novgorod Kremlin was decreed. The two architects, Vizoulin
and Konstantinov, showed exquisite taste, real professionalism
and dexterity in solemnizing Russian patriots' heroism.
All parts of the building are architecturally harmonized;
height is just enough not to depress people; every single
element seems to be directed upwards; finally, the building
overwhelms with the steadfast simplicity of its decorative
style. The Archangel Michael Cathedral is a temple and a
monument of Kozma Minin, Dmitri Pozharsky and their warriors
at the same time. Minin's tomb is kept inside.
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175
years since the House of Gentry Assembly received
its new building
(1826-2001)
The House of Gentry Assembly received its new building
175 years ago. The building was designed by local architect
Yefimov and is a monument of Russian classicism. It houses
the Sverdlov Palace of Culture at the moment.
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120
years ago Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was consecrated
(1881-2001)
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Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral
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The area was occupied in 1817 after the Makaryevskaya
trade fair moved to Nizhny Novgorod. Architect Mezhetsky
built temporary trading and entertainment facilities and
a Shakhovskoy Theater building on the sand spit on the confluence
of the Volga and the Oka. In 1822, trade was launched in
newly constructed stonewalled Trade Fair buildings.
In 1858, local merchants expressed their wish to get the
second Orthodox temple built next to the Fair. Funds were
raised, and a construction committee was appointed on September
15, 1867. Work began on August 11, 1868. Walls were erected
in 1875, and finishing was completed six years later. The
temple got the name of Alexander Nevsky on July 20, 1881.
A memorable "chronicle" was imbedded in the outer wall.
Emperor Alexander III and members of the royal family took
part in the consecrating ceremony.
The cathedral has five domes with the central one reaching
80 meters. It is Russia's third highest. Its construction
completed the architectural pattern of the near-Fair area.
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100
years ago the foundation of the City Legislative Assembly
(Duma) was laid
(1901-2001)
 Its
construction was one of the most remarkable events of the
time. Architect Zeidler, who had masterminded the All-Russian
Industrial and Art Exhibition complex, coped brilliantly
with the task. The building formally harmonizes the ancient
Kremlin architecture and diversely styled neighborhoods.
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90
years agoåhe foundation of the State Bank building was laid
(1911-2001)
The bank owes its old Russian style to architect and artist
Pokrovsky who was born 130 years ago. It is an impressive
architectural complex with operation halls, official offices
and places for security. There is a long indoor gallery
to connect different parts of the building too. To add to
the imposing picture, the architect built the front wall
of a clock tower enshrined in an adjacent edifice and made
a spacious internal yard. The bank adornment took after
ancient Russian patterns and resembles that of an old castle,
and the Emblem looks exactly like ancient imperial seals.
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65
anniversary of the construction of the Communications
House on the Gorky Street
(1936-2001)
Ginzberg and Michurin, two prominent Nizhny Novgorod architects
of the 19th-20th centuries, designed and supervised the
project.
The two rivers have become the city's major structural
borderlines. Today their banks are connected with five bridges.
One of them is "celebrating" its 20th anniversary this year.
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20
years ago the Myzinsky Bridge was opened for traffic
(1981-2001)
This is the most convenient shortcut for driving between
the city's uphill part. and Nizhny Novgorod's two largest
industrial districts across the Oka, Avtozavodsky and Leninsky.
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50th
anniversary of Alexander Kharitonov - the leading city architect
Nizhny Novgorod, which is on the list of 100 world cities
cited by UNESCO as having significant historical and cultural
value, always keeps up with up-to-date trends in international
architecture.
Nizhny Novgorod has been witnessing its Renaissance since
1990, and architects Kharitonov and Pestov have been the
main contributors to the process.
Alexandr Kharitonov - Nizhny Novgorod
Chief Architect since 1992, laureate of Russia's State Prize
in Architecture and Art, academician
Yevgeny Pestov - laureate
of Russia's State Prize in Architecture and Art, academician.
It is an example of a brilliant creative duet based on
personal friendship and artistic cooperation. Creators of
one of Nizhny Novgorod's first architectural workshops,
they have glorified local architecture. Their team, small
though, has established itself as a professional victor
in the field, and joining the workshop is each young architect's
dream.
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Apartment house
at an intersection of Novaya and Studenaya streets
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Bank
"Garantiya"
in Malaya Pokrovskaya st.
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Kharitonov and Pestov never brought their projects in
discord with regional peculiarities. Their easily distinguishable
design is harmonized with historically significant buildings
of pre-revolution Nizhny Novgorod. These two architects
built most noteworthy projects in the 90s, both for housing
and public services. These are the Garantia Bank's two buildings,
the McDonald's buildings on Revolution and Gorky Squares,
and many other buildings, well known to Nizhegorodians.
The architectural duet has created the masterpieces that
people marvel at not only in Nizhny Novgorod but also nationwide.
Its hallmark has been inventive approach. No design was
copied in two different creations.
Works of Kharitonov and Pestov are tengible milestones
in Nizhny Novgorod architectural history. Local architecture
has been taken new heghts nationwide with numerious first
prizes awarded to Nizhny Novgorod projects. This trade has
been reinstated as real art.
Alexandr Kharitonov turn 50 in 2001. He died in the car
crash in summer of 1999. But his team took of the work of
his lifetime and has helped revoke the prode feeling that
we have towards our city again.
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By
the materials of book "Anniversary Nizhny"
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