A beehive house in Moscow: a shocking project of the Soviet architect Melnikov, recognized in the world as a genius

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

This cylindrical building with windows that look like diamonds, or honeycombs, and even resembling carbon nanotubes, is considered a classic of the avant-garde, and despite its external simplicity, it was created brilliantly from an architectural point of view. The name "House-beehive" was given to the creation of the talented architect Melnikov not only because the project is somewhat reminiscent of a honeycomb. For all its simplicity, the building is very robust, economical and comfortable. And here's what is surprising: it was built almost a hundred years ago.

It is interesting that such a laconic one-apartment house in the spirit of the avant-garde appeared in Krivoarbatsky lane not in our days and not even at the end of the last century, but in 1929, when Moscow still remembered how beautiful, magnificently decorated merchant mansions were built, literally 20 30 years earlier. And suddenly - such a strange building, like a short pipe, with many hexagonal identical windows. And the architect himself lived in it …

Fateful meeting

It is worth saying a few words about the author of this project - Konstantin Stepanovich Melnikov. He was born in 1890 into a large and not very wealthy family. His parents enrolled him in a parish school, and after graduation - seeing the boy's ability to draw - as a student in the icon-painting workshop. However, he did not study there for long - he gave up.

A significant event in the life of Konstantin was the acquaintance of his parents with a Moscow milkmaid who served wealthy families. The woman introduced the boy to a prominent scientist and teacher of those years, Vladimir Chaplin.

As a co-owner of a large trading house, the man took Konstantin to work and, seeing the teenager's great talent, became his patron. He hired a painting teacher for him, asked the teacher of his children to study with him, and soon his ward successfully entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, having withstood just a frenzied competition - about 24 people per seat. He studied with famous academicians of architecture and such great masters as Korovin, Ivanov, Konenkov, absorbing their knowledge like a sponge.

At first, the talented guy was not interested in architecture and went to this department only because Chaplin wanted it, in a fatherly way recommending to the young man a profession that would bring material wealth. But in the process of getting to know this kind of art, he woke up a true love of architecture.

Favorite of the authorities

The end of training took place in the early Soviet years. Melnikov was highly appreciated by the authorities as a young architect, he was entrusted with major tasks - for example, planning projects for the Butyrsky district, Khodynsky field, a village for employees of the psychiatric hospital named after I. Alekseeva.

But several years later, the architect decided to abandon neoclassicism, constructivism and belonging to any generally accepted style and create something of his own. He was called an avant-garde architect and, in addition to harsh criticism from some colleagues, he at the same time received praise from such masters as, for example, Shchusev.

In 1924, during the construction of the Mausoleum, the design of the sarcophagus, invented by Melnikov, was recognized as the best of the presented works, which was considered a great honor and the key to a brilliant career for a Soviet architect. This sarcophagus stood in the Moscow Mausoleum until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and the evacuation of the leader's body to Tyumen.

During his life, Melnikov created many strange, but very famous projects. This is the building of the Novo-Sukharevsky market with conveniently and originally located shopping pavilions-kiosks, and the Soviet pavilion at the international exhibition in Paris (an unusual building with glass walls) and, of course, its famous Moscow garages (for example, built for Intourist and "State Planning Commission"). By the way, it was Melnikov who developed the design plan for the Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure.

Features of the "hive"

For all the versatility and fertility of Melnikov, it is the Beehive House that many experts consider the pinnacle of his creativity. Initially, even during construction, he positioned his creation as an experimental house, which, for example, could be the prototype of a residential building-commune. And he built it at his own expense. And, perhaps, that is why the Soviet government allowed him to build a personal house in the center of Moscow and settle in it.

Despite the fact that, at first glance, the building seems very primitive, architects see many successful innovative ideas in its construction. The hive house was appreciated even in the West.

By the way, the building is not one cylinder, as it might seem, but two. They are cut into each other by one third, forming something like an eight in shape. One of the circles is, as it were, cut off - on this side, the entrance to the building. The house is built without supporting pillars, columns, rafters and beams, but it is nonetheless very stable.

By the way, its frame is such that the location and the number of window openings can be changed as you like - some of the windows "walled up", and in other places to make new "honeycomb".

For a long time, Muscovites and guests of the capital could marvel at this house and admire its bewitching simplicity only from the street, because the building was privately owned. Before his death, the son of the architect Viktor Melnikov bequeathed that the house belonged to the state and that there was a museum in it, however, due to long litigation and conflicts of relatives-heirs, in the details of which I do not want to go deep, for a long time the building remained closed to visitors and at the same time more and more dilapidated. But, fortunately, all the issues were resolved and the museum was finally opened. And now everyone can see the "hive" from the inside.

The interior layout is very interesting and as if symbolizes the ascent from base desires to creativity. On the first floor there is a kitchen, a dining room and other similar premises, on the second there are living rooms, and on the third there is a workshop.

Museum guests can visit the studio where Konstantin Melnikov and his son Victor (also an architect) worked, the living room, bedroom, dining room.

Contrary to the popular belief that it is uncomfortable to live in round spaces (for example, such premises were considered incorrect in terms of energy in many ancient cultures), the descendants of the architect argue the opposite.

For example, Elena Melnikova, the granddaughter of Konstantin Stepanovich, has repeatedly said that it is very cozy here. The rooms are designed so that it is easy to arrange furniture in them, and visually the rooms seem spacious. Plus, there is no need to dust the corners.

And in continuation of the theme, the equally famous and very expensive single-family residential Egg house