See you in Russia: ARCHIDAY

I don't know when and why I became to love architecture. It was even before I fell in love with Ted Mosby, but it happened. And now buildings and other elements of urban environment are alive and close for me. Not because of bricks and boards, but due to architects who put soul inside each brick. And everything in this post is about it.

It's not always easy to find inspiration in the city where you live for many years. And during my Saturday walk in Moscow downtown I was really thoughtful trying to find something that can be interesting for my mind. And then I found the only thing that always new in your native city - architecture.

Old detached houses in Arbat district were exactly what I needed.

1. Toy House of Arseny Morozov (1899).
"Before only I knew that you're a fool, and now the whole Moscow will know!"-said Varvara Morozova, mother of Arseny, when she saw the house that Arseny built on the territory that she presented on his 25th Anniversairy. But Arseny and his friend Victor Mazyrin, architect of the building, were not those who always afraid to be fool. They visited a small town near Lisbon Sintra and were fascinated by Palacio de Pena - a palace built in 1885 and owned by the husband of Queen Mary II Portuguese German prince Ferdinand. Arseny immediately ordered Victor Mazyrin rebuilding his mansion. Best architect could not be choosen. Mazyrin had a great interest in mysticism, spiritualism, reincarnation and believed that his soul was born in Egypt. Great symbol of faith and fantasy we see in Moscow for 115 years.

2. Mindovsky's mansion (1904).
The villa is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Moscow in style Franco-Belgian modernist direction.
The New Zealand Embassy.

3. Schlossberg homestead (1910-11).

Renaissance style. The only building of this direction of architecture in Moscow.

German Ambassador's Residence.

4. This mansion impresses with its optimistic colour. Specially considering the political appointment - Social Service center is located here.

5. Bright little mansion in Borisoglebsky side-street

Sculptures along the way:

1. Russian academy of music

2. Supreme Court of Russian Federation

3. Lions are kings of city environment too.

4. On closed territory of Norwegian embassy:

Most famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin

Other special things:

1. Photo-colour-archi-harmony

2. Best way of parking

3. The building with orange soul

4. Holiday bus

5. Asia inside Europe

Moscow has many architectural faces as every megalopolis. Here are some not nice examples how Soviet Era influenced to Russian capital:

1. Stepbrothers

2. One of high-rise buildings on New Arbat avenue

Daylight hours were ending and on the way home I found the museum that I've never seen before. It was exact answer on my questions of that day.

SHCHUSEV STATE MUSEUM OF ARCHITECTURE

This museum is one of places that you love from the first sight. Very unusual atmosphere with a little madness.

Let me show you.

1. Video-installations from Soviet romantic movies and chronics.

2. The exhibition of design-projects for the reconstruction of Moscow

Thanks to the exhibition I know authors of very important and wonderful innovations in Moscow

Such amazing ceilings:

The Museum consists of three buildings. First was the main and most official, let's go to others.

The yard is another special space

Another exhibition is dedicated to Christmas. Usually I can't see anything that touches me as an artist in religious creations, but this exhibition showed that it's possible.

Anatoly Komelin 'Descent from the Cross' 2013

Irina Zaron 'Marfa and Maria' 2013

Anatoly Eteneier 'Princess Olga' 2006

Sergey Nekrasov 'Diptych Adoration of the Magi' 2013

Elena Cherkasova 'Doubting Thomas' 2010

Olga Shalamova 'The Virgin on the throne' (fragment) 2013

Philippe Davydov 'Magi' 2013

Irina Starghenetskaya 'Book of Ruth' 2011

Valery Koshlyakov 'Icons' 1999

There is the third exhibition that explains everything: why you love the Museum, why it's so extra-ordinary and heartwarming... It is 'David's cabinet', the space of deceased director of the museum David Sarkisian.

David Sarkisian (1947-2010) was also Russian physiologist, a documentary filmmaker, critic, curator. Developed a new drug Amiridin, used to treat Alzheimer's disease.