Embassy of Afghanistan in Moscow
Encyclopedia
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Moscow
(Persian
: سفارت کبرای جمهوری اسلامی افغانستان در مسكو) is the diplomatic mission
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Russian Federation. It is located at 42 Povarskaya Street in the Arbat district of Moscow
.
The mission is housed in historical Ponizovsky House, designed by Lev Kekushev
, although its exterior was later radically altered and does not display signs of Kekushev's Art Nouveau
style.
In 1902 Jacob Reck's development company purchased a large Volchkov estate, split it in two lots, and invited Kekushev to desigh two luxury mansions for resale. The better known Mindovsky House (present-day Embassy of New Zealand
) was set right on the street corner, with the main entrance facing the spacious inner courtyard. Ponizovsky House was set back from Povarskaya street line, allowing a narrow strip of garden between the wall and sidewalk; its main entrance faces the corner of Povarskaya Street and Skatertny Lane. Period photographs show that the building had a flattened yet prominent dome above the main entrance and a smaller curvilinear gable
above Povarskaya street facade; overall styling was reserved, with clear vertical lines of windows cut through a tiled wall. In 1914, when Kekushev was already inactive, Ponizovsky House was rebuilt to an neoclassical
design, losing the dome and all original exterior finishes.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
: سفارت کبرای جمهوری اسلامی افغانستان در مسكو) is the diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Russian Federation. It is located at 42 Povarskaya Street in the Arbat district of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
The mission is housed in historical Ponizovsky House, designed by Lev Kekushev
Lev Kekushev
Lev Nikolayevich Kekushev was a Russian architect, notable for his Art Nouveau buildings in Moscow, built in the 1890s and early 1900s in the original, Franco-Belgian variety of this style...
, although its exterior was later radically altered and does not display signs of Kekushev's Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
style.
In 1902 Jacob Reck's development company purchased a large Volchkov estate, split it in two lots, and invited Kekushev to desigh two luxury mansions for resale. The better known Mindovsky House (present-day Embassy of New Zealand
Embassy of New Zealand in Moscow
The Embassy of New Zealand in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of New Zealand in the Russian Federation. It is located at 44 Povarskaya Street in the Arbat district of Moscow....
) was set right on the street corner, with the main entrance facing the spacious inner courtyard. Ponizovsky House was set back from Povarskaya street line, allowing a narrow strip of garden between the wall and sidewalk; its main entrance faces the corner of Povarskaya Street and Skatertny Lane. Period photographs show that the building had a flattened yet prominent dome above the main entrance and a smaller curvilinear gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
above Povarskaya street facade; overall styling was reserved, with clear vertical lines of windows cut through a tiled wall. In 1914, when Kekushev was already inactive, Ponizovsky House was rebuilt to an neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
design, losing the dome and all original exterior finishes.