There is no doubt this is a magnificent building. You would certainly turn your head and get allured by its grandiose beauty. Almost half a decade ago it was fighting for glory as the walls had turned almost grey from neglect. And now, it is an attention magnet.
I was walking to the Nikolsky mall and this building caught my attention from almost a kilometer away. I am big on the neoclassical buildings that Kharkiv archives on its streets. The work of arts and incredible imagination stand there and people seamlessly walk across them as if they were nothing. There is an intense and rich history connected to these buildings. In general, the whole era of neo-Greek architecture was intriguing to say the least.
There are very few buildings that catch my attention as much as this. It has an incredible design and feels ALMOST fictional. It is a building that demands a separate class of attention.
There are plenty of neo-Greek neo-classical buildings scattered around the town. I often am charmed by these buildings and post about them. This one wasn't any different. It was big, bold, grand, with many different decorative elements and simply the best among all.
From a distance the dome catches the eye. There arent many buildings with a dome in Kharkiv. And how can you not appreciate a dome? Right next to the domes are grandiose columns with four gargoyles looking at opposite directions. Reminded me of An American Werewolf in Paris. Ah what a classic.
It made me wonder what was the building originally designed for. Gargoyles have been used in churches, libraries, hospitals and so on.
The dome wasn't just a simple dome. It followed the same pattern of neo-Greek architecture that litters the entire city. Beautiful modillions, pedimented piano mobile windows on the top floors, panel reliefs and the banded rustications - the whole shebang.
The building is one of a kind because of this cylindrical main corpus of the building under the dome. I love cylindrical structures and symmetry. No wonder I really liked this building. In the panels between windows there were carved illustrations. You will have to zoom into the picture, but they leave us with a hint of healing and treatment. Leading me to believe the building had something to do with either medicine or was a hospital.
The building has taken a hit to its original structure due to age and neglect. It has since been given some attention and a lot of glory has been restored. The windows are still wooden windows that most probably had been installed during the USSR. The rough stone laid brick facade is not the original one. It looks like a remake with cement. It does look good but clearly isn't the original.
Today the building is a state institution. The board outside reads I.Mechnikov Institure of Microbioilogy and Immunology National Academy of Medical Sceines of Ukraine. There is a private medical lab on the far side of the building too.
Another plaque suggests the building was designed by the national architect Beketov. His team designed the building as a medical institution headed by Dr. Bobin.
Turns out, I am not alone in my fondness of this beautiful building. Infact, it is considered as one of the best works by Beketov in the city.
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