Ancient chandeliers, marble stairs of the end of the 130th century, carved doors... Over the past XNUMX years, the Mansion of the merchant Sokolov in the center of Kharkiv has preserved its original appearance both externally and internally.
But on March 14, 2022, a Russian projectile hit the historic two-story building and a fire broke out. The roof burned out from the fire, and the ceiling in the assembly hall was badly damaged during the extinguishing. It was there that the ceiling painting "Apotheosis of Apollo" by the artist Mykola Uvarov was placed.
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Collage provided by "Svoi Dim" platform
"This part of the ceiling was damaged by a large amount of water. This canvas was like a stretch ceiling, so it collected water and came off under its weight," Kharkiv architect-restorer Kateryna Kublytska told the "Svoy Dim" project.
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The fact that it stood without a roof for 10 months after the fire also had a negative impact on the architectural monument. Currently, thanks to sponsors, Sokolov's mansion has been preserved.
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"To protect the building from precipitation, a temporary roof was installed, and the broken windows in the rooms, where they were broken during firefighting, were closed. The decorative, authentic ceiling in the assembly hall, which came off, was secured with a temporary structure to preserve it until restoration."
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Five charitable foundations provided 76 euros for these works. Experts estimate the cost of the restoration itself to be several million euros.
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At the end of the XNUMXth century, the merchant Mykhailo Sokolov commissioned the architect Oleksiy Beketov to build a two-story mansion for his family. The well-known master invited two colleagues to join this work.
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"The artist and architect Vasyl Krychevskyi, as well as the artist Mykola Uvarov, worked on the project in the team of Oleksiy Beketov. Both are one of the creators of the Ukrainian architectural modern style. They were still young then, studying, gaining experience, looking for their own creative method."
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The result of the creative collaboration of these three outstanding people was the house at 17 Blagovishchenska Street. And approximately in 1889, the family of the merchant Sokolov moved to a new home.
Collage provided by "Svoi Dim" platform
Collage provided by "Svoi Dim" platform
After the revolution of 1917, they left Kharkiv and the house stood empty for several years. Until 1923, the city dermatological and venereological dispensary was opened there, which operated at this address for almost 100 years, until February 2022.
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Conservation of the youth library began in Chernihiv in order to restore the monument in the spring