House with Chimaeras

Vladyslav Horodetsky built this house for himself in 1901 and 1902 on a steep site above Ivan Franko Square, using cement from a works he had an interest in and covering the facades and roof with sculpted animals: elephants, rhinoceros heads, frogs, dolphins, mermaids and hunting scenes, modelled by the Italian sculptor Emilio Sala. The building is three storeys from the street front and six from the back because of the slope. It now serves official state functions.

Background

The house stands in the Lypky neighbourhood at 10 Bankova Street. Its popular name refers to chimaera decoration, a style that uses animal figures as ornament on a building, and the exotic beasts and hunting scenes reflect Horodecki's love of hunting. Born in 1863 in the Podillia region, he finished the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg in 1890 and then lived in Kyiv for almost 30 years, where he came to be praised as the Antoni Gaudí of Kyiv. He bought the land on February 1, 1901, and work started on March 18, with land and building together costing 133,000 rubles. Financial trouble led him to pledge the house in July 1912, and it was auctioned in 1913.

Source: Wikipedia, "House with Chimaeras"

What's there

• The sculpted facades - concrete elephants, rhinos, frogs and sea creatures across the walls.
• The roof figures - mermaids and hunting groups on the skyline.
• The slope trick - three storeys from Bankova and six from the rear.
• The Horodetsky legacy - one of several buildings by him in central Kyiv.

When to go

Year round; the exterior is what visitors see. Bankova Street is often closed and access varies. Morning light suits the facade detail.

What to expect

The building is in official use and interiors are not open to casual visitors. The street is frequently closed and the house is sometimes viewable only from a distance. It is a fifteen-minute stop.

Nearby

Ivan Franko Square is below, and Khreshchatyk is a short walk east.

Key facts