House with chimeras
This building was constructed by the polish architect Vladislav Horodetskiy and is considered to be the most extraordinary mansion in Ukraine. It was erected in the modernist style which becomes evident when looking at the elements of its’ architecture. A lot of Horodetskiy’s contemporaries found the idea to erect the mansion at the edge of the precipice (formerly the bank of the drained “Goat lake”) insane.
Horodetsky invested his own money in the construction works therefore he wanted the building to be there for ages to come. Hence he used the new for that time material – the cement.
The front was decorated by the figures of outlandish animals, fabled beings and hunting themes.
The construction of the “House with chimeras” is enveloped in mysteries. According to a legend the architect erected this house in honor of his late daughter, who had drowned before. The second legend says that Vladislav Horodetskiy made a bet with an architect asserting that it was impossible to build a house on such a steep precipice.
However one of the most realistic assumptions is that the mansion construction was the grandiose advertising action of the industrialist Richter whose plants produced cement. It was indeed a very wise presentation of the potential of the new construction material.
At the beginning this mansion was Horodetskiy’s dwelling place. But later, at Soviet times, it was turned to a multifamily accommodation and after the 2-nd World War to a hospital for the communist party leaders.
The house was renovated in 2003-2004. The cost of works makes out approximately 30.000.000 $. The interior, parquetry and frescos were restored. After renovation “the house with chimeras” became the small residence for guests reception of the president of Ukraine.
