Alexei Șciusev House-Museum · Casa-Muzeu „Alexei Șciusev"
The birthplace of architect Aleksei Shchusev, turned into an intimate museum
Original sketches for the postwar reconstruction of Chișinău
Worth it for architecture enthusiasts: the birthplace house of Alexei Shchusev, the architect who designed Lenin's Mausoleum, with his portfolio and models - a niche cultural spot in the centre.
The Alexei Shchusev House-Museum preserves the house where Alexei Shchusev (1873-1949) was born and raised - one of the most influential Russian/Soviet architects of the 20th century, author of the Lenin Mausoleum on Red Square (1924; the granite version became definitive in 1930), architect of Moscow's Kazansky railway station and Hotel Moskva on Manezhnaya, and developer of the 'Stalinist classical' style. Born into a Bessarabian boyar family in the house on the street that now bears his name (19th c.), he studied at the St Petersburg Academy of Arts and worked most of his life in Moscow. The museum recreates the 1880s atmosphere of his childhood (original furniture, family photos, first sketches), presents his architectural portfolio (Mausoleum sketches, plans for railway stations and for monasteries he restored, such as the Trinity-Sergius Lavra) and includes a hall of maquettes of his main buildings. A pilgrimage point for architects and lovers of Soviet Russian history.
- an impressive figure
- a genuine house
- a cultural niche
- The porch of the period house
- The sketches of Greater Chișinău imagined by Șciusev
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“For those interested in architecture, I highly recommend to visit this museum. In the small, 5 room family home, you'll find original artifacts from his kin, alongside Sciusev’s own sketches and manuscripts, offering a glimpse into the mind of this visionary creator. Alexei Sciusev museum sits on the street that bears his name, in the very house where the architect was born an…”
“Small and cozy museum. I was there in 2023 and we had a tour around the house. The guide was knowledgeable and interesting. I do recommend this place to visit while you are in Chishinau.”
“The birthplace of the distinguished architect Alexei Shchusev (1873-1949). The highlight of the exhibition is undoubtedly the architect's large-scale plan for the post-war reconstruction of Chisinau, which, unfortunately, was never realized. However, the scale of Shchusev's bold vision remains astounding. You can examine his sketches in exquisite detail.”
- Limited hours (closed Saturdays and Mondays)
- Few temporary exhibitions