House with Chimaeras Kyiv (Gorodetsky House)

The strangest and most fascinating house in Kyiv

Today the House with Chimeras is one of the most famous buildings in Kyiv. Built in 1902 -1903  by polish architect Vladislav Gorodetsky, who had become a resident of Kyiv. Mermaids, frogs, dolphins, eagles, elephants, mystical and real creatures decorate the facade of the Art Nouveau building. An Italian artist was responsible for the sculptures. No less fanciful and elegant is the interior inside the building, including white marble stairs with paws holding fabulous birds.

There are many legends about the idea of the creation of the House with Chimeras, one of them says that in 1902 in one of Kyiv's restaurants Gorodetsky met with two architects and told them that he had bought a piece of land to build a house. This caused surprise in the counterparts, they behaved with skepticism to the idea of Gorodetsky. The architect bet that he can realize his idea in just two years. And he didn’t just build a house, he created a monument of world architecture.  Another legend says that Gorodetsky built the house in memory of his daughter that drowned. The architect built the House with Chimeras at his own expense. He wanted to create an architectural masterpiece that survives the centuries and surprises people by its uniqueness. And he succeeded. Full of mystery the House with Chimeras attracts more attention than the Presidential Palace which is located near. Initially, six of the seven apartments were leased. Normal residents of Kyiv with an average income could not afford such high price, so residents of the building were rather wealthy people. Later Gorodetsky bought pieces of land for construction of another architectural wonder near the House with Chimeras. But fate threw him back and  forced him to give up his house which he never got back. In 1913 the agent of  the French Consulate acquired House of chimeras. The building belonged to the state from the October Revolution until the Great Patriotic War. But after that time it was transformed into a hospital. Reconstruction ended in 2004, which cost 25 million US dollars. Today the House with Chimeras has the status of a  small residence of the President of Ukraine, where diplomatic ceremonies take place. There is also a branch of the National Museum with the "Masterpieces of Art from Ukraine” inside the house. 
 
 
Tours: As the House with Chimaeras is used as “The official residence of President of  Ukraine”, as of March 2010, the House with Chimeras closed to the public.
 
Location:                    10, Bankowa Str., Kyiv
 
How to get there:        From Khreshchatyk metro station:  
                                From Instytutska str. go to Bankowa str.; 
                                From Gorodetskogo str. go up to the Theatre named after I. Franko.