Egg House

In the very heart of Moscow's Chistye Prudy district stands one of the most provocative architectural structures in the city — the famous Egg House on Mashkova Street. This unusual four-story mansion, built in 2002, has become a true hallmark of modern Moscow architecture and is included in international rankings of the world's most original buildings. A vivid representative of the so-called Luzhkov era, the house attracts thousands of tourists annually, eliciting admiration from some and criticism from others. Despite its fame and uniqueness, the building has remained vacant for many years and has been listed for sale since the completion of construction.

History of the Creation of the Moscow Egg House

The amazing story behind this architectural object began long before its construction in the Russian capital. In the late 1990s, as the world prepared to welcome the new millennium, grand projects emerged to mark the dawn of a new era.

From Bethlehem to Chistye Prudy

In 1998, architect Sergei Tkachenko received an unusual commission from the Moscow Patriarchate. The Church planned to build a maternity hospital in biblical Bethlehem on land it owned. It was assumed that a medical facility of this level would be in high demand. Together with the renowned gallerist and art manager Marat Gelman, the architect proposed a revolutionary solution — to design the building in the shape of an egg, an ancient symbol of the birth of new life. The fantastical project for a 12-story maternity hospital was rejected by the Patriarchate, which considered the concept too bold. However, Tkachenko did not abandon his idea. The developers significantly scaled down the project to the size of a compact mansion and presented it to Moscow developers.

Construction and Documentation

The unusual building was constructed between 2000 and 2002 based on the design by architects Oleg Dubrovsky and Sergei Tkachenko. The client was the Korin Charitable Foundation, and the contractor was Benefit Engineering. Interesting fact: according to the architect himself, the house was built under the guise of an outbuilding attached to the neighboring eight-story building. Official documents described the project as a reconstruction of an existing structure with an extension. This was necessary because Moscow authorities initially did not approve the idea of such a provocative structure in the historic city center. The required documentation was prepared retroactively after the main work was completed.

Architectural Features and Building Construction

The Egg House is a unique engineering structure that combines elements of various architectural styles — from postmodernism and pop art to baroque.

Exterior Appearance and Technical Solutions

The structural framework of the building is made from a sturdy metal carcass in an egg-like shape. The space between the load-bearing elements is filled with brick masonry and modern thermal insulation materials. The thickness of the exterior walls is an impressive 64 centimeters, providing excellent sound and heat insulation for the premises. The exterior cladding is made of ceramic tiles in a rich red color, giving the building a festive, memorable appearance. Many see a resemblance to the precious Fabergé Easter eggs. The roof is covered with copper sheets that over time acquire a noble greenish patina hue. Round windows of various diameters, reminiscent of a ship's portholes, are evenly distributed across the facade and face all directions. This solution ensures maximum natural lighting in the interior spaces throughout the day.

Layout Characteristics

The total area of the mansion is 342 square meters with a height of about 20 meters. The building includes four levels:

• Underground basement floor with a garage for four cars
• First floor with public areas
• Second floor with private rooms
• Attic floor under the dome

Due to the oval shape of the structure, the floor area increases with each subsequent level. Ceiling heights on standard floors reach 3.2 meters, while in the attic living room under the dome they are an impressive 4.5 meters.

Interior Layout and Room Planning

The interior of the Egg House is thoughtfully designed down to the smallest details and finished with premium-class luxury materials.

Space Distribution by Floors

The basement level includes several functional zones:

• Underground garage, where cars are lowered using a special freight elevator
• Modern gym with professional equipment
• Sauna-bath with a relaxation room
• Technical room with an autonomous boiler

The first floor is dedicated to public areas:

• Spacious living-dining room with high ceilings
• Modern kitchen with high-quality built-in appliances
• Guest bathroom

The second floor is a private zone with two bedrooms. Each bedroom has its own balcony with round windows and a separate bathroom with shower cabins. The attic floor is the true gem of the mansion. The grand living room is located under a glass dome decorated with artistic paintings in the Renaissance style depicting angels. A luxurious crystal chandelier, exclusive designer curtains, and panoramic glazing create a solemn atmosphere. From here, there are impressive views of Moscow's historic center.

Engineering Equipment

The building is equipped with all modern systems for comfortable living:

• Transparent panoramic Sodimas elevator connecting all levels
• Elegant spiral staircase as an alternative means of movement
• Multi-level security system with video surveillance
• Fire and burglar alarms
• Water purification system
• Supply ventilation with fresh air intake

All utilities are tied to the neighboring eight-story building, ensuring uninterrupted operation of all systems.

Interior and Design Solutions

The interior finishing of the Egg House is done in a classic style with elements of luxury. The owners spared no expense on finishing materials and created a de-luxe class interior. Materials used for decoration include:

• Natural marble in various shades for wall and floor cladding
• Precious wood species for decorative panels
• Venetian plaster with its characteristic noble sheen
• Artistic paintings with natural motifs
• Handmade mosaic panels
• Italian furniture made to custom designs

Furnishing posed a particular challenge due to the rounded walls. Most furniture items were custom-made to account for the non-standard geometry of the rooms. The round walls create specific acoustics that must be considered when arranging living space. The interior has remained unchanged since 2007, when an expensive renovation was completed. Notably, architect Sergei Tkachenko did not participate in the interior design and later expressed dissatisfaction with the pompous decoration, which, in his opinion, did not align with the original concept.

Sales History and Price Dynamics

Despite its uniqueness and status as an architectural landmark, the Egg House has never been occupied and has been continuously listed for sale since construction was completed.

Owners and Potential Buyers

The first owner of the mansion was Evgeny Bystrov, who previously held high positions in the Moscow government. After his death, the building passed by inheritance to his children — Sergei and Elena Bystrova. In 2007, the house was officially put on the real estate market. The famous artist Nikas Safronov was one of the first potential buyers. He was offered the mansion for 1.2 million dollars. However, the painter declined the deal because the 342 square meter area seemed insufficient to him — he had recently purchased a 1000 square meter apartment. Later, the artist admitted regretting the missed opportunity, as the unusual house would have perfectly suited a creative person.

Price Evolution

Over the years of being on the market, the price of the Egg House has undergone significant changes:

1. 2007 — initial price of 10 million dollars
2. 2008 — increase to 18 million euros
3. After the 2008 crisis — reduction to 12 million dollars
4. 2018 — adjustment to 4.6 million dollars
5. 2023 — around 441 million rubles
6. 2025 — current price is 390 million rubles (about 6 million dollars)

Reasons for Lack of Demand

Elite real estate market experts cite several factors hindering the sale:

• High per-square-meter cost compared to standard properties
• Non-standard room shapes complicating practical furniture arrangement
• Pompous interior unsuitable for everyday comfortable living
• Lack of privacy due to constant attention from tourists and passersby
• Legal status as an apartment rather than a standalone house
• Significant operating expenses for maintaining the unusual building

Realtors agree that the Egg House is more of a status acquisition for a collector of unique real estate or an eccentric millionaire than practical family housing.

Interesting Facts and Cultural Significance

The Egg House is surrounded by many curious stories that make it even more attractive to tourists and urban architecture researchers.

Architectural Parallels and Evaluations

Architect Sergei Tkachenko noted that his creation resembles the famous Salvador Dali theater-museum in the Catalan city of Figueres. Indeed, both buildings feature provocative appearances, bright colors, and egg-shaped elements in their facade design. Architecture historian Vladimir Paperny calls the mansion one of the most characteristic representatives of the Luzhkov era, when almost anything could be built in the capital. In his view, the building is the worst example of this period in Moscow urban development. The project author claims that Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov was unaware of the Egg House construction, as it was carried out under the guise of reconstructing an outbuilding.

Little-Known Twin

Few know that the Moscow Egg House has a younger brother — a similar building was constructed around the same time on the prestigious Rublevo-Uspenskoe Highway. Both projects were authored by Sergei Tkachenko. However, the Rublevka Egg House is less known to the public and differs in size and some architectural details.

Place in Rankings and Guidebooks

The building regularly appears in various lists and rankings:

• Included in international selections of the world's most unusual houses
• Featured in all modern Moscow guidebooks
• A mandatory stop on tourist routes around the capital
• Frequently mentioned in travel blogs and social media
• Referenced in studies of contemporary Russian architecture

The mansion has become an integral part of modern Moscow's appearance and a symbol of architectural experiments from the early 2000s.

Proposed Uses

Architect Tkachenko has repeatedly shared ideas for possible uses of the building. In his words, the mansion would suit an extraordinary person, perhaps an artist. He also emphasized that the Egg House could become:

• A private museum of Russian culture from the 19th-20th centuries
• An exhibition space for a Fabergé jewelry collection
• A contemporary art gallery
• A cultural center with an unusual concept

However, organizing the interior space for museum purposes would be challenging due to the specific room geometry.

How to Get to the Egg House

Thanks to its central location in the Chistye Prudy district, the Egg House is easily accessible by various modes of transport. The exact address: Moscow, Mashkova Street, Building 1.

By Metro — the Optimal Option

The nearest metro stations are within walking distance: From Krasnye Vorota station (Sokolnicheskaya line, red branch):

• Distance — 910 meters, walking time — 10-12 minutes
• Exit the metro via exit No. 1
• Head into Boyarsky Lane and follow it for 120 meters
• At the intersection, turn into Bolshoy Kozlovsky Lane, walk 450 meters
• Turn right into Furmanny Lane, after 150 meters emerge onto Chaplygina Street
• Turn left, walk 130 meters to Mashkova Street

From Chistye Prudy station (Sokolnicheskaya line):

• Distance — 930 meters, walking time — 12-15 minutes
• Use exit No. 1 from the station lobby
• Walk straight along Chistoprudny Boulevard for 300 meters
• At the intersection, turn into Bolshoy Kharitonevsky Lane, walk 230 meters
• Turn right onto Chaplygina Street and continue straight for 350 meters
• At the crossroads with Mashkova Street, turn left; after 50 meters, you will see the Egg House

From Turgenevskaya station (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line, orange branch):

• Distance — 970 meters
• Exit No. 4 from the lobby
• The route is then similar to the path from Chistye Prudy station

By Surface Public Transport

Lyalin Lane stop on Pokrovka Street — just 300 meters from the Egg House:

• Bus routes: m3, m3k
• Night route: n3
• From the stop, walk 80 meters along Pokrovka Street toward Chistoprudny Boulevard
• Turn onto Chaplygina Street, continue straight for 200 meters
• At the intersection with Mashkova Street, turn right; after 50 meters, the Egg House will be there

By Car

For traveling by personal vehicle:

• Use navigation apps like Yandex Navigator or 2GIS
• Enter the address: Moscow, Mashkova Street, 1
• There is a small municipal parking area nearby
• Parking cost in central Moscow — about 380 rubles per hour
• Easier to find a spot on weekends than weekdays
• Account for possible traffic jams in the central districts

Practical Tips for Tourists

Important information for visitors:

• The Egg House is private property; entry inside is not allowed
• Best photo angles — from the opposite side of Mashkova Street
• Optimal shooting times — morning and evening hours
• Recommended to combine the visit with a walk around Chistye Prudy
• Other district attractions are within walking distance
• Photographing the building from public spaces is freely permitted

Conclusion

The Egg House on Mashkova Street is a striking example of an architectural experiment that has become an integral part of modern Moscow's appearance. The building elicits conflicting opinions: professional architects often criticize it for kitsch and eclecticism, calling it a characteristic representative of the Luzhkov era when almost anything could be built in the capital. At the same time, tourists and ordinary city residents admire the boldness of the architectural solution and the mansion's originality. Despite expert criticism, the Egg House fulfills an important cultural function. It demonstrates that human imagination has no limits, and architecture can be not only functional but also provocative, prompting reflection on conventional standards and stereotypes. The building has inscribed the name of its creator, Sergei Tkachenko, into Moscow's architectural history and serves as a reminder of the era of capitalist romanticism in the early 2000s. Today, more than two decades after its construction, the mansion continues to draw attention, remains a popular tourist route stop, and regularly appears in capital guidebooks. Its fate as a vacant monument-house only adds mystery and makes the object even more intriguing to visit. Perhaps it is precisely this uninhabited state that transformed the Egg House from ordinary housing into a full-fledged landmark and symbol of Moscow. The future of this unique building remains uncertain. Whether it will eventually become someone's home, turn into a museum, or become a cultural space — time will tell. One thing is certain: the Egg House will forever remain in the history of Moscow architecture as one of the boldest and most extraordinary projects of the early 21st century.