House on the Embankment

The House on the Embankment in Moscow is a legendary building of the Soviet era, which became a symbol of power and at the same time a witness to the tragic events of Stalinist repressions. This architectural monument of constructivism is located on Bersenevskaya Embankment opposite the Kremlin and holds many stories about the life of the Soviet elite.

History of the construction of the legendary complex

After the Soviet government moved from Petrograd to Moscow in 1918, the acute problem arose of accommodating party workers and their families. At first, officials were settled in hotels and confiscated mansions, but as the state apparatus grew, this became insufficient. In 1927, the construction of a large residential complex began, officially named “The First House of Soviets of the CEC and SNK”. The project was developed by the talented architect Boris Iofan, who later became famous for other landmark buildings of the capital. Construction continued until 1931 and was accompanied by numerous difficulties. The project was repeatedly revised — the number of apartments was increased from 440 to 505, they had to abandon the demolition of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Bersenevka, and a mysterious fire broke out in the first building. The house was commissioned in parts, but the result exceeded all expectations.

Architectural features and scale of the project

The House on the Embankment became the largest residential building in Europe of its time. The complex occupied an area of about three hectares and included eight buildings with a maximum height of 11 floors.

Main characteristics of the building

• 25 entrances with convenient elevators
• 505 spacious three- and four-room apartments
• Ceiling height of 3.7 meters with exquisite stucco moldings
• Oak parquet flooring in all rooms
• Round-the-clock hot and cold water supply

Initially, the architect planned to paint the facade in pink or dark red to harmonize with the Kremlin, but due to the high cost of materials a gray shade was chosen. This practical choice proved successful — the black smoke from the nearby boiler house did not spoil the appearance of the walls.

Life in the Soviet paradise

The complex was designed as an autonomous city within a city, where residents could meet all their needs without leaving the building.

The complex’s infrastructure included

• A canteen on the first floor with free meals by ration coupons
• The “Udarnik” cinema with 1,500 seats
• A club with performances by pop stars
• Sports halls and tennis courts
• A kindergarten and medical station
• A laundry, tailoring workshop and department store
• A post office and savings bank

In the courtyard-wells there were lawns with fountains and flowering flowerbeds. This created a special atmosphere of well-being and comfort.

Features of the apartments and everyday life

Boris Iofan designed not only the layout, but also the interior of all the apartments. The furniture sets were identical — tables, chairs, sideboards, wardrobes with inventory numbers. Upon moving in, residents signed an acceptance certificate in which everything was recorded down to the door handles and toilet lids. The kitchens had a small area, since it was assumed that women would be freed from “kitchen slavery” thanks to the communal canteen. Food could be obtained ready-made and brought home in special bags. Each apartment was equipped with a radio point, a telephone, a gas stove and a rubbish chute — unprecedented luxury for that time. On the ceilings there were picturesque panels depicting the seasons, flowers and fruits, painted by restoration artists from the Hermitage.

Strict control and special regime

Despite the privileges, the life of the residents was subject to strict internal regulations. The concierges recorded the time of residents’ departure and return in special logbooks. Guests could enter the apartments only after a telephone call to the owners. Celebrations had to end by 23:00 — after this time the presence of outsiders was prohibited. The building manager annually checked the preservation of state property, and if any damage was found, the tenant received a reprimand at their workplace. All apartments were supposed to look the same — no one had the right to stand out or make changes to the standard furnishings. This created an atmosphere of equality, but at the same time deprived people of individuality.

Famous residents of the house

The House on the Embankment was home to the Soviet elite — people whose names went down in history. According to rumors, each candidacy was personally approved by Joseph Stalin. Among the famous residents were marshals Georgy Zhukov and Mikhail Tukhachevsky, film director Grigory Alexandrov, writer Mikhail Koltsov, choreographer Igor Moiseyev. Scientists, party leaders, heroes of the Civil War, writers, composers and artists lived here. For some time Stalin’s daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva lived in the house. Writer Yuri Trifonov lived here with his parents from 1931 to 1939, and later wrote the famous novella that gave the building its modern name.

Tragic years of repressions

The period of Stalinist repressions of 1937–1939 turned the house into a “pretrial detention house”. About 800 people — almost a third of the residents — were arrested and repressed. Families disappeared entirely, and their apartments stood sealed for some time. After the arrest of their parents, children were sent to orphanages, with their names and surnames changed. Mothers who were released from camps could not find their sons and daughters for years. There are known cases of miraculous reunions of families decades later. During the Great Patriotic War, the house was evacuated and mined in case Moscow was captured by the Germans. After the victory, the residents returned here, and new tenants appeared — military commanders, scientists, and party officials. There are 39 memorial plaques on the facade in honor of outstanding residents. After the war, a new wave of repressions swept through. Many apartments were converted into communal flats, where single war veterans were housed. However, the house did not lose its elite status.

Mysteries and mystical legends

The House on the Embankment is surrounded by many mysterious stories and urban legends. The place where the complex was built had long been considered ill-fated. There was an old church cemetery here, and part of the foundation was allegedly built on gravestones.

The most famous legends

The ghost of the commander’s daughter is the most famous story. After her parents were arrested, the girl locked herself in the apartment with her father’s Nagant revolver, promising to shoot anyone who tried to enter. People’s Commissar Yezhov ordered her to be walled up, with all utilities cut off. For a week, neighbors heard screams, but no one dared to help. They say her ghost still roams near the Variety Theatre. The underground passage to Lubyanka is a legend about a secret tunnel through which the arrested were taken directly from the house. Although there is no reliable confirmation, many old residents believe in the existence of this passage. Entrance No. 11 is a mysterious uninhabited section without apartments and elevators. According to one version, wiretapping of other entrances was conducted from there. According to another, it is the result of a redesign to increase the number of apartments. Residents tell of strange sounds, footsteps and voices at night, nightmares and unexplained phenomena. Some associate this with the unquiet souls of the repressed.

The House on the Embankment today

Today the building remains an elite residential complex. After privatization began in the mid-1980s, apartments started to be sold to wealthy people. Longtime residents, figures of science and culture, and successful businessmen live here. The complex is protected by the state as a cultural heritage site of federal significance. The “Udarnik” cinema, the Variety Theatre and the House of the Russian Press are still in operation. Part of the premises is used as offices and shops. Old residents are fighting to return the building to its original appearance, including restoring the fountains in the courtyards and the historic decoration of the facades.

House history museum

In the early 1980s, the residents organized a unique local history museum dedicated to the history of the building and the fates of its inhabitants. Olga Trifonova, the widow of writer Yuri Trifonov, played a major role in the creation of the museum.

Exhibition and exhibits

The museum is located in one of the three-room apartments. The collection was replenished thanks to the residents of the house and new apartment owners, who brought items, documents and photographs of the former owners. The most valuable exhibits of the museum

• Items of propaganda porcelain from the 1930s
• Perfume sets of that time
• Furniture with inventory numbers
• A collection of military tunics with awards
• Numerous caps and military uniforms
• Archival documents and photographs
• Personal belongings of famous residents

A special exhibit is the stuffed penguin Ilyusha, brought from a polar expedition by pilot Ilya Mazuruk. The bird lived for some time in his apartment and was then transferred to the zoo. After the penguin’s death, it was stuffed, and now it greets visitors at the entrance. The exhibition is a synthesis of the destinies of people of different generations and professions. All items are authentic, and a catalog has been compiled for each, indicating its owner.

How to visit the House on the Embankment

The building is located in the center of Moscow at 2 Serafimovicha Street. It is very easy to get here in several ways.

Routes from the metro

From “Kropotkinskaya” station — 11 minutes on foot. After leaving the metro, turn right, walk along Volkhonka Street, then turn onto the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge. The house is located immediately after the bridge. From “Borovitskaya” station — by buses e10, m1 and m9 to the “Bolotnaya Ploshchad” stop. The building is clearly visible from the observation deck of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The entrance to the museum is through the arch, and a sign is installed on the side of the embankment.

Significance for history and culture

The House on the Embankment is more than just an architectural monument. It is a living chronicle of the Soviet era, the embodiment of utopian ideas about a happy future and at the same time a witness to the tragedy of an entire generation. The building became a symbol of the contradictions of Stalin’s time — luxury and comfort coexisted with total control, and the privileges of the elite turned into mass repressions. The house, conceived as a paradise dwelling for the builders of a new society, turned into a house of waiting for arrest. A visit to the museum allows you to touch history, see genuine belongings of historical figures, and hear the stories of people whose destinies intertwined with the fate of the country. The tours are conducted by guides who know the history of the house and its residents in detail. The House on the Embankment reminds us of the price that a generation paid for grandiose social experiments. It is a place of memory of those who built the new state and became victims of the system they created.