The 100-apartment building at 16 Krasny Prospekt is one of Novosibirsk’s most recognizable symbols and a striking example of how an ambitious urban development idea from the 1930s became an architectural legend. The project was conceived as a departmental home for regional government employees, but it achieved international renown after winning a first-class diploma, a gold medal , and the Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris Exhibition . Today, it is a federal architectural landmark and a must-see on any route through the city center.
History of design and construction
In the early 1930s, the regional executive committee building (now the Novosibirsk Regional Government) already stood nearby, and city officials needed a modern building with spacious apartments nearby. The building was designed by Andrei Kryachkov , and Vitaly Maslennikov was brought in to enhance the decorative elements.
Construction lasted from 1934 to 1937. The building was originally intended to house exactly 100 well-appointed apartments —hence its popular nickname. Over time, the number of apartments increased to 110 , but about ten were occupied by children’s institutions, so the “hundred” term has remained in common use.
Already the year it was completed, the building received international recognition in Paris, along with other projects of the Siberian school. Thus emerged one of Novosibirsk’s first “prestige addresses,” defining the appearance of the then-emerging Sverdlov Square.
Architecture and Planning: Postconstructivism with a French Accent
The building is U-shaped , eight-story, with its main façade set back from the avenue’s redline and facing a small park. The structure is built on contrasts: a monumental central building, corner bay-window towers with vertical stained-glass windows (floors 3–6), and lowered wings along Spartaka and Sibrevkom Streets. Due to the elevation change, the ground floor of the southern wing seamlessly transitions to the basement in the center and north—hence the sense of height “shifting” as you walk around the building.
The facades are designed in the neoclassical style of the 1930s: a stylized colonnade at the base of the central section, a rhythm of pilaster blades, narrow attic niches, and decorative rosettes. The color scheme is warm ochre-sand and brown tones. The interior is light and airy: the rooms face each other , high ceilings , parquet floors in the living areas, Mettlach tiles in the bathrooms, and mosaics in the vestibules and staircases. Large apartments included six-meter servants’ quarters —a rarity in the early Soviet era.
The house is often called “French”—not because of any direct citations, but because of Kryachkov’s general spirit and love for the rational plasticity of Auguste Perret , reimagined for a Siberian context. Hence the unusual “palace-like” expressiveness of the residential building.
Life at Home: Elite, Legends, and a Museum Inside
The original apartments looked “un-Soviet generous” by today’s standards: 5-, 4-, 3-, and 2-room layouts without “odnushkas,” well-designed utility areas, and early elevators. It’s no surprise that the city’s elite—scientists, doctors, managers, and artists—lived here. Famous residents included academics G. I. Budker and E. N. Meshalkin , and artist Nikolai Gritsyuk ; during the evacuation, Yevgeny Mravinsky , Nikolai Cherkasov , Nikolai Simonov , and Vasily Merkuryev also lived here. Vladimir Vysotsky is said to have visited Gritsyuk .
Today, part of the building houses the Siberian Memorial Art Gallery —five halls filled with paintings by People’s Artist of Russia Veniamin Chebanov . The main exhibit is a panoramic diorama dedicated to the 150th (22nd Siberian) Volunteer Guards Rifle Division : scenes from frontline life, portraits of soldiers and commanders, and a cultural chronicle of the war years.
What to see outside: details for the attentive
- The bay window towers at the corners of the main façade are a rare vertical accent for residential buildings.
- The balcony ribbons (3rd and 7th floors) rhythmically “collect” the central plane of the façade.
- The courtyard-well with the modest atmosphere of a Soviet courtyard is a contrast to the formal façade.
- The monument to Andrei Kryachkov in the square in front of the building is a symbol of respect for the architect who shaped the appearance of the city center.
Practice for tourists: where it is and how to approach it
Address: Krasny Prospekt, 16 (city center, within walking distance of Lenin Square and the Ploshchad Lenina metro station). It’s best to start your tour from the frontal view near the square—it captures the symmetry and scale. If you have time, walk around the perimeter of the block: along Spartaka and Sibrevkom Streets, you can see the differences in the wings and the interplay of heights.
Good to know: Due to its institutional status, the entrances are traditionally closed; admission is by invitation only. For gallery exhibits, please check the current schedule (opening hours and posters are available at the exhibition venues/from the organizers).
Facts and figures
- Project: A. D. Kryachkov (with the participation of V. S. Maslennikov ).
- Years: 1934–1937 (project 1933).
- Awards: Paris, 1937 – 1st degree diploma, gold medal , Grand Prix .
- Typology: post-constructivism / neoclassical searches of the 1930s.
- Apartments: initially 100 , actually 110 (some non-residential).
- Plan: U-shaped , 8 floors, main façade facing Krasny Prospekt.
Stay at Hotel N and experience the atmosphere of old Novosibirsk.
Planning a stroll along Krasny Prospekt and want to see the Hundred Apartment Building, the Opera House, and other downtown gems? Book a room at Hotel N —we’ll provide comfort, a convenient location, and warm service. From here, the main attractions are easily accessible on foot or by metro. May your trip to Novosibirsk be truly inspiring!
