Alushta is a city that boasts an abundance of interesting and original architecture, beautiful and amazing. But not every building can be compared to the A.N. Beketov House-Museum, located in the Professor’s Corner drowning in greenery.
Beketov House-Museum is two attractions at once. On the one hand, it is an architectural monument built in the original style, and on the other hand — an interesting memorial museum, where you can see not only personal belongings of the outstanding architect, but also the works of famous artists of the XIX-XX centuries and our time.
.
A.N. Beketov built his summer house in 1896, a year after his father, N.N. Beketov, the founder of physical and chemical science, gave his son a plot of land not far from his own estate. Beketov, famous for creating many magnificent buildings, and in the construction of his own dacha showed exquisite taste and the ability to create truly unique architectural compositions. The two-story building in the Eastern Mauritanian style, made of white and yellow stone, was a worthy addition to the appearance of the aristocratic Professors’ Corner.
The magnificent mansion, which has survived to our time in its original appearance, reminds of ancient European castles and at the same time of spacious palaces, where stern shahs and sultans lounged on soft cushions. Several details give a special zest to the building. First of all, it is an openwork veranda with carved columns, arranged by the architect on the first floor.
.
Also harmoniously completing the architectural ensemble are the four-sided turrets with domes crowning the second floor of the house. It seems that each detail in this building complements the other, giving its appearance a completely unique look. And the dense greenery framing the Beketov House-Museum creates a feeling that this house is located in some fairy-tale forest.
Beketov’s estate is also very interesting as a museum. Here you can always see not only the exhibition of works of the landscape artist himself (in addition to architecture, the outstanding figure was also fond of painting), see things that belonged to this talented man, but also admire the best works of contemporary Ukrainian artists, participate in meetings of the creative living room, visit literary and musical evenings. Beketov’s House Museum today is not only an architectural monument, but also a cultural center of Professors’ Corner, where artists, poets, writers, scientists and musicians gather.
Alexei Nikolaevich Beketov was an outstanding figure who left behind such magnificent creations as the building of the Crimean Russian Academic Theater named after M. Gorky in Simferopol, the building of the Kharkov Commercial School, the ensemble of Nikolaev Square in Kharkov. The architect worked on the formation of the architectural appearance of Kharkov, Kiev, Baku and other cities. And, fortunately, he found time to leave his mark and in Alushta. Such attractions of Alushta as Beketov’s house-museum in Professor’s Corner and Villa Marina will always be of great interest to lovers of beautiful and unusual architecture. If you are going on vacation to Crimea, do not miss a great opportunity to see these bright architectural masterpieces and appreciate with your own eyes the talent of one of the most famous Russian architects.