The magnificent architectural composition of Odessa’s Cathedral Square would be incomplete without the building at 21 Sadovaya Street, located at the corner of Preobrazhenskaya and Sadovaya Streets. It is one of the main and most discussed sights of the city — The House of A.P. Russov or the Pharmacy of A. Gaevsky and A. Popovsky. Russov’s House is widely known far beyond Odessa due to its history.
The four-storey house in neo-baroque style was built in 1987-1900 by architect Chernigov L.M. This building, thanks to the unique architectural and decorative solutions immediately called one of the most beautiful in the city, and it belonged to a famous philanthropist, honorary citizen of Odessa — AP Russov.
Tall, slender and symmetrical, as if pointing upwards Russov’s House in greenish-white colors was richly decorated with the external decor, which was worked on by the artist-architect V.I. Schmidt. And the sculptural compositions decorating the facade of the house were created in the workshop of the famous sculptor B. Eduards. Each window, each balcony stands out with its graceful sculptural design: there are delicate and light plant motifs, and the figures of people holding, as if Atlanteans, the vaults of this magnificent house. The architectural composition of the Russov House is crowned by a hexagonal tower mounted on a round dome.
After the construction, the first floors of the building were given for profitable premises, and the first tenants were accommodated on the upper floors in spacious apartments. At the same time, in 1898, Gajewski’s pharmacy, which had existed in Odessa since 1878, moved here and served as one of the reasons for such a wide popularity of the Russov House. The pharmacy existed here for more than 100 years, from the moment of its opening it became the largest and most famous on the territory of Southern Ukraine. It not only sold all kinds of medicines, but also produced various medicines according to individual prescriptions, even prepared soap, which became popular in Bessarabia. And the scientific center on the basis of the pharmacy was famous not only for the creation of unique medicines, but also for the research work of its employees.
The history of the Russov House was so glorious until the end of the XX century. In 1912 the architect V.K. Medoks carried out a complete reconstruction of the building, the first and the only one. Now the Russov House, which has survived two fires in recent years and has not been restored for a long time, is experiencing a new birth. The architecture and decor will be recreated in pristine condition, and Odessans and guests of the city will once again be able to enjoy the magnificent view of this the most beautiful and unique attraction of Odessa.