House with Cats

"House cats" - a bright and original structure, which attracts all those interested in the unusual architecture of Kiev . The name of the house derives from the abundance of cats figures in the decoration of the facade. "The house with the cats` time was also called" Castle Koshchey ".

The history and architecture of the building

"House cats" was built in 1909 with funds and commissioned by Colonel Theodore Yagimovskogo architect Vladimir immortal.

The most striking part of the building - the central facade. "House cats" in the plans to build a T-shape. Building elements are asymmetrical. Balconies, windows, doors have different shapes. Huge arched window "protect" the two green-eyed cat.

"House cats" has a green color, and all the decor is highlighted in white - hence the overall contrast of the composition. The facade is decorated with figures of owls, male mascarones numerous embossed designs. At the top of the house is a fantastic creature - chimera. Shapes and forms of the facade elements refer it to the modern, ornaments and sculpture - to the Gothic Revival.

Legend "House with cats"

There are a lot of legends about the "mystical triangle". It is necessary to take a map of Kiev and to note on it three buildings:

• "House with Chimeras" on Bankova;
• "A house with gargoyles" on the Great Zhitomir;
• "House cats" on Gogol.

They all share the sinister figure of fronts. Combining these three lines of the building, get on the map a triangle in the center of which is Sophia Cathedral . Some people believe that this is why the ancient temple several times plundered, ceased to hold services.

The city is also rumored that the house is the cause of many dramatic fates, be it dangerous, and animal figures on the facade - is not nothing but a mysterious message.

Interesting Facts

• In 1917-1920 here he lived a historian and ethnographer Nikolai Levchenko. By the end of the 1920s, he lived in the house of the scientist-engineer Stepan Tymoshenko, in honor of the visit is a bronze plaque in 1995 was installed on the facade of the building.
• Figures of birds and animals that appear in the house acquired its symbolic meaning: Owl - a symbol of wisdom, cat at the window to protect the inhabitants of the house from the evil intentions of the chimera, a figure which is crowned by a sculptural composition of the house.
• Nowadays the premises are occupied residential flats, and is located on the ground floor law office.

Getting there

"House cats" in Kiev, located on the street Gogol, 23. From the train station can be reached by bus number 7 to the circus . From there you need to walk a little bit. Also close to the metro station "Theatre" and "Golden Gate", from which will also have to take a walk. Not far from "House with cats" are routes of trams number 15 and 18 and bus number 564.