Income House Volkenstein. Owls and Bear

Lenina St., 33, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 194362

This house zoo is the most famous building by Minash in the style of "Northern Modernism," its facade inhabited by various animals. On the scale of the Petrograd Side, it is truly a special building, and it may seem that there is no other like it in all of Petersburg. In reality, however, the building cannot be called unique in the full sense of the word, since its decor is partly inspired by the reliefs on the facade of the Bubyr house on Stremyannaya Street, 11.

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

On the keystone above the entrance to the front door, a bear is depicted. It is often mistaken for a wolf, but the prevailing theory is that it is indeed a bear. However, judging by the appearance of the animal, this bear is more likely a polar bear than a brown bear, which is also acknowledged by experts. Like lions, clumsy-footed predators often appear in heraldry, symbolizing power, courage, and grandeur.

The muzzle and paw of the animal are softly modeled, creating an illusion of volume. As for the wolf, it is also a common northern motif, although not as positive. The monstrous wolf Fenrir is a popular character in Scandinavian mythology. The space between the stone arch of the portal and the entrance door is decorated with simple carving.

Now let's see what other surprises await on the facade. The animalistic motifs are not limited to just one bear. Above the wide windows at the edges of the first floor are stylized big-eyed owls, carved in terracotta. As is known, images of owls and eagle-owls are one of the hallmarks of the "Northern Modern" architecture of St. Petersburg, take for example the income house of Putilova ("House with Owls"), also on the Petrograd side.

More information about this house can be found here: https://reveal.world/story/dohodnyj-dom-k-i-vol-kenshtejn

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More stories from Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

Owls of the Barsova Income House

Kronverksky Ave., 23, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197101

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

Right at the entrance of this house, an owl awaits you.

Lishnevsky's Owls - House of Urban Institutions

Sadovaya St., 55-57, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190068

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

Here you can see orcs, goblins, ghouls, and monstrous owls as tall as a human; the facade and interiors of the house—Lishnevsky's fantasy—are richly decorated with fairy-tale monsters.

House of T.N. Putilova (House with Owls)

Bolshoy Prospekt P.S., 44, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197198

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

A monolithic building in the Northern Modern style with pointed Gothic portals and a courtyard well. Also, there are owl figures on the facade located on either side of the main portal, and it is precisely because of them that the building is known as the House with Owls. This kind of decoration places it alongside Northern Modern style houses in Riga, Helsinki, and Stockholm.

Owls of the Protasov House (House of M. V. Voeykova)

Nevsky Ave., 70, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191025

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Civil engineer S. I. Minash designed the building in the style of "Northern" Art Nouveau. Characteristic features of "Northern" Art Nouveau include the cladding of the lower floors with talc-chlorite stone, stylized images of owls and other birds, and hexagonal windows narrowing upwards. A glass cylinder is embedded along the central axis of the facade. The western rectangular section was set into a pointed arch portal, flanked by reliefs depicting owls. The keystone was decorated with the head of a bird with a predatory beak and stylized plumage, repeated in the decoration of the eastern hexagonal entrance narrowing upwards. The entrance to the shop, spanning the entire height of the doorway, is adorned with giant owls.

Owls on the building of the A. F. Devriens publishing house

4th Line V.O., 13, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

The building's facade is decorated with the inscription "A. F. Devriens Publishing House," dates, and two owls (symbols of "Northern Modernism").

Owls of the income house of V. V. Korelin

Apraksin Lane, 1, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191023

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

At first, the architect intended to design the house in an antique style. On the blueprints, a massive Doric arcade-gallery stretches into the distance, deep into the modestly sized courtyard, while at the corner rises a belvedere tower resembling an ancient Roman temple with porticoes on all four sides. However, in reality, the Greek columns transformed into faceted Romanesque pillars, and on either side of the passage arch settled owls popular in Northern Art Nouveau.

Owls of the Badaev House

19 Vosstaniya Street, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191036

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

On the level of the fifth floor, on the side of Vosstaniya Street, three owls have nestled, one of which is above the round window of the balcony, and the other two are on the sides, at the base of the columns.

Owl of the income house of G. F. Kiselev - Hotel of the Department of Culture - Hotel of the Bolshoi Puppet Theater

12 Nekrasova St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191014

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

The faceless facade of the house was attempted to be decorated by an unknown architect with stucco inserts, of which only the image of an owl and stylized flowers at the base of the bay window have survived.

Income House on Zhukovsky Street – Owls and Others

Zhukovskogo St., 47, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191014

Petersburg: Masterpieces of Art Nouveau

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

Among the Art Nouveau houses in St. Petersburg, the building located at 47 Zhukovsky Street has one of the most comical decorations. The building is adorned with amusing mascarons. But the funniest element is the pair of crocodile-dragons at the top of the right risalit. The decor also features several owls decorating the windows in a floral pattern and the gate portal.

The House on Vosstaniya Street and Its Owls

42a Vosstaniya St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191123

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A modern 8-story residential building in the style of retrospectivism with 30 apartments at the intersection of Vosstaniya Street and Manezhny Lane. Styled in Art Nouveau.

Vitebsky Station - owls on the tower

Zagorodny Prospekt, 52, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190013

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

Travelers departing from Vitebsky Station have their own wise bird. The vertical dominant feature of the building is a tall clock tower with an impressive picturesque silhouette. You are usually in a hurry, rushing along, but if you take a moment to look at the clock on the tower, you can see an owl above it, spreading its wings. It is ready to take flight and invites you on a journey. Architects Brzozovsky, Ostrovsky, and Minash were well-known experts and lovers of owls. The modern-style station building was opened on August 1, 1904.

The Income House of L. L. Koenig and Its Long-Beaked Owls

2 Blokhina St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197198

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In 1911–1912, a house in the Art Nouveau style was built according to the design of Karl Karlovich Schmidt, a representative of the "brick style" architecture. The client was the wealthy sugar factory owner Leopold Egorovich Koenig. The house turned out to be quite heavy-looking, with a round tower on the roof featuring windows that face all around. The main facade is decorated with two stylized images of large owls with long beaks, supporting the windowsills with their wings.

Income house at Kuibyshev 19 and its owl on the tower

Kuibysheva St, 19, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197046

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

This income house in the Art Nouveau style was built by architect Evgeny Feliksovich Brzhozovsky in 1904–1905. Although it is classified as Art Nouveau, its design incorporates elements from all other styles. For example, the pseudo-Gothic turret, under the spire of which you can see an owl with a sad gaze. It has spread its wings as far as the surrounding roof eaves allow.

Owl pecking at the head of a girl on the house of S. V. Muyaki

18-a Vosstaniya St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191014

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The picturesque and multicolored house of Staff Captain Muyaki is adorned with ornate stucco, intricate balcony railings, and an unusual bas-relief featuring owls pecking at the heads of long-haired girls. By the way, the latter clearly do not like it.

Income House of Widow Stahlman (Musiny-Pushkin) - Owls in the Niches

Zagorodny Prospekt, 45, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191180

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Right opposite the owl of the Vitebsk railway station, on building number 45 on Zagorodny Prospect, there are also owls. This building was constructed by architect Moshinsky in 1907 at the request of the widow of Lieutenant General Stahlman, and three years later it was purchased by Musin-Pushkin.

Owls of the Vladimir Passage (Income House of I. V. von Besser)

Vladimirsky Ave., 19, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191002

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Architect – K.A. Shulman. Built in 1901 in the Northern Modern style. This is the only building by the famous Finnish architect in Saint Petersburg; other buildings designed by him can be seen in Vyborg. One of the distinctive features of Northern Modern is the decoration of buildings with figures of animals, mythological creatures, and plant ornaments.

Income House of E. P. Mikhailova on Vvedenskaya with an owl at the top

Vvedenskaya St., 7, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197198

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The facade of the neighboring house No. 7 stands out from the general streetscape. It was built in 1913–1914 by civil engineer Vladimir Nikolaevich Smirnov for the merchant Mikhailov.

Income House of A. M. Vasilyev - Owl Bay Windows

Gatchinskaya St., Building 9, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197136

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Совы можно увидеть в декоративном молдинге, обрамляющем нижнюю часть эркеров.

House of the Partnership for the Arrangement of Housing of the Petrovsky Commercial School - frieze with owls

Malyy Ave. P.S., 32, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197198

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One of the interesting Art Nouveau buildings is located on Malyy Prospekt of the Petrograd Side. It is the former house of the Partnership for the Arrangement of Housing of the Petrovsky Commercial School. Under the window openings of the fifth floor runs a molded frieze with an alternating pattern of drooping laurel leaves and mascarons depicting owls; below is a shield with the head of Medusa Gorgon, an attribute of the goddess Athena, and the head of the god Hermes — symbols of trade, embodying wealth.

Income House of M. D. Kornilov - Owl on the Pediment

Maly pr. P.S., 26, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197198

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The Kornilov Income House was built in 1910 according to the design of architect and artist Baranovsky, by architect Alexander Baranovsky. It is guarded by a frowning and serious eagle owl with outstretched wings high up in the portico.

Income house of K. K. Schmidt and an owl under the bay window

Perekupnoy Lane, 12, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191024

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The massive yet compact volume of the residential building resembles a castle. Its walls seem designed to serve as a fortress, protecting the residents' family peace from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Owl at the Academy of Arts

Universitetskaya Embankment, 17, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

The owl adorning the Academy of Arts on Vasilievsky Island sits on its roof alongside Minerva and three geniuses of the arts. Its history, rich with drama and restoration, reflects not only the fate of the sculpture but also the painting of the era of art and culture in Saint Petersburg.

Owls on Egyptian sphinxes

Universitetskaya Embankment, 17, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

On each of the sphinxes, a large number of ancient inscriptions are carved. Almost all of them were translated in 1912 by the famous orientalist Struve. The texts contain praise for King Amenhotep. Among the hieroglyphics, one can see the pictogram of an "owl."

Owl of the Manege of the Cadet Corps

Universitetskaya Embankment, 13, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

The owl is located in the semicircular pediment to the right of the head of Medusa Gorgon.

Owls on the entrance doors of the income house of R. A. Diderichs

Bolshoy Prospekt P.S., 104, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 197101

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

The doors with carved wooden owls at the top of the house at 104 Bolshoy Prospekt P.S. belong to the Dideriks income house, built according to the project of architect A. Bubyr in 1912-1914.

Income house of G.G. Zollikofer - owls of the fourth floor

12th Krasnoarmeyskaya St., 1, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190005

Petersburg: Masterpieces of Art Nouveau

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

Above the fourth floor, among the fir trees and pine cones, owls have nestled.

Income House of V. P. Kanchielov - Athena and the Owl

8 Malaya Podyacheskaya St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190068

Petersburg: Masterpieces of Art Nouveau

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

The medallions with Athena and the owl are located between the third and fourth floors, but they can be seen.

Private income house of Bubyr and owl on stained glass

Stremyannaya St., 11, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191025

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

In the house, there is an interesting stained glass window titled "The Guardians" featuring an owl and crows – by the artist N. M. Goncharova.

Hauger's Income House (Owl on the Bas-Relief)

52 Mayakovskogo St., Saint Petersburg, Russia, 194361

Petersburg: The Hunt for Owls in Architectural Decor

The house is unusual because it is composed of two houses (hence its double name - the V. K. Hauger House - the A. S. Zalshupin Income House). This is easy to notice – the floors are located at different heights – the windows on the right side are higher than those on the left, and the apartment numbers are divided between the two houses – odd numbers in one, even numbers in the other.