The Azov-Don Bank building was constructed in 1910 based on the design by architect F.I. Lidval. It was located on Nikolskaya Street, where shops, hotels, rental houses, and various offices were situated.
The bank building is built in the style of Russian neoclassicism, which had developed by 1910.
This direction was oriented towards the later generation of Western European neoclassicism, which interacted with the neo-romantic trend of northern modernism. This variant of "international" neoclassicism was characterized by monumentality, the use of granite cladding, and a "rough" surface of stone masonry. It was especially popular in the construction of bank buildings, symbolizing conservatism, reliability, and stability.
The three-story corner structure harmoniously combines motifs of neoclassicism and northern modernism. Its facades are finished with glazed bricks and decorated with elegant details that give it an ancient appearance. The use of natural and artificial materials in the decor creates a definitive architectural image of the building, symbolizing conservatism, stability, and reliability.
Originally, most of the rooms on the ground floor housed shops. Only the vestibule belonged to the bank itself. The second floor was occupied by the transaction hall with two-level lighting and a number of service rooms. The manager’s apartment was located on the third floor. In the interior of the central hall, fluted pilasters, a molded frieze, and cornices have been preserved.
In 1972, the building was restored while preserving its original appearance. Today, it is used for its original purpose – it houses the administration of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in the Astrakhan region.
Sources:
https://www.vipgeo.ru/countries/russia_showpl/astrahan/azovskodonskoy_bank.html
https://appreal.org/astrakhan-region-33-object/
http://ast.holme.ru/sight/598af74e25d38e5e011175be/
