2 K. Podryadchikova St., Gatchina, Leningrad Region, Russia, 188308
The Birch House, built according to the design of the Swiss artist and architect of the small court François Viollier, appeared in the mid-1780s and externally resembled a modest stack of birch firewood prepared for a long winter. It was a kind of joke, a pastoral whim of the 18th century, behind whose simple facades hid luxury and splendor. Painting and gilded stucco, an abundance of mirrors gave the interior a special festivity. This contrast invariably amazed contemporaries, as for guests strolling through the Gatchina Park, the small pavilion became an unexpected surprise. In 1796, under the direction of architect Vincenzo Brenna, the construction of the monumental "Mask" portal was carried out, which concealed the Birch House. Such surprise pavilions are typical for Russian parks of the second half of the 18th century. Behind their modest appearance (a hut, a log-and-straw cabin, a shed, etc.) hides a luxurious interior. The pavilions were intended for the rest of small groups walking in the park.
In the second half of the 1790s, stone gates appeared on the eastern border of the Palace Park, called the Birch Gates, as they were located near the Birch House.
The portal survived the war years. The Birch House, destroyed during the Nazi occupation of Gatchina, was recreated in 1975 according to the project of architect Kedrinsky.
Sources:
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birch_House_and_Mask_Portal
https://gatchinapalace.ru/park/attractions/berez_dom.php
