Architect Nikitin’s Mansion

«Initially, the building had a one storey stone outbuilding on the southwest side,which likely served household purposes, along with small auxiliary structures and low translucentenclosures. During construction, Nikitin made significant changes to the façade’s layout. The building’s architecture is highly unique. Per its compositional design, the building served as a visual focal point in the historical setting, owing to the original combination of roof cladding and a turret. The façade decorations are among the richest and most diverse in Chita. The wide variety of preserved interior decorative elements enhances its architectural and artistic value. In the second half of the 20th century, multi-story residental, administrative, and educational buildings plus a new filling station were built on the surrounding land—leading to the loss of the building’s historical and urban planning significance. In 1990, per a decision by the Chita Gorispolkom (City Executive Committee), the building was transferred from the assets of Chita Technical Institute (current Trasnsbaikal State University) to the Creative architectural design studio Chitaarhproekt LLC (Chita architectural project) with the obligation to conduct restorations. At the time of transfer, the building was 100% depreciated, but restoration work was completed between 1992 from 1996. The mansion has since become an ornament of the city and a venue for guided tours. Hemmed in by residential development and restricted by a narrow field of view, the building’s architecture has taken on an intimate character, where historical and restored details play a significant role. In 1997, at the fifth Russian festival “Architecture 1997” in Moscow, the project “Restoration of architect Nikitin’s House in Chita” awarded an incentive diploma by the Union of Architects of Russia, and its contructors received a cash prize».