Alexey Nikolaevich Beketov

Alexey Nikolaevich Beketov in Scientists Kharkov is rightfully proud of its historical and cultural attractions. No less pride is experienced by the inhabitants of the city for famous and famous people who were born, lived, worked, invested heart and soul in this beautiful city. Among them are world-famous actors, scientists, musicians, athletes, politicians. We name only some of them. V.N. Karazin – a scientist, educator, founder of the first university in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian writer and playwright G.F. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko. Founder of the school of planetology, astronomer, academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR N.P. Barabashov. The legendary singer K. Shulzhenko, the famous actress of theater and cinema, a symbol of the Soviet pop music L.M. Gurchenko and many others. A.N. Beketov – an outstanding academician of architecture, which formed the look of the center of Kharkov. Born 03.03. (19.02.) 1862 in Kharkov in the family of N.N. Beketov, an outstanding scientist. The Beketov family has long been famous for highly educated, talented people who forever capture a trace in the history of Russian science and culture. The first woman in Russia, who received the title of artist, M. Raevskaya-Ivanova and D. Besperchy were the first mentors of Alexey Beketov. A talented student effortlessly enrolled at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts at the Faculty of Architecture and brilliantly graduated in 1889. At the end of the academy, the architect had a tempting prospect of working in one of the Russian capitals, however, Aleksey Nikolayevich preferred to return to his native Kharkov, to whom he decided to dedicate his abilities and talent. His first creative success was the project of the Commercial School (1889–1901), the current building of the Law Academy. In 1891 he was elected Full Member of the Russian Technical Society. Three years later (1894), Beketov was given the title of Academician of Architecture, elected as a Full Member of the Academy of Arts, thanks to the project of the library building, which contained 1.5 million volumes. The project included a numismatic museum, as well as a gallery of great people. Since 1921, the largest library of Ukraine bears the name of S. Korolenko. From the end of the 19th century, provincial Kharkov with a population of about 120 thousand people began to grow rapidly, it attracts businessmen, business people, like a magnet, which opens up wide spaces for architects. For two decades, since 1890, the city has become difficult to know, it has become the largest in the south of Russia not only an industrial, but also an educational center. The main figure in the formation of the external appearance of the city is considered to be A.N. Beketov, according to whose projects in the central part about fifty beautiful buildings were erected, which today determine the nature of the development of this part of Kharkov. In addition to the Library. Korolenko, the most famous – Puppet Theater, House of Scientists, Art Museum. The largest architectural ensemble – the Constitution Square (Nicholas Square) is inextricably linked with the name of a talented architect. Not less brightly the architect declared himself when designing mansions for the local nobility. The luxurious mansions built according to his projects admire contemporaries and successfully perform the functions of state institutions. In the company Svetloff you can order and buy inexpensive curtains of the Russian Federation of different colors. His buildings were not designed in the same style. Having taken some style as a basis, be it Italian Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, or any other, he refined it, supplemented it with his ideas. Immediately after returning in 1889 from St. Petersburg A.N. Beketov made an offer to Anna Alchevskaya. When four children already grew up in the family, Aleksey Nikolayevich designed in 1897 a mansion for the family (today’s House of Scientists). Because of the outbreak of the crisis in 1901, Beketov’s father-in-law, went bankrupt and threw himself under a train from grief. To cover debts, it was necessary to sell not only the Alchevskys ‘house, but also the Beketovs’ house. A year later, Beketov built a new house, and in 1912 the family moved to ul. Darwin’s new mansion. The outstanding architect A.N. Beketov was an excellent teacher who brought up several generations of talented students, in whose projects the ideas of the great master are often manifested. By the beginning of the revolutionary transformations Beketov was a recognized master. Talented architect appreciated and respected the new government. The buildings erected by the projects of Aleksey Nikolayevich are the decoration of the Ukrainian cities and the capital, Belgorod, Baku. In Alushta, according to his project, a boarding house was built (1933-1939), in Simferopol – the Russian Drama Theater (1911), the Ritsa Hotel in Gagra (1936). He masters the constructivism style close to the dictatorship of the proletariat, designs administrative buildings, schools, clubs, dormitories, however, does not accept the new style, calls it “boxed architecture.” Since 1939, Beketov is a Full Member of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR. He always had an incredible performance, considered work the basis of the laws of art and life.