17 and 23, Svetlanskaya Street

Two Buildings

     Two buildings on opposite sides of the viaduct constructed in 1909 over the Trans-Siberian Railroad are of special architectural interest.  Built in 1908, the first one used to belong to a Chinese merchant, Ka-tchan, and displays what has been considered an “oriental version of an Ionic capital.”  This kind of embellishment is known to have been used in Southeast Asia since the 18th century.  The second floor has been used for living quarters, while the first floor was once the jewelry store owned by K. Filipek.  Today it houses a perfume shop.

     Built a year later, in 1909, for the prosperous Chinese fur trader Tau Tsai-ling, the second building was called the Warsaw Shop.  Now it is unofficially known as the “Green Bricks” because of the glazed green bricks used to decorate the façade.  Some Eastern architectural features may also be noted.

    

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Copyright 1999 Maria Lebedko.  All rights reserved.
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