Doesn’t this wooden house look fragile? It is the Volkova House. This house stands as a testament to a bygone era. This is a remarkable pre-revolutionary structure. It is located on Lomonosov and Eleninskaya streets. The precise construction date of the Volkova House remains a mystery. However, it was erected at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Its architecture reflects the Modern style of that period. The Volkova House is registered as a regional architectural monument.
Before 1917 the house belonged to a merchant. His name was Mikhail Vasilievich Volkov. He was a timber merchant of the 1st guild and an honorary citizen. Volkov was chairman. He led the Oranienbaum almshouse. He also headed the construction committee for a new stone church. It was built in Oranienbaum. This church was dedicated to Mikhail Archangel. Volkov initiated kerosene lighting. This lighting illuminated the Oranienbaum almshouse. Later it was replaced with electric lighting. His wife Irina was head of the society. This society protected mothers and infants in the almshouse.
Details about the architect are unknown. The Volkova House stands as a unique example of wooden architecture. It represents Oranienbaum’s heritage. The house was owned initially by state councilor Kekin. Mikhail Volkov acquired it at the start of the 20th century. Officially ownership was registered to his spouse Irina. The Volkova family owned the house until the revolution.
After the revolution the house became nationalized. It became residential property. The house underwent major repairs in 1966. In 2008 the building was declared аварийным. It was vacated in 2013. Since then the city tried to sell the Volkova House at auction eight times. A successful deal was canceled. It was due to bureaucratic difficulties. Without restoration the building continues to deteriorate.
The Volkova House was included in the list of cultural heritage sites in 1990. Experts consider it one of the most valuable wooden monuments in Lomonosov. Mikhail Volkov actively participated in building the Krasnaya Gorka fort. He was a supplier of stone. It was needed for concrete production. His workers performed land work ditch digging and rampart pouring.
In 2018 the building was bought by Evgeny Zakopaev. He was obliged to carry out restoration. It needed to be completed within 42 months. However Rosreestr refused to register the property rights. In January 2019 Zakopaev was refunded. Conservationists called Rosreestr’s refusal absurd.
Today the Volkova House faces uncertainty. Will it be restored? Will it be lost to time? The future is unclear. The Volkova House remains a poignant reminder of the past. It shows the challenges of preserving architectural heritage.