“Better for the children!” That was the motto behind the creation of Dom obschestva Detskiy trud i otdykh. This translates to the House of Society Children’s Labor and Recreation. We are standing before a building with a rich history. Dom obschestva Detskiy trud i otdykh is located in Moscow. Its address is Vadkovsky Pereulok, house 5, building 1.
This architectural monument was built in 1907. The architect A.U. Zelenko designed it. Zelenko had traveled to America. He became acquainted with the pedagogue Stanislav Teofilovich Shatsky there. Together, they organized the Settlement society. It was modeled after American public organizations.
Shatsky worked here from 1907 to 1916. He attracted participants. They built the house together. They organized classes and circles. They also built a library, a theater, and a children’s observatory.
In 1908, the Settlement was closed. The organizers were arrested. But they were soon released. This was due to the lack of evidence of a crime. Alexander Ustinovich left for America. Shatsky created a society. It was named Detskiy trud i otdykh. In Moscow, this institution became popular.
After the October Revolution, the building housed the First Experimental Station for Public Education. In 1918, Shatsky opened the School of Joy. Later, it was renamed School No. 204. It was named after Gorky.
One of the school’s famous graduates was L.Z. Lungina. In 1936, the school moved. The House of Pioneers then took over the building. In the late 1990s, the building was renovated. During the restoration, the architectural plan was significantly simplified. Much was lost.
Today, it is used for business purposes. Several commercial organizations are located here. Dom obschestva Detskiy trud i otdykh is an object of cultural heritage of federal significance. The building’s architecture was quite unusual. It resembled a pile of diverse objects. After reconstruction, the texture of the walls was changed. Stone pipes and window sills disappeared. This building once stood as a testament to innovative education. It now serves as a reminder of a bygone era. A time when children’s development was a community priority.