“Dragotsennaya shkatulochka” or jewel box. That’s what they called the house of the head of the cotton-spinning factory. We are standing before Dom upravlyayushchego khlopkopryadilnoy fabrika. This house sharply contrasts with the rest of the factory buildings.
Let me tell you about this unique building. It stands apart from the rest of Moscow’s modern architecture. Perhaps Ding himself ordered this design. Maybe the architect designed this house in the style of German Art Nouveau. It resembles buildings in Berlin or Frankfurt.
The building’s decor is reminiscent of half-timbered houses. It is enhanced by large floral stucco work. Note its varied window shapes. Its facades are decorated with majolica panels with landscapes. M. Nashchokin oversaw the high-quality ceramics. These were brought from abroad. Yet this is no Abramtsevo mosaic. This mosaic was widely used in finishing mansions.
Two panels are placed in frames over two rectangular windows. These windows are on the main facade’s first floor. They depict southern views. You can see slender cypresses and bright autumn foliage. Look at the deer and a strip of blue mountains. A third panel sits above a vertical window. It is on the building’s southeast corner. It depicts yellow crocuses scattering on a slope. A red-breasted bird flies. The horizon shows a narrow band of clouds. It also shows a red sun.
After construction, the family settled into their unusual residence. Some details of that era have survived. There are carvings on the doors and stained glass in the windows. Also preserved are stucco moldings on the ceilings.
Since 1989, this mansion has been listed among newly identified architectural monuments. In 1995-1996, the house underwent reconstruction. Architect V.K. Varfolomeev led the project. Wooden ceilings were replaced with concrete floors. Stucco decoration was restored in the interior.
From the start of World War I in 1914, anti-German sentiments rose in society. Germans were being ousted from Russia. Iogann-Leongard Ding also had to sell his business. He sold it to Nikolai Ivanovich Blandov. Blandov was the chairman of “Partnership in Faith” “N.I. Blandov and Ko”.
Nikolai Ivanovich Blandov was a prominent figure. He was a Russian entrepreneur of that time. Back in the 1890s, he and his brother Vladimir co-owned a dairy production company. By 1914, the Moscow macaroni factory was acquired. The management effectively shifted to N.F. Blazhin. He knew how to increase the company’s well-being.
The macaroni factory remained. It was there after the 1917 revolution. Now, this factory is part of the Interros concern. It produces products under the “Extra M” brand. We are grateful to I.L. Ding. He not only started good macaroni production. He also left us his beautiful mansion.