House of Oparin XVII century (Gorokhovets)

 House of Oparin

 

Description of the House of Oparin

House of Oparin (Дом Опарина) is a historical residence in a Russian city of Gorokhovets. The house of merchant Oparin in Gorokhovets is a striking example of a residential building of the 17th century. It stands on Naberezhnaya Street and is hidden from the river by green spaces. At one time, this building was recorded as Serin's house, as it was indicated in all textbooks on architecture. But the merchant Oparin was considered its real first owner. Opposite the house rise the stone vaults of the Annunciation Cathedral, which was built with the money of another Gorokhovets merchant, Semyon Ershov. It so happened that both entrepreneurs, if we call them in modern language, were competitors and competed with each other all their lives.

The litigation between the two merchants was preserved even in the chronicles. Initially, Semyon Ershov managed to get up. At the end of the 18th century, the Ershov merchant family was one of the wealthy in the area, and the Oparins lived poorer. But then windy fortune changed its favorites. And years later, Klim Ershov asks Fyodor Matveevich Oparin for money as security for his yard.

The peculiar struggle between two merchant families was reflected in the architectural appearance of the city. So, not far from each other stand the former house of the Oparins and the Annunciation Cathedral, which was built with the money of Semyon Ershov. The majestic church building, of course, was larger and grander than Matvey Oparin’s home building. The grievances received from the opponent were still alive, so the porch of the house, looking at the cathedral, was specially moved to the opposite side towards the river.

Both merchants died long ago, their litigation was forgotten, and the efforts of human hands still decorate the city of Gorokhovets. Oparin’s house today houses the registry office and the city archive. The architecture of the building is interesting. Restoration work has preserved the appearance of the building, characteristic of town houses of the late 18th century. It organically intertwined the traditional features of the Russian mansion and the new trends of the Peter the Great era.

The layout of the house, characteristic of the buildings of Ancient Rus', received modern decor for its time. If previously it was customary to decorate the windows and doors of rooms in accordance with their purpose, then the architect of the Oparin house was seduced by the uniformity and geometric pattern of the composition. Of course, it is impossible to imagine the real authentic appearance of the Oparins’ house. The porch was located on the other side. The house also had attics made of wood, which later disappeared.

The striking detail of the house is its massive porch. These are not only steps leading into the room, they are an integral part of the building, where on top there is a light room, a living room for girls. The porch has powerful supports, somewhat subtly reminiscent of the columns of the nearby cathedral. Perhaps, with such details, Matvey Oparin wanted to at least partially equalize his house with the grandeur of the Annunciation Cathedral. The porch is pushed forward and represents a massive part of the house.