Rekka Income House

The majestic building at Prechistenka Street, 13 in Moscow, located at the corner with Lopukhinsky Lane, was constructed in 1911 by order of a trading and construction society under the guidance of Yakov Rekka. It was designed by architect G.A. Gelrich in the Moscow Art Nouveau style.

The house stands out with its luxurious exterior: the first two floors are clad in relief masonry, the facade is adorned with stucco elements, the bay windows have faceted shapes, and the loggias feature arched balustrades. The building also has a well-maintained inner courtyard.

The interior spaces were richly decorated and met the demands of affluent clients: spacious apartments of up to seven rooms, oak parquet, high ceilings with stucco, and a marble grand staircase.

The house is known for its rich history due to its famous residents. A.P. Fabergé, a relative of the founder of the renowned jewelry firm and legal advisor to his company, lived on the top floor. He owned two apartments located opposite each other. After his departure from revolutionary Russia, his apartments became a communal flat. Some rooms were occupied by artists, and one of the apartments was home to director and GITIS teacher A.A. Muat, who was acquainted with Mikhail Bulgakov.

Bulgakov often visited this house and befriended its inhabitants, who helped him immerse himself in the theatrical and artistic life of Moscow at that time.

Interestingly, the house at Prechistenka, 13, is reflected in two of Bulgakov's works: "The Master and Margarita" and "Heart of a Dog."

The surname of Anna Frantsevna Fuzhere from "The Master and Margarita" resembles the surname Fabergé. Although she "lived" in an apartment at Bolshaya Sadovaya, 10, the interior decor matched that of the former Fabergé rooms: a huge chandelier on a chain, a fireplace with an iron grate, wooden sofas on the landings, and a description of the grand entrance.

In "Heart of a Dog," there are also coincidences. Although Bulgakov "settled" Professor Preobrazhensky in the Kalabukhov House at Prechistenka, 24, the description of the entrance and staircase more closely corresponds to the house at Prechistenka, 13: a doorman at the door, a wide front door with stained glass, marble steps, a carpet runner, a galosh stand, and an oak coat rack.

Such decor was absent in the house at the corner of Prechistenka and Chisty (Obukhova) Lane. Additionally, the number of apartments, equal to 12, precisely matched that of the house at Prechistenka, 13.