The House of Academics, also known as the Volkova House, is located on Vasilievsky Island and is an example of mid-18th century Peter the Great Baroque architecture. It houses the Ivan Pavlov Museum and has memorial plaques honoring 29 Russian scientists.

History of Construction

In the 18th century, the plot where the House of Academics now stands belonged to adjutant Ilya Lutkovsky and secretary Alexei Volkov, associates of Alexander Menshikov. In 1720, construction of a stone building with wooden ceilings began here. Volkov, one of the owners, spent 4,700 rubles on construction but, due to financial difficulties, sought help from the empress.

The house, built according to a design by Domenico Trezzini, was handed over to the Military Collegium. There is a version that the unfinished building was confiscated from Lutkovsky, and Volkov sold his property to the Military Collegium, which he himself headed. Architect Trezzini, known for his connections with Menshikov, also built the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

In 1736, by order of Empress Anna Ioannovna, the building was transferred to the Academy of Sciences for the accommodation of students and staff. In 1757, at the initiative of Mikhail Lomonosov, the buildings were completed to three stories. There are documents confirming that the buildings of Volkov and Lutkovsky were deemed suitable for academic needs.

It was planned to use the buildings for workshops, a printing house, an observatory, and other institutions. In 1793, a gymnasium was established in one of the buildings in St. Petersburg. Architect Savva Ivanovich Chevakin merged the two structures, decorating the facade with Doric columns. Inside the building were tiled stoves and baroque stucco.

At the end of the 18th century, a gymnasium building was constructed nearby, initiated by Ekaterina Dashkova. In 1805, the building was joined to the structure according to a design by Andreyan Zakharov, known for his works for the Admiralty and Gatchina Palace. The three buildings were unified in a classical style, adding columns and a balcony. As a result of the reconstruction, about twenty apartments for staff were created.

The House of Academics faces the Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment and the 7th Line of Vasilievsky Island, opposite the Annunciation Bridge. Nearby are the Menshikov Palace and other landmarks.

What the Building is Known For

In the late 18th and 19th centuries, more than a hundred members of the Imperial Academy lived and worked in the House of Academics, including physicist Moritz von Jacobi and mathematician Mikhail Ostrogradsky. Ivan Kulibin, known for his inventions, also lived here.

The house printed the manifesto of Catherine II's accession to the throne and housed Login Kraft's observatory. The Academy consisted of three classes and was funded from the state budget.

Soviet Period

After 1917, the house was inhabited by Soviet scientists. Since the 1950s, the facade has been adorned with memorial plaques mentioning 29 notable scientists, including Ivan Pavlov, who died here in 1936. Between 1948 and 1950, 19 memorial plaques were installed according to the design of R.I. Kaplan-Ingel, later increasing to 29.

Since 1949, the memorial museum-apartment of Pavlov, organized by his daughter and widow, has been operating in the house. The apartment retains its furnishings, including furniture and butterfly collections. The museum is open for visits three days a week.

Today, the House of Academics is a multi-apartment building where not only scientists live. It has been removed from the balance of the Academy of Sciences and transferred to the city authorities. The housing in the building is private, not official. The house is a state-protected site but is in a deplorable condition. The memorial plaques and the Pavlov Museum continue to tell the story of this architectural monument.