On the corner of Krasnaya and Grafskaya streets, a magnificent two-story brick mansion appeared in 1905, designed by Batyr-Bek Shardanov, an engineer of communications. He developed the building's project himself, including the drawings for its exterior and interior design.

Batyr-Bek was a Kabardian, a nobleman, and the grandson of the famous public figure of Kabarda, Yakub Shardanov. He was born on August 14, 1863, in the Stavropol province. At 25, he graduated from the St. Petersburg Institute of Communications, gaining the right to engage in construction work. After moving to Kuban, in 1901, he became the head of the 15th section of the Vladikavkaz Railway in Yekaterinodar. Before this appointment, he had already accomplished much.

In 1898, he contributed to the opening of a railway school, and in 1901, he achieved the construction of an arch viaduct on the Cossack dam for the crossing to Dubinka, which was destroyed during the war and later restored.

Shardanov was a wealthy man, owning significant land plots in the Tersk and Kuban regions, which he rented out. He was an avid theatergoer and a fan of operetta prima donnas, often visiting the theater. In one of the comic sketches, he was mentioned:

"In the city of Yekaterinodar, there is an artist Gradov
And engineer Shardanov.
The first sings the verses,
And the second disappears behind the scenes..."

The building he constructed became a decoration of the city and a source of pride for both the owner and the townspeople. The mansion harmoniously blended into the historical architecture and looked quite elegant.

The corner composition of the building gave it a grand appearance, as if inviting one to enter. The upper floor was intended for residential purposes, while the lower floor was for commercial premises. Initially, the first floor housed the manufactory of K.A. Demerzhiev, later, a hat shop owned by Madame Klavdiya.

The external decor of the building is executed in a sculptural style: balconies with stucco, a cornice on brackets, columns in the Ionic style, bas-reliefs. The interior of the mansion is original: decorative painting, relief elements in the form of floral garlands and wreaths, a variety of ceiling ornaments. The painting of the staircase and halls is done in a rich color palette of greenish-gray, pistachio, and yellowish-white tones. Locals believed that the stucco work in the house was done according to Shardanov's own designs.

In 1907, the upper floor of the mansion was rented by the city administration for the F.A. Kovalenko Art Gallery. Archives contain records from Shardanov addressed to the founder of the gallery and a copy of the contract. Before renting out the house, he discussed each clause of the contract with the sworn attorney V.I. Kanatov and only after that signed it. He refused to sign the contract without a penalty clause, stating: "I am renting the house not out of necessity, but due to your persistent desire and only to you as a representative devoted to this good cause."

Since October 7 and to this day, the house of Batyr-Bek Shardanov has housed an art gallery, now the Art Museum.

Yekaterinodar residents had mixed feelings about Shardanov: "where there is money, there he is," considering him greedy. In April 1912, he became a co-founder of the Yekaterinodar Private Pawnshop. He also filed a lawsuit against the city administration.

As a result of revolutionary events and frequent changes of power, the city found itself in a difficult economic situation. Shardanov demanded to vacate his mansion from the heirs of the art gallery, threatening to "carry out forced eviction and claim 50 thousand in court costs," as well as all legal expenses.

However, there are also positive testimonies about Shardanov. He was an honorary trustee of several schools and a member of charitable organizations. For his activities, he was awarded the Order of Saint Stanislaus of the 3rd class.

On April 3, 1911, he opened the "Shirvanskaya, Yekaterinodar" oil pipeline, which was 105 versts long. Shardanov oversaw the construction work as a representative of the "Maykop Pipeline and Transport Society." This was significant construction for that time, with plans to supply 160 thousand poods of oil per day.

Additionally, he voluntarily drafted a plan for the construction of an electric hydrotherapy clinic for wounded soldiers, which was revised by architect A.A. Kozlov. The building was constructed and received its first patients in 1916.

The two revolutions did not pass without a trace. Shardanov was forced to flee from the Bolsheviks to save his life. However, his name remains in the history of Kuban as an engineer, philanthropist, creator of a significant oil pipeline, and owner of a beautiful mansion that has become an architectural monument and a decoration of the city.