Irkutsk > Decorating wooden buildings > Sukachev's manor

Sukachev's manor

Irkutsk mayor Vladimir Sukachev's manor (112 Dekabrskhih Sobityi Street) was built in the period from 1882 to 1888. Cultural traditions of China, Mongolia, Japan and Central Asia had a significant influence upon the architecture of Irkutsk. Oriental motifs are commonly found on architraves and other wood-carved embellishments of that time period. Window architraves and hood moulds from Sukachev's manor feature regular geometric shapes which symbolize the equilibrium between nature and mankind and the unity of yin and yang, as well as stylized dragons - powerful protective amulets from the Buddhist culture.

The facades of log houses and other manor buildings are abundant in fabulous decorative elements of fantastic arabesque shapes. Their bargeboards, fasciae, brackets and pediment infills say a lot about Irkutsk craftsmen's vivid imagination and creativity.