Gench-Ogluev House

The major Rostov merchant Stepan Fyodorovich Gench-Ogluev decided to build a revenue house. Accordingly, he invited architect Alexander Nikanorovich Pomerantsev. The construction of the building was begun in 1880 and was finished by 1883. It was the first Pomerantsev's work in Rostov-on-Don.[2]

Gench-Ogluev rented the house. On the ground floor were business premises. Dwellings and presence chamber were located over them. Priazovskiy kray ("Azov frontier") newspaper publishing house and the Volzhsko-Kamsky bank branch occupied the building in the early 20th century. The Gench-Ogluev House was nationalized in the 1920s after the establishment of the Soviet rule. In the 1920s rooms on the ground floor had been used as a South-Western Commercial corporate bank branch, Rostov-Neftsindikat district office, Myasokombinat butcher shop and other offices. Dwellings were on the first, 2nd and 3rd floor. Ryba fish store was opened in the building in the 1930s.[3]

The roof was destroyed during the Great Patriotic war. The house was restored according to a project of architect G. O. Kalayjan. The facade was refurbished with some changes. Brick dormer-windows appeared, reduced tower which in turn is topped by a seahorse sculpture was erected without spire. Several damaged balconies were not restored.

The building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style. Architecture of the building employs Baroque, classic cornices, combined with a Gothic bas-relief on the pediments. The facade is decorated with quoins.[4][5]