House PP Forostovskogo, located at 4 Line of Vasilyevsky Island, the house number 9 in St. Petersburg, is one of the oldest buildings in the Art Nouveau style, built in the city on the Neva.

Almost a hundred years, since the first half of the 18th century, the area of ​​land under Forostovskogo mansion belonged to the well-known at the time the family of merchants and priests Sharistanovyh who came from Armenia. It is at this point, family members Sharistanovyh going to build a temple for the Armenian community. However, it so happened that it was built on Nevsky Prospect.

In 1850 the plot of land and a wooden house on it at the family acquired Sharistanovyh Ms. Yudina, who was the daughter of Privy Councillor. Her house was often the composer Mussorgsky, whom was a friend of the hostess. Here he performed his works for a narrow circle of friends.

In the late 19th century manor on Vasilyevsky Island I bought a PP Forostovsky. He was the owner of freight forwarding offices which deliver a variety of goods from Finland. In 1900, PP Forostovsky received a positive response from the city government for the construction of a new home. The project was commissioned by the architect KK Schmidt. Schmidt was a popular master - he is the author of the project Alexandrinsky women's shelter downtown Faberge on Bolshaya Morskaya.

Home owner Paul Forostovsky not only lived in the newly built family house, but also worked there. The cellar was built taking into account the fact that there will be a warehouse. On the first floor are office space. The second floor was occupied by a family Forostovskogo. Children's rooms overlook the garden. He was assigned to the most sunny side. In the right wing of the house was a winter garden, one wall of which was glass. The left wing was the servants' wing.

In terms of building - asymmetric. On the left side - high tower, and on the right - one floor with skylight. The central part of the building is recessed. It visually breaks the line of the facade. It seems as if the house is behind the other houses in the distance, despite the fact that both the left and right of it is surrounded by other buildings.

The facade is lined with brick plinth - from red granite stone. In general, the facade is dominated by large elements that complement the visual effect of the asymmetry of the house. But it is not attached to the mansion troubled or chaotic appearance. The general impression remains calm, and the building seems refined aristocratic dandy, dressed in the latest fashion. The walls are tiled sandy shade. Her calm revives base, lined ragged granite. The diversity and picturesque mansion Forostovskogo gives plenty of fine details in the finishing and decoration of the house and the fence - casting gate and fence itself, stands for flags.

Mansion merchant PP Forostovskogo considered one of the finest works of architect Karl Schmidt. This building is successfully transmitted and the "Russian character" and the "spirit of Europe" and has a direct similarity to the examples of the French and Belgian Art Nouveau.

After the October Revolution in the mansion were clubs Forostovskogo Union conductors and textile factories named Slutskaya and Zhelyabova, Water Transport Workers Union. Before and after the war in a building were district committees of the Komsomol and party. Since 1960, there opened a children's hospital, and since the beginning of the 90s placed the management of traffic police officers.

Nowadays, the mansion PP Forostovskogo is managing the construction of the ring road in St. Petersburg. It is an object of cultural heritage, protected by the state.