Hotel Moskva (Moscow)

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Coordinates: 55°45′24″N, 37°37′00″E

View of the hotel from Manege Square.
View of the hotel from Manege Square.

Hotel Moskva was a major hotel located in central Moscow, Russia, just opposite the former Moscow City Hall. The fourteen-story building was designed by Alexey Shchusev in the Stalinist-classical style and opened in December, 1935. It was lavishly decorated with objets d'art and mosaics by the finest Soviet artists (such as Eugene Lanceray).

The old hotel was notable for its four facades in quite different architectural styles. According to legend, four alternative designs were submitted to Stalin for his approval of this prestigious central Moscow project. He initialled the covering page simply as approved; since no one had the courage to ask him which of the styles he preferred, they were all incorporated.[citation needed]

Replica under construction, February 2007, view west through Iberian Gates.
Replica under construction, February 2007, view west through Iberian Gates.

The hotel was demolished in 2004, and is being replaced with a modern replica. Construction is to be finished in the middle of 2008. The new hotel is going to be operated by the Four Seasons chain.

The ground floor of the hotel Moskva contains an entrance to the Moscow Metro station Okhotny Ryad. A drawing of the Hotel Moskva is featured on the logo for Stolichnaya vodka [1].