The Upper Trading Rows on Red Square, completed in 1893, established Alexander Pomerantsev as a central figure in late Imperial Russian architecture. His approach combined complex functional requirements with elaborate stylistic finishes, bridging the transition from traditional craftsmanship to the advanced industrial technology that defined his era’s most ambitious civil construction projects.
Early Training and Professional Recognition
Pomerantsev was born in Moscow in 1849 and completed his foundational education at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture by 1874. He continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts until 1878. A period of intensive travel across Italy, France, and Switzerland followed, supported by an Academy scholarship. By 1877, he earned the Large gold medal of the Imperial Academy of Arts, solidifying his standing within the profession.
Innovation in Commercial Design
His early portfolio included significant projects in Rostov-on-Don, such as the Moskovskaya Hotel and the Gench-Ogluev House. His career shifted to large-scale infrastructure with the Moscow Upper Trading Rows. This project utilized reinforced concrete vaulting and a sophisticated basement network, integrating structural solutions designed by Vladimir Shukhov to support an expansive, multi-level retail environment clad in Russian Revival aesthetics.
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As the chief architect for the 1896 All-Russian Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod, Pomerantsev oversaw a master plan characterized by novel steel-frame pavilions. He later applied similar technical rigor to the Moscow Smaller Ring Railroad. Commencing operations in 1908, the line required 20 stations, warehouses, and water towers, which he styled as a cohesive industrial ensemble using red brick with white decorative elements.
Ecclesiastical Commissions
Pomerantsev’s ecclesiastical work varied significantly in scope and location. In Sofia, he designed the Neo-Byzantine Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to commemorate the 1877–1878 war. Later, he collaborated with Victor Vasnetsov on the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Moscow, a massive Russian Revival structure that remained unfinished following the onset of the February Revolution. He also proposed plans for the Moskovsky Rail Terminal.
Academic Contributions
Beyond his design practice, Pomerantsev was deeply involved in architectural education. He joined the faculty of the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1888 and was elected a full member in 1893. He directed a department at the institution’s Art College and served briefly as the head of the Academy from 1899 to 1900, while simultaneously holding a visiting professorship at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
Fast facts
- Born: 1849, Moscow
- Died: 1918, Saint Petersburg
- Citizenship: Russian Empire
- Primary Occupation: Architect and university teacher
- Education: Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture; Imperial Academy of Arts
- Award: Large gold medal of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1877)
- Notable Work: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Work Locations: Sofia, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Rostov-on-Don
Questions readers ask
What was the structural significance of the Upper Trading Rows?
The building employed reinforced concrete for interior walls and vaulting, which removed the necessity for thick masonry supports and allowed for improved light and circulation.
Did Pomerantsev work on the Moscow Smaller Ring Railroad?
Yes, he designed the 20 stations for the line, as well as warehouses, roundhouses, water towers, and employee housing, which opened for traffic in July 1908.
Achievements
- Notable work: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Large gold medal of the Imperial Academy of Arts
- Trained at Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture and Imperial Academy of Arts
