The Grigory Golberg House and the Church of the Three Saints are the main architectural gems of Kharkiv’s southern historic district, which includes the Moskalivka, Zaikivka, and Levada neighborhoods. The church and mansion are located opposite each other; the latter is located at Goldbergivska Street, 104.

The mansion was built between 1913 and 1915 according to the designs of architect Viktor Estrovich for 1st Guild merchant Grigory Golberg. The six Golberg brothers owned several shops and factories in Kharkiv, producing varnishes, paints, drying oils, and whitewash. They also sold wallpaper, tools, construction hardware, metals, and even automobiles. Naturally, during the construction boom of the early 20th century in Kharkiv, the demand for these materials was enormous, significantly increasing the Golberg brothers’ fortune.

Grigory became the most successful of the brothers, not only through business but also through marriage. His wife, Maria, daughter of Semyon Akimenko, director of the Kharkiv Merchant Bank, came from a very wealthy family, which was involved in buying and selling land, among other things. Maria effectively donated the land for the church, financed by Grigory. The Golbergs then purchased land opposite the church to build a mansion (building 104) and another paint factory (building 106).

But let’s return to the mansion. This architectural landmark in the Romantic Art Nouveau style is distinguished by a huge “tower” with a grand entrance. Its designer was clearly inspired by medieval castles and the romance of chivalry.

The tower was originally topped with a large dome, reminiscent of an onion-shaped church, elongated in height. Its image survives in a German photo from World War II (on the right).

Bay windows in the form of two towers can also be found on the rear facade of the house.

The pediment is decorated with a sculpture of St. George the Victorious. The façade once featured a sculpture of Hermes (the god of commerce).

Also on the main facade you can find bas-reliefs with birds.

…a monkey

Decorative “heraldic shield” above the entrance.

During Soviet times, the building housed the office of a knitwear manufacturer; today, it houses the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service (KP Sanepidservis). Interestingly, the neighboring building, No. 106, built by Alexander Ginzburg, is also a protected architectural landmark. Unfortunately, its façade was disfigured by tiles sometime in the 1960s, when the Krasny Khimik factory (formerly the Golberg factory) operated there.

The mansion was previously gray. In the 2000s, the facades and interior of the entrance were restored according to a design by the Kharkiv branch of the UkrNIIProektrestavratsiya Institute. It was given a pastel, light green color. The sculpture of St. George was also restored at the same time. Unfortunately, the dome on the tower was never restored due to time and funding constraints.

The house’s glazing was damaged by Russian shelling during the Russian-Ukrainian war.