House with Chimaeras

The House with Chimeras is a significant architectural landmark in Kyiv, exemplifying early neo-Gothic style. It was designed by architect Vladyslav Horodetsky. According to urban legend, the building was created as a result of a bet between Horodetsky and his colleague, architect Oleksandr Kobelyev, who believed it was sheer madness to construct on a plot with such complex terrain. From Bankova Street, the house features three floors, while from the opposite side it has six floors due to the height difference of the land. The building also has an unusual cube shape, and the high parapet adorned with bizarre creatures gives the illusion that it has no roof. Concrete heads of elephants, rhinoceroses, antelopes, and a crocodile are embedded in the building's wall. Lizards lurk on the columns. Elephant heads serve as drainpipes. There are giant frogs, sea monsters, and nereids on the roof. Ironically, despite its name, there are no chimeras on the facade or inside the house. Over a hundred years have passed, but this unusual building still arouses lively interest among passersby. Currently, the House with Chimeras houses the State Protocol and Ceremonial Service of the Office of the President of Ukraine.