Kizhi (original) (raw)

Companion page: Interior

In 1951 the Oshevnev's house was moved to the island, this was the beginning of the open-air museum of history and architecture. One can visit the large wooden house, a typical family home for approximately 15 people.

They grew all their food during the summer months and stored it for the winter. There is a huge barn type door to the outside with a ramp for livestock and to haul up the large equipment. Because of the extreme cold the live stock was kept indoors on the ground level of the house.

These homes each housed one huge close knit family together inside for approximately five months of each year. There was always a bath house located away from the main house where people could bathe and take a sauna, even in the winter.

According to its structural layout the house exemplifies the so-called ‘koshel’ type, i.e. a square framework in plan, within which are connected in parallel the habitable part and the section including household areas.

The house is covered with an asymmetrical gable roof (one eave is lower than the other).

The logs of exterior walls are notched at the corners according to the traditional method with the log ends protruding or extending beyond the corners of each wall. The roof is a nailless construction, made of boards.

The walls of the household section rest on pillars dug into ground. Each of the ‘izbas’ on the upper floor has three windows on the main facade. There is a balcony made between them to connect two parts of the gallery. A front porch is rather small with three steps.

Bell Tower ..... Church of the Transfiguration ..... Church of the Intercession
Foreground: Oshevnev House

North:Lake Onega at Elevation Oshevnev House viewed from the Church of the Intercession North elevation.Square framework ..... Asymmetrical gable roof (one eave is lower than the other). The habitable part is two-storied. The lower floor includes a room for wintering, the lower anteroom and storerooms. The attic room in the garret above the anteroom of the upper floor is covered with a gable roof. The habitable part features a gallery running along the upper row of windows on three facades. Lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe. Rubble base.The logs of exterior walls are notched at the corners according to the traditional method with the log ends protruding or extending beyond the corners of each wall. The roof is a nailless construction, made of boards. Shuttered windows with decorations above and below Pierced vergeboard ..... Pendent finial ..... Balconet Pierced vergeboard ..... Swan's neck pediment over decorated frieze in window Extended pierced vergeboard
West Elevation Flat balusters with cutout ..... Turned balusters Swan's neck pediment over decorated frieze in window
Attic exit

North:Lake Onega at Elevation

Oshevnev House viewed from the Church of the Intercession

North elevation.Square framework ..... Asymmetrical gable roof (one eave is lower than the other).

The habitable part is two-storied. The lower floor includes a room for wintering, the lower anteroom and storerooms. The attic room in the garret above the anteroom of the upper floor is covered with a gable roof. The habitable part features a gallery running along the upper row of windows on three facades.

Lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe.

Rubble base.The logs of exterior walls are notched at the corners according to the traditional method with the log ends protruding or extending beyond the corners of each wall. The roof is a nailless construction, made of boards.

Shuttered windows with decorations above and below

Pierced vergeboard ..... Pendent finial ..... Balconet

Pierced vergeboard ..... Swan's neck pediment over decorated frieze in window

Extended pierced vergeboard

West Elevation

Flat balusters with cutout ..... Turned balusters

Swan's neck pediment over decorated frieze in window

Attic exit