The collection of the Kasimov Museum-Reserve contains the first development plan of the town of Kasimov created by architect Ivan Gagin at the end of the 18th century.
In Russia, the construction of cities according to a pre-prepared plan began during the reign of Peter the Great. The first city built according to this planning was Saint Petersburg. The date of its foundation is considered to be 1703. The plan of St. Petersburg was taken as a model and extended to other Russian towns, including Kasimov.
In 1763, Empress Catherine II issued a decree ‘On making special plans for all towns, their buildings, and streets in each governorate.’ However, according to the plan building of Kasimov started only at the beginning of the 19th century — at that time the modern architectural appearance of the historical center was formed. Back then, construction took on a more centralized character, and most towns had their chief architect. In Kasimov, a self-taught Ivan Gagin became that architect.
Researchers suggested that Gagin had created the plan in 1834, and several details indicated this. For example, that year the Civil District Specialized School became a two-story building — it is present in this form on the town plan under No. 20. Today, School No. 2 is located in this building.
According to Gagin’s idea, the town was to be built in blocks. Some streets on the plan were parallel to the Oka River, while others were perpendicular to them. The main central street of the town became Sobornaya, or Bolshaya (now — Sovetskaya). It started from Sobornaya (Cathedral) Square — the main square of Kasimov.
It was called the “stone fairy tale”. Historically, the square was the commercial and administrative center of the city. Over time, buildings appeared there, the planning of which was also created by Ivan Gagin. Shopping streets — platforms for Kasimov merchants — were built in the 1820s.
According to the regular plan of the city, public buildings and churches had to be built of stone on the central streets and squares. That rule was followed for the next centuries. Now, on the modern Sovetskaya Street, a historical development has been preserved. These are mainly the estates of local merchants — the houses of Diakonov, Smirnov, Yakunchikov, Salazkin, Selivanov, as well as the building of the “Mars” cinema — one of the first Kasimov cinemas, which opened at the beginning of the 20th century.
In Russia, the construction of cities according to a pre-prepared plan began during the reign of Peter the Great. The first city built according to this planning was Saint Petersburg. The date of its foundation is considered to be 1703. The plan of St. Petersburg was taken as a model and extended to other Russian towns, including Kasimov.
In 1763, Empress Catherine II issued a decree ‘On making special plans for all towns, their buildings, and streets in each governorate.’ However, according to the plan building of Kasimov started only at the beginning of the 19th century — at that time the modern architectural appearance of the historical center was formed. Back then, construction took on a more centralized character, and most towns had their chief architect. In Kasimov, a self-taught Ivan Gagin became that architect.
Researchers suggested that Gagin had created the plan in 1834, and several details indicated this. For example, that year the Civil District Specialized School became a two-story building — it is present in this form on the town plan under No. 20. Today, School No. 2 is located in this building.
According to Gagin’s idea, the town was to be built in blocks. Some streets on the plan were parallel to the Oka River, while others were perpendicular to them. The main central street of the town became Sobornaya, or Bolshaya (now — Sovetskaya). It started from Sobornaya (Cathedral) Square — the main square of Kasimov.
It was called the “stone fairy tale”. Historically, the square was the commercial and administrative center of the city. Over time, buildings appeared there, the planning of which was also created by Ivan Gagin. Shopping streets — platforms for Kasimov merchants — were built in the 1820s.
According to the regular plan of the city, public buildings and churches had to be built of stone on the central streets and squares. That rule was followed for the next centuries. Now, on the modern Sovetskaya Street, a historical development has been preserved. These are mainly the estates of local merchants — the houses of Diakonov, Smirnov, Yakunchikov, Salazkin, Selivanov, as well as the building of the “Mars” cinema — one of the first Kasimov cinemas, which opened at the beginning of the 20th century.
