special project
Initially, the aqueducts that delivered water to settlements relied on gravity. They drew from natural springs and operated without pumps. However, at some point, they became inadequate as cities grew rapidly, and so did their needs.
Then, gravity-fed water pipes were replaced by water towers. A pump pumped water into a reservoir located at the top of the tower. From there, under pressure, it was pumped through pipes to wherever needed.
The boom in water tower construction in Russia is directly linked to the development of the railway network—after all, steam locomotives needed water. However, their lifespan was short-lived. By the 50s, the towers had become redundant. Many have since gradually fallen into disrepair. But some were fortunate enough to start a new life.
Then, gravity-fed water pipes were replaced by water towers. A pump pumped water into a reservoir located at the top of the tower. From there, under pressure, it was pumped through pipes to wherever needed.
The boom in water tower construction in Russia is directly linked to the development of the railway network—after all, steam locomotives needed water. However, their lifespan was short-lived. By the 50s, the towers had become redundant. Many have since gradually fallen into disrepair. But some were fortunate enough to start a new life.
Initially, the aqueducts that delivered water to settlements relied on gravity. They drew from natural springs and operated without pumps. However, at some point, they became inadequate as cities grew rapidly, and so did their needs.
Then, gravity-fed water pipes were replaced by water towers. Using a pump, water was pumped into a reservoir located at the top of the tower. From there, under pressure, it was delivered through pipes to where it was needed.
The boom in water tower construction in Russia is directly linked to the development of the railway network—after all, steam locomotives needed water. However, their lifespan was short-lived. By the 50s, the towers had become redundant. Many have since gradually fallen into disrepair. But some were fortunate enough to start a new life.
Then, gravity-fed water pipes were replaced by water towers. Using a pump, water was pumped into a reservoir located at the top of the tower. From there, under pressure, it was delivered through pipes to where it was needed.
The boom in water tower construction in Russia is directly linked to the development of the railway network—after all, steam locomotives needed water. However, their lifespan was short-lived. By the 50s, the towers had become redundant. Many have since gradually fallen into disrepair. But some were fortunate enough to start a new life.
Water tower.
Томская губерния, Томский уезд, Поломошинская волость, станция Тутальская, ул. Линейная, д. 39 а.
The author of the pressure tower is N. G. Garin-Mikhailovsky.
Date of shooting: 1895.
The author of the photo is unknown.
Photo source: Kemerovo Regional Scientific Library named after V. D. Fedorov.
Date of shooting: 1895.
The author of the photo is unknown.
Photo source: Kemerovo Regional Scientific Library named after V. D. Fedorov.
Reservoir building in Murom.
Владимирская губерния.
Date of shooting: 1912.
Photo by: Nikolai Demchinsky.
Photo source: Multimedia art museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Photo by: Nikolai Demchinsky.
Photo source: Multimedia art museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Water tower in the woods.
Date of shooting: 1910s.
The author of the photo is unknown.
Photo source: Multimedia art museum / Moscow House of Photography.
The author of the photo is unknown.
Photo source: Multimedia art museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Water tower at Velikaya station.
Вятская губерния.
The station takes its name from the Velikaya River, on whose banks it is located. Until 1930, the site of the village was forested, with only a railway station, a water tower, a pumping station, and two workers' houses.
Date of shooting: 1910 - 1912.
The author of the photo is unknown.
Photo source: personal archive of Yevgeny Viktorovich Akhmatov.
Date of shooting: 1910 - 1912.
The author of the photo is unknown.
Photo source: personal archive of Yevgeny Viktorovich Akhmatov.
According to several online sources, it was this year that the first water tower appeared in Russia. It was built in Pskov. However, all sources limit this fact to a single sentence, and no definitive historical confirmation could be found.
The first mentions of water towers in Moscow date back to these years. A well-known example is the Vodovzvodnaya (formerly Sviblova) Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. In 1633, the mechanic and architect Christopher Galloway set It contained a lifting machine that supplied water from the Moscow River to the Kremlin, and from there it was distributed through a system of lead pipes to the inner palaces and gardens.
On this day in Russia have opened The first public railway, between St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo, opened. The development of the railway network was also associated with a boom in water tower construction. You may have noticed that they are often located near railway stations. This is no coincidence: steam locomotives used high-pressure steam, and they needed water.
This year the 20th Congress of the CPSU took place, at which received A directive was issued to convert all Soviet railways to modern traction—diesel and electric. The need for railway pumps, as well as water towers in general, disappeared—cities were converted to a central water supply system.
>>
>>
1519
>>
1630s
November 11 1837 years
>>
1956
1960s and beyond
>>
One of the first striking examples of the functional rethinking of the tower is water tower in TulaIn 1950, it was built by the Tula Vodokanal, but after just 20 years, it was no longer needed, and the company's management decided to convert the tower into a residential building.
Water towers became redundant and rapidly deteriorated. However, the architectural uniqueness of many Russian water towers attracts people, and some are being revived.
According to several online sources, it was this year that the first water tower appeared in Russia. It was built in Pskov. However, all sources limit this fact to a single sentence, and no definitive historical confirmation could be found.
The first mentions of water towers in Moscow date back to these years. A well-known example is the Vodovzvodnaya (formerly Sviblova) Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. In 1633, the mechanic and architect Christopher Galloway set It contained a lifting machine that supplied water from the Moscow River to the Kremlin, and from there it was distributed through a system of lead pipes to the inner palaces and gardens.
On this day in Russia have opened The first public railway, between St. Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo, opened. The development of the railway network was also associated with a boom in water tower construction. You may have noticed that they are often located near railway stations. This is no coincidence: steam locomotives used high-pressure steam, and they needed water.
This year the 20th Congress of the CPSU took place, at which received A directive was issued to convert all Soviet railways to modern traction—diesel and electric. The need for railway pumps, as well as water towers in general, disappeared—cities were converted to a central water supply system.
>>
>>
1519
>>
1630s
November 11 1837 years
>>
1956
1960s and beyond
>>
One of the first striking examples of the functional rethinking of the tower is water tower in TulaIn 1950, it was built by the Tula Vodokanal, but after just 20 years, it was no longer needed, and the company's management decided to convert the tower into a residential building.
Water towers became redundant and rapidly deteriorated. However, the architectural uniqueness of many Russian water towers attracts people, and some are being revived.
One of the oldest photographs of a water tower (1895). The water tower and laboratory of the cement plant in the village of Filkino, Perm Province.
Photo by: N. Ureshev. Photo source: Multimedia Art Museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Photo by: N. Ureshev. Photo source: Multimedia Art Museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Sviblova Tower. View of the Moscow Kremlin during the coronation of Nicholas II.
Photo date: May 1896. Photo source: Multimedia Art Museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Photo date: May 1896. Photo source: Multimedia Art Museum / Moscow House of Photography.
A water tower on the railway tracks. Lukoyanov Station, Nizhny Novgorod Province.
Photo by Maxim Dmitriev. Date taken 1900–1901. Source: Archive of audiovisual documentation of the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Photo by Maxim Dmitriev. Date taken 1900–1901. Source: Archive of audiovisual documentation of the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Diesel locomotive TE-2 at the locomotive depot.
Photo taken in the 1950s. Photo by Georgy Petrusov. Photo source: Multimedia Art Museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Photo taken in the 1950s. Photo by Georgy Petrusov. Photo source: Multimedia Art Museum / Moscow House of Photography.
Tula water tower in the 50s. Photo source: tulainpast.ru
Location:
Year of construction:
How long has it been used for its intended purpose:
New working period:
Year of construction:
How long has it been used for its intended purpose:
New working period:
Tomsk, 19th Guards Division Street, 36A
approximately 1895
It's not exactly known, but in the 1980s there was already a cheburechnaya there.
Since 2013 it has belonged to Alexander Lunev and is being actively restored.
approximately 1895
It's not exactly known, but in the 1980s there was already a cheburechnaya there.
Since 2013 it has belonged to Alexander Lunev and is being actively restored.
"How did I come up with the idea of living in a water tower? Ask my psychiatrist."
Alexander Lunev
To the restaurant — as in the Samara water tower, which was bought and improved by a local entrepreneur.
or
to the observation deck — as in the Art Nouveau water tower in Staraya Russa (Novgorod Oblast).
or
to the observation deck — as in the Art Nouveau water tower in Staraya Russa (Novgorod Oblast).
What else can you turn a tower into?
The story of one tower
Location: Tomsk, 19th Guards Division Street, 36A
Year of construction: approximately 1895
How long has it been used for its intended purpose: It's not exactly known, but in the 1980s there was already a cheburechnaya there.
New working period: Since 2013 it has belonged to Alexander Lunev and is being actively restored.
Year of construction: approximately 1895
How long has it been used for its intended purpose: It's not exactly known, but in the 1980s there was already a cheburechnaya there.
New working period: Since 2013 it has belonged to Alexander Lunev and is being actively restored.
2023 year
1 floor
2 floor
3 floor
4 floor
5 floor
6 floor
1 floor
Technical. This used to be an ice cream parlor, then a chebureki shop, and now it's Lunev's entryway. However, for now it looks more like another workshop: wires, tools, stepladders, and concrete. There's also a descent to the basement, which Alexander discovered early in the restoration. The plan is to move the equipment currently on the second floor to the basement to reduce the noise.
2 floor
Technical. Local mobile operators rent space on Alexander's floor to house their equipment.
3 floor
Technical. This is where the workshop is located—it contains the tools needed for work on the tower, as well as a variety of boards left over from the work and needed for restoration.
4 floor
Restoration work is underway. The entire floor will be occupied by another bathroom with a bathtub. In fact, most of the tower's floor space is taken up by stairs, so space is limited. Because the bathroom is meant to be a separate room with privacy, the space is small.
5 floor
Residential. It houses a kitchen-living room, which is currently being fitted out. Alexander himself clarifies that the floor isn't fully occupied yet. For example, although the kitchen cabinets are already installed and some furniture is present, the kitchen appliances are still not connected, so cooking on the stove or baking in the oven is impossible.
6 floor
Residential. This is where the bedroom and bathroom, completed in 2020, are located. The building's restoration is being carried out from top to bottom, allowing Alexander, after completing work on the sixth floor, to move into the tower, as he had dreamed of.
Alexander Lunev has lived in Tomsk his entire life. An economist by education, he worked primarily in IT after graduating. He dreamed of becoming a famous radio host, but achieved fame as the owner of his own residential water tower.
In 2012, a Tomsk resident bought a 19th-century water tower from the mayor's office to live in. He was confident that within two years, with an investment of between a million and a half rubles, he could restore the ancient structure to its former glory and live happily ever after. However, ten years have passed, over 12 million rubles have been invested, and the work is still in full swing.
In 2012, a Tomsk resident bought a 19th-century water tower from the mayor's office to live in. He was confident that within two years, with an investment of between a million and a half rubles, he could restore the ancient structure to its former glory and live happily ever after. However, ten years have passed, over 12 million rubles have been invested, and the work is still in full swing.
1895 year
* Hover over floors to see additional information.
2023 year
1 floor
2 floor
3 floor
4 floor
5 floor
6 floor
1 floor
Technical. This used to be an ice cream parlor, then a chebureki shop, and now it's Lunev's entryway. However, for now it looks more like another workshop: wires, tools, stepladders, and concrete. There's also a descent to the basement, which Alexander discovered early in the restoration. The plan is to move the equipment currently on the second floor to the basement to reduce the noise.
2 floor
Technical. Local mobile operators rent space on Alexander's floor to house their equipment.
3 floor
Technical. This is where the workshop is located—it contains the tools needed for work on the tower, as well as a variety of boards left over from the work and needed for restoration.
4 floor
Restoration work is underway. The entire floor will be occupied by another bathroom with a bathtub. In fact, most of the tower's floor space is taken up by stairs, so space is limited. Because the bathroom is meant to be a separate room with privacy, the space is small.
5 floor
Residential. It houses a kitchen-living room, which is currently being fitted out. Alexander himself clarifies that the floor isn't fully occupied yet. For example, although the kitchen cabinets are already installed and some furniture is present, the kitchen appliances are still not connected, so cooking on the stove or baking in the oven is impossible.
6 floor
Residential. This is where the bedroom and bathroom, completed in 2020, are located. The building's restoration is being carried out from top to bottom, allowing Alexander, after completing work on the sixth floor, to move into the tower, as he had dreamed of.
Alexander Lunev has lived in Tomsk his entire life. An economist by education, he worked primarily in IT after graduating. He dreamed of becoming a famous radio host, but achieved fame as the owner of his own residential water tower.
In 2012, a Tomsk resident bought a 19th-century water tower from the mayor's office to live in. He was confident that within two years, with an investment of between a million and a half rubles, he could restore the ancient structure to its former glory and live happily ever after. However, ten years have passed, over 12 million rubles have been invested, and the work is still in full swing.
In 2012, a Tomsk resident bought a 19th-century water tower from the mayor's office to live in. He was confident that within two years, with an investment of between a million and a half rubles, he could restore the ancient structure to its former glory and live happily ever after. However, ten years have passed, over 12 million rubles have been invested, and the work is still in full swing.
1895 year
1 floor
Technical. This used to be an ice cream parlor, then a chebureki shop, and now it's Lunev's entryway. However, for now it looks more like another workshop: wires, tools, stepladders, and concrete. There's also a descent to the basement, which Alexander discovered early in the restoration. The plan is to move the equipment currently on the second floor to the basement to reduce the noise.
2 floor
Technical. Local mobile operators rent space on Alexander's floor to house their equipment.
3 floor
Technical. This is where the workshop is located—it contains the tools needed for work on the tower, as well as a variety of boards left over from the work and needed for restoration.
4 floor
Restoration work is underway. The entire floor will be occupied by another bathroom with a bathtub. In fact, most of the tower's floor space is taken up by stairs, so space is limited. Because the bathroom is meant to be a separate room with privacy, the space is small.
5 floor
Residential. It houses a kitchen-living room, which is currently being fitted out. Alexander himself clarifies that the floor isn't fully occupied yet. For example, although the kitchen cabinets are already installed and some furniture is present, the kitchen appliances are still not connected, so cooking on the stove or baking in the oven is impossible.
6 floor
Residential. This is where the bedroom and bathroom, completed in 2020, are located. The building's restoration is being carried out from top to bottom, allowing Alexander, after completing work on the sixth floor, to move into the tower, as he had dreamed of.
Alexander Lunev has lived in Tomsk his entire life. An economist by education, he worked primarily in IT after graduating. He dreamed of becoming a famous radio host, but achieved fame as the owner of his own residential water tower.
In 2012, a Tomsk resident bought a 19th-century water tower from the mayor's office to live in. He was confident that within two years, with an investment of between a million and a half rubles, he could restore the ancient structure to its former glory and live happily ever after. However, ten years have passed, over 12 million rubles have been invested, and the work is still in full swing.
In 2012, a Tomsk resident bought a 19th-century water tower from the mayor's office to live in. He was confident that within two years, with an investment of between a million and a half rubles, he could restore the ancient structure to its former glory and live happily ever after. However, ten years have passed, over 12 million rubles have been invested, and the work is still in full swing.
Look inside 3D
What's next?
Трудности
Transformation
The beginning of a new life
History
The 23-meter "Lunev Tower"—as the unofficial landmark of Tomsk on the 19th Guards Division, 36a, is now known—was built around 1895. Around the same time, similar structures were being erected across Russia alongside newly built railways. Pumps pumped water from rivers into the towers, and from there, through pipes, to the stations.
The Alexander Water Tower was also built near the Tomsk-I railway station and next to the Tom River. A cast-iron pipe extended upward from the tower's basement, filling the tower's reservoir. A second, identical pipe descended from the reservoir and exited through the opposite wall. Under the influence of gravity, water flowed through it toward the station, where it was pumped into steam locomotives, which required steam and, therefore, water to move.
The Lunev Tower, like other similar structures across the country, didn't last long. In the early 80s, it was designated a cultural monument of regional significance. It then housed an ice cream parlor and the private enterprise "Goluboy Ogonyok," which sold chebureki and shashlik. It also didn't last long.
In the early 2000s, a water tank was stolen from the tower. Unknown individuals sawed it up with gas torches right inside the building, threw it out the windows, and sold it for scrap metal. They did the same to all the pipes found in the tower. This caused the heating system in the wall to burst, the wooden floors to cave in, and everything began to rot and crumble.
The Alexander Water Tower was also built near the Tomsk-I railway station and next to the Tom River. A cast-iron pipe extended upward from the tower's basement, filling the tower's reservoir. A second, identical pipe descended from the reservoir and exited through the opposite wall. Under the influence of gravity, water flowed through it toward the station, where it was pumped into steam locomotives, which required steam and, therefore, water to move.
The Lunev Tower, like other similar structures across the country, didn't last long. In the early 80s, it was designated a cultural monument of regional significance. It then housed an ice cream parlor and the private enterprise "Goluboy Ogonyok," which sold chebureki and shashlik. It also didn't last long.
In the early 2000s, a water tank was stolen from the tower. Unknown individuals sawed it up with gas torches right inside the building, threw it out the windows, and sold it for scrap metal. They did the same to all the pipes found in the tower. This caused the heating system in the wall to burst, the wooden floors to cave in, and everything began to rot and crumble.
Photo of the tower, 80s
History
Old cafe sign
The tower before renovations
Inside the tower before its purchase by Alexander Lunev.
April 2012 years
April 2012 years
Into the event space — like the White Tower in Yekaterinburg, where performances, festivals, exhibitions, and plays are regularly held.
What else can you turn a tower into?
History
The 23-meter "Lunev Tower"—as the unofficial landmark of Tomsk on the 19th Guards Division, 36a, is now known—was built around 1895. Around the same time, similar structures were being erected across Russia alongside newly built railways. Pumps pumped water from rivers into the towers, and from there, through pipes, to the stations.
The Alexander Water Tower was also built near the Tomsk-I railway station and next to the Tom River. A cast-iron pipe extended upward from the tower's basement, filling the tower's reservoir. A second, identical pipe descended from the reservoir and exited through the opposite wall. Under the influence of gravity, water flowed through it toward the station, where it was pumped into steam locomotives, which required steam and, therefore, water to move.
The Lunev Tower, like other similar structures across the country, didn't last long. In the early 80s, it was designated a cultural monument of regional significance. It then housed an ice cream parlor and the private enterprise "Goluboy Ogonyok," which sold chebureki and shashlik. It also didn't last long.
In the early 2000s, a water tank was stolen from the tower. Unknown individuals sawed it up with gas torches right inside the building, threw it out the windows, and sold it for scrap metal. They did the same to all the pipes found in the tower. This caused the heating system in the wall to burst, the wooden floors to cave in, and everything began to rot and crumble.
The Alexander Water Tower was also built near the Tomsk-I railway station and next to the Tom River. A cast-iron pipe extended upward from the tower's basement, filling the tower's reservoir. A second, identical pipe descended from the reservoir and exited through the opposite wall. Under the influence of gravity, water flowed through it toward the station, where it was pumped into steam locomotives, which required steam and, therefore, water to move.
The Lunev Tower, like other similar structures across the country, didn't last long. In the early 80s, it was designated a cultural monument of regional significance. It then housed an ice cream parlor and the private enterprise "Goluboy Ogonyok," which sold chebureki and shashlik. It also didn't last long.
In the early 2000s, a water tank was stolen from the tower. Unknown individuals sawed it up with gas torches right inside the building, threw it out the windows, and sold it for scrap metal. They did the same to all the pipes found in the tower. This caused the heating system in the wall to burst, the wooden floors to cave in, and everything began to rot and crumble.
Photo of the tower, 80s
Old cafe sign
The tower before renovations
Inside the tower, April 2012
Inside the tower
January 1, 2013. The first day Alexander Lunev entered the tower as its owner. To do so, he had to dig a snow tunnel all day long to reach the tower door.
Photo of the tower, 80s.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Old cafe sign.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
The tower before renovation.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Inside the tower before its purchase by Alexander Lunev. April 2012.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Inside the tower before its purchase by Alexander Lunev. April 2012.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
"To answer the question of how I came up with the idea of living in a water tower, you'd have to ask my psychiatrist," Alexander laughs. "But I don't have one yet."
In 2012, some friends sent him a link to the city hall website, which was trying to rent out the tower. Alexander became intrigued: "I went there, climbed in through a window on the first floor, looked at it from the inside, and was so impressed that I decided I had to take it."
The tower, according to our interviewee, was then "in absolutely terrible, dilapidated condition." But he figured that if he invested a couple million rubles in the building, "it could be converted into housing in a year or two." "I'll be the only guy in Tomsk living in a water tower," Lunev recalled thinking. "Although it later turned out he was the only one in Russia."
Investing in the restoration of a leased tower seemed irrational to Alexander. He began looking for a way to buy it. He learned about the Department of Municipal Property and made an appointment. He says his friends threatened him, saying, "Why bother going there? They'll ruin you with bribes." But, Lunev claims, no one ever even hinted at bribery. "Everything was done very professionally and always within the law," Lunev comments, adding with a laugh, "I managed to ruin myself—literally in a couple of years, with the help of this wonderful purchase."
In 2012, some friends sent him a link to the city hall website, which was trying to rent out the tower. Alexander became intrigued: "I went there, climbed in through a window on the first floor, looked at it from the inside, and was so impressed that I decided I had to take it."
The tower, according to our interviewee, was then "in absolutely terrible, dilapidated condition." But he figured that if he invested a couple million rubles in the building, "it could be converted into housing in a year or two." "I'll be the only guy in Tomsk living in a water tower," Lunev recalled thinking. "Although it later turned out he was the only one in Russia."
Investing in the restoration of a leased tower seemed irrational to Alexander. He began looking for a way to buy it. He learned about the Department of Municipal Property and made an appointment. He says his friends threatened him, saying, "Why bother going there? They'll ruin you with bribes." But, Lunev claims, no one ever even hinted at bribery. "Everything was done very professionally and always within the law," Lunev comments, adding with a laugh, "I managed to ruin myself—literally in a couple of years, with the help of this wonderful purchase."
The beginning of a new life
The water tower, along with its security deed, was transferred to Alexander Lunev for 1,5 million rubles. He visited the property for the first time as owner on January 1, 2013. He says he spent the entire day digging out the entrance and getting inside—it was blocked by snow.
It took Alexander about nine months to acquire ownership of the water tower. The main difficulty was that the structure is a regional cultural monument, and purchasing it was only possible by signing a conservation agreement. Here's what happened next:
1th of January 2013
Snow tunnel to the tower door
Snow tunnel to the tower door
Paid for an expert assessment to determine the starting price
Paid a deposit before the auction for the sale of municipal property.
Took a step up from the starting price.
And the man hit the special stand with a hammer - “like in the movies.”
Paid a deposit before the auction for the sale of municipal property.
Took a step up from the starting price.
And the man hit the special stand with a hammer - “like in the movies.”
1.
2.
3.
4.
2.
3.
4.
The beginning of a new life
"To answer the question of how I came up with the idea of living in a water tower, you'd have to ask my psychiatrist," Alexander laughs. "But I don't have one yet."
In 2012, some friends sent him a link to the city hall website, which was trying to rent out the tower. Alexander became intrigued: "I went there, climbed in through a window on the first floor, looked at it from the inside, and was so impressed that I decided I had to take it."
The tower, according to our interviewee, was then "in absolutely terrible, dilapidated condition." But he figured that if he invested a couple million rubles in the building, "it could be converted into housing in a year or two." "I'll be the only guy in Tomsk living in a water tower," Lunev recalled thinking. "Although it later turned out he was the only one in Russia."
Investing in the restoration of a leased tower seemed irrational to Alexander. He began looking for a way to buy it. He learned about the Department of Municipal Property and made an appointment. He says his friends threatened him, saying, "Why bother going there? They'll ruin you with bribes." But, Lunev claims, no one ever even hinted at bribery. "Everything was done very professionally and always within the law," Lunev comments, adding with a laugh, "I managed to ruin myself—literally in a couple of years, with the help of this wonderful purchase."
In 2012, some friends sent him a link to the city hall website, which was trying to rent out the tower. Alexander became intrigued: "I went there, climbed in through a window on the first floor, looked at it from the inside, and was so impressed that I decided I had to take it."
The tower, according to our interviewee, was then "in absolutely terrible, dilapidated condition." But he figured that if he invested a couple million rubles in the building, "it could be converted into housing in a year or two." "I'll be the only guy in Tomsk living in a water tower," Lunev recalled thinking. "Although it later turned out he was the only one in Russia."
Investing in the restoration of a leased tower seemed irrational to Alexander. He began looking for a way to buy it. He learned about the Department of Municipal Property and made an appointment. He says his friends threatened him, saying, "Why bother going there? They'll ruin you with bribes." But, Lunev claims, no one ever even hinted at bribery. "Everything was done very professionally and always within the law," Lunev comments, adding with a laugh, "I managed to ruin myself—literally in a couple of years, with the help of this wonderful purchase."
The water tower, along with its security deed, was transferred to Alexander Lunev for 1,5 million rubles. He visited the property for the first time as owner on January 1, 2013. He says he spent the entire day digging out the entrance and getting inside—it was blocked by snow.
It took Alexander about nine months to acquire ownership of the water tower. The main difficulty was that the structure is a regional cultural monument, and purchasing it was only possible by signing a conservation agreement. Here's what happened next:
Paid for an expert assessment to determine the starting price
Paid a deposit before the auction for the sale of municipal property.
Took a step up from the starting price.
And the man hit the special stand with a hammer - “like in the movies.”
Paid a deposit before the auction for the sale of municipal property.
Took a step up from the starting price.
And the man hit the special stand with a hammer - “like in the movies.”
1.
2.
3.
4.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
2.
3.
4.
January 1, 2013. The first day Alexander Lunev entered the tower as its owner. To do so, he had to dig a snow tunnel all day long to reach the tower door.
There were no restrictions on work inside the tower. The stairs, ceilings, and utility openings in the walls were all as Lunev desired. However, Alexander was obligated to preserve and maintain the tower's exterior in proper condition, according to the conservation agreement. The objects of conservation included the tower's brick lower and wooden upper parts, the placement of window openings, the shape of the roof, and the materials used for the work.
Therefore, it was necessary to develop and coordinate with the Department of Culture a restoration project that would preserve the building's exterior as much as possible in its historical form. Initially, Lunev approached "Tomsk's most renowned monument restoration institute" for this purpose, but he says the meeting with their director was "completely unkind and unfriendly."
"I asked him point-blank: 'Do you think I'm doing something wrong?' He replied: 'Yes, it would distort its historical purpose.' I said, 'Well, its historical purpose is to supply the station with water, but it seems to be doing just fine now.' And he said: 'I don't know, something thematic, maybe some kind of plumbers' culture club... Cool!'" Lunev recalls. "'Now if you were to encounter people in some department of culture who harbor such morbid fantasies, it would probably be a problem.'" Ultimately, the restoration project for Lunev's water tower was handled by another company, Genstroyproekt.
Alexander says the process has been "very slow, very awkward, and not always fair," but notes that "the state has clear and prescribed steps by which to move toward its goal."
Lunev recounts the entire ten-year restoration of the tower, period by period. The first stage involved removing debris and restoring the staircases (so that access to any level would be possible). The first stage involved excavating what turned out to be a very deep basement, constructing the floors and frames for six floors, and restoring the roof. And then came the endless process of interior finishing…
Therefore, it was necessary to develop and coordinate with the Department of Culture a restoration project that would preserve the building's exterior as much as possible in its historical form. Initially, Lunev approached "Tomsk's most renowned monument restoration institute" for this purpose, but he says the meeting with their director was "completely unkind and unfriendly."
"I asked him point-blank: 'Do you think I'm doing something wrong?' He replied: 'Yes, it would distort its historical purpose.' I said, 'Well, its historical purpose is to supply the station with water, but it seems to be doing just fine now.' And he said: 'I don't know, something thematic, maybe some kind of plumbers' culture club... Cool!'" Lunev recalls. "'Now if you were to encounter people in some department of culture who harbor such morbid fantasies, it would probably be a problem.'" Ultimately, the restoration project for Lunev's water tower was handled by another company, Genstroyproekt.
Alexander says the process has been "very slow, very awkward, and not always fair," but notes that "the state has clear and prescribed steps by which to move toward its goal."
Lunev recounts the entire ten-year restoration of the tower, period by period. The first stage involved removing debris and restoring the staircases (so that access to any level would be possible). The first stage involved excavating what turned out to be a very deep basement, constructing the floors and frames for six floors, and restoring the roof. And then came the endless process of interior finishing…
Transformation
Facade cladding
Roof decorative elements
Restored roof decor
Work inside the tower
Transformation
Work inside the tower.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Restored roof decor.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Roof decorative elements.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Facade cladding.
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
Source: Alexander Lunev's social media
"In 2013, I had no idea how huge and complex this project was, how unprepared I was, how much my finances were. I couldn't even begin to imagine what awaited me. But I found myself in a hopeless situation. You've bought this building! You understand perfectly well, at every stage of the project, that selling it, backing out, or salvaging any of your money is now absolutely impossible. Now the only thing left to do is act," says Alexander.
His lack of forethought led to his bankruptcy within the first year and a half—everything was financed with loans and debts from friends. Concerned individuals "from the internet" made a significant financial contribution to the tower's restoration. For example, in 2013, Alexander posted about the tower on "Leprosarium", his story went to the people - came journalists from TV channels, online publications and newspapers.
"I had three solid months of fame. They sent me donations, which was a great help," Lunev says. "Thanks to these same caring people, I now have steel beams for the first four floors, all the windows, the decor around the tower's perimeter, and glass partitions in the now-finished bedroom."
At the beginning of 2021 on the fifth floor there was a fire — a battery in one of the construction equipment's batteries exploded. The building was lined with wooden shelving and covered in sawdust, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Alexander recalls it as "an absolutely monstrous event, the aftermath of which took us three months to sort out." Again, nothing would have been possible without the help of "people from the internet"—they donated over half a million rubles to Lunev for restoration.
Some of Alexander's loan debts were recovered, while others were dismissed due to "uncollectibility." He still owes his friends over six million rubles.
His lack of forethought led to his bankruptcy within the first year and a half—everything was financed with loans and debts from friends. Concerned individuals "from the internet" made a significant financial contribution to the tower's restoration. For example, in 2013, Alexander posted about the tower on "Leprosarium", his story went to the people - came journalists from TV channels, online publications and newspapers.
"I had three solid months of fame. They sent me donations, which was a great help," Lunev says. "Thanks to these same caring people, I now have steel beams for the first four floors, all the windows, the decor around the tower's perimeter, and glass partitions in the now-finished bedroom."
At the beginning of 2021 on the fifth floor there was a fire — a battery in one of the construction equipment's batteries exploded. The building was lined with wooden shelving and covered in sawdust, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Alexander recalls it as "an absolutely monstrous event, the aftermath of which took us three months to sort out." Again, nothing would have been possible without the help of "people from the internet"—they donated over half a million rubles to Lunev for restoration.
Some of Alexander's loan debts were recovered, while others were dismissed due to "uncollectibility." He still owes his friends over six million rubles.
Трудности
Трудности
A closed collective blog with its own mythology, unique rules, and cynical, mocking humor.
Lunev has been trying to leave for Europe for over a year. "Why such a need arose? Please ask the members of the Russian Security Council," the tower owner comments. So far, he's been unsuccessful—first he was denied a visa, then a residence permit. "I'm still struggling with this. And if we solve all the technical problems with the tower, I'll be able to monitor it remotely, using smart home sensors and the numerous video cameras I have installed everywhere," Lunev explains.
What's next?
What's next?
* To see the caption when viewing a photo, click on the "i" in the lower right corner.
look inside
Lunev has been trying to leave for Europe for over a year. "Why such a need arose? Please ask the members of the Russian Security Council," the tower owner comments. So far, he's been unsuccessful—first he was denied a visa, then a residence permit. "I'm still struggling with this. And if we solve all the technical problems with the tower, I'll be able to monitor it remotely, using smart home sensors and the numerous video cameras I have installed everywhere," Lunev explains.
He says the entire "Lunev Tower" project is built on "vanity, self-admiration, and swagger," so he welcomes the increased attention and regular guests. He maintains that the tower is, after all, a monument and a public treasure: "Many people want to see it not only from the outside but also from the inside. I understand that perfectly. If I didn't have a tower, but knew someone else did, I'd really want to go inside."
Therefore, even after his departure, the tower will be open to tour groups and will continue to be a Tomsk landmark. Alexander will also be waiting for changes in Russia.
He says the entire "Lunev Tower" project is built on "vanity, self-admiration, and swagger," so he welcomes the increased attention and regular guests. He maintains that the tower is, after all, a monument and a public treasure: "Many people want to see it not only from the outside but also from the inside. I understand that perfectly. If I didn't have a tower, but knew someone else did, I'd really want to go inside."
Therefore, even after his departure, the tower will be open to tour groups and will continue to be a Tomsk landmark. Alexander will also be waiting for changes in Russia.
What's next?
What's next?
* To see the caption when viewing a photo, click on the "i" in the lower right corner.
look inside
look inside
He says the entire "Lunev Tower" project is built on "vanity, self-admiration, and swagger," so he welcomes the increased attention and regular guests. He maintains that the tower is, after all, a monument and a public treasure: "Many people want to see it not only from the outside but also from the inside. I understand that perfectly. If I didn't have a tower, but knew someone else did, I'd really want to go inside."
Therefore, even after his departure, the tower will be open to tour groups and will continue to be a Tomsk landmark. Alexander will also be waiting for changes in Russia.
Therefore, even after his departure, the tower will be open to tour groups and will continue to be a Tomsk landmark. Alexander will also be waiting for changes in Russia.
* To see the caption when viewing a photo, click on the "i" in the lower right corner.
To the museum — as in the water tower of Inta (Komi Republic), built in the Gothic style and becoming a symbol of the city (it is even on the coat of arms).
What else can you turn a tower into?
Water towers are designed in a very simple way. At the top is a water tank, and underneath is a supporting structure. Pipes run to and from the tank, and a pump pumps water through them.
The structure operates on the principle of communicating vessels. A pump delivers water through pipes to a reservoir—for example, from a nearby river or underground springs. When the liquid level in the reservoir reaches the maximum, a sensor is triggered, shutting off the pump.
From the same reservoir, but through different pipes, the water flows to a city, village, train station, factory—in short, wherever it's needed. As the liquid is consumed, the pressure in the water tower decreases, forcing the pump to resume operation and refill the reservoir. The process is stable and continuous.
The structure operates on the principle of communicating vessels. A pump delivers water through pipes to a reservoir—for example, from a nearby river or underground springs. When the liquid level in the reservoir reaches the maximum, a sensor is triggered, shutting off the pump.
From the same reservoir, but through different pipes, the water flows to a city, village, train station, factory—in short, wherever it's needed. As the liquid is consumed, the pressure in the water tower decreases, forcing the pump to resume operation and refill the reservoir. The process is stable and continuous.
The design of all water towers is roughly the same. The volume of the tank (usually between 15 and 50 cubic meters) and the height of the support on which the tank is mounted (from 9 to 25 meters) may vary.
The height depends on the terrain, the destinations for which the water will be supplied from the towers, and the number of stories in the buildings they serve. The taller the buildings, the taller the tower should be, because—as the laws of physics dictate—the bottom of the reservoir must be located above the highest point of consumption.
The towers also differ visually—in the materials used for construction, the number of corners at the base, the number of tiers, and architectural details. It is precisely this uniqueness that draws attention.
The height depends on the terrain, the destinations for which the water will be supplied from the towers, and the number of stories in the buildings they serve. The taller the buildings, the taller the tower should be, because—as the laws of physics dictate—the bottom of the reservoir must be located above the highest point of consumption.
The towers also differ visually—in the materials used for construction, the number of corners at the base, the number of tiers, and architectural details. It is precisely this uniqueness that draws attention.
The structure operates on the principle of communicating vessels. A pump delivers water through pipes to a reservoir—for example, from a nearby river or underground springs. When the liquid level in the reservoir reaches the maximum, a sensor is triggered, shutting off the pump.
Water towers are designed in a very simple way. At the top is a water tank, and underneath is a supporting structure. Pipes run to and from the tank, and a pump pumps water through them.
The design of all water towers is roughly the same. The volume of the tank (usually between 15 and 50 cubic meters) and the height of the support on which the tank is mounted (from 9 to 25 meters) may vary.
The height depends on the terrain, the destinations for which the water will be supplied from the towers, and the number of stories in the buildings they serve. The taller the buildings, the taller the tower should be, because—as the laws of physics dictate—the bottom of the reservoir must be located above the highest point of consumption.
The towers also differ visually—in the materials used for construction, the number of corners at the base, the number of tiers, and architectural details. It is precisely this uniqueness that draws attention.
The height depends on the terrain, the destinations for which the water will be supplied from the towers, and the number of stories in the buildings they serve. The taller the buildings, the taller the tower should be, because—as the laws of physics dictate—the bottom of the reservoir must be located above the highest point of consumption.
The towers also differ visually—in the materials used for construction, the number of corners at the base, the number of tiers, and architectural details. It is precisely this uniqueness that draws attention.
From the same reservoir, but through different pipes, the water flows to a city, village, train station, factory—in short, wherever it's needed. As the liquid is consumed, the pressure in the water tower decreases, forcing the pump to resume operation and refill the reservoir. The process is stable and continuous.
How did it work anyway?
Location:
Year of construction:
How long has it been used for its intended purpose:
New working period:
Year of construction:
How long has it been used for its intended purpose:
New working period:
Chervishevo village, 26 kilometers from Tyumen
1950
until the 1980s
From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
1950
until the 1980s
From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
"Careful, you're going crazy!"
Vladimir Kurakin
The story of another tower
Location: village Chervishevo, 26 km from Tyumen
Year of construction: 1950
How long has it been used for its intended purpose: until the 1980s
New working period: From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
Old Tower website: astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Year of construction: 1950
How long has it been used for its intended purpose: until the 1980s
New working period: From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
Old Tower website: astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Old Tower website:
Location:
Year of construction:
How long has it been used for its intended purpose:
New working period:
Year of construction:
How long has it been used for its intended purpose:
New working period:
Chervishevo village, 26 kilometers from Tyumen
1950
until the 1980s
From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
1950
until the 1980s
From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
"Careful, you're going crazy!"
Vladimir Kurakin
The story of another tower
Location: village Chervishevo, 26 km from Tyumen
Year of construction: 1950
How long has it been used for its intended purpose: until the 1980s
New working period: From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
Old Tower website: astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Year of construction: 1950
How long has it been used for its intended purpose: until the 1980s
New working period: From 2005 to the present, an observatory has been operating in the tower.
Old Tower website: astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Old Tower website:
1 floor
2 floor
3 floor
4 floor
5 floor
1 floor
The tower's entrance hall. Immediately beyond the door is a small space. There's a table with an old lamp on it, and a bookcase nearby. Visitors can undress and leave their belongings here.
2 floor
An exhibition of film, photography, and radio equipment from various eras (one of the tower's owner's hobbies). Initially, the second floor housed a photo and internet salon. Then a library and a children's astronomy club. The former was moved upstairs, but the latter was abandoned due to the curfew—children under 16 are not allowed outside after 22 PM without a parent, making it impossible to see the stars at night. And what would an astronomy club be without that romantic touch?
3 floor
Library. Books here aren't just about space, but also those brought by villagers hoping to preserve them. The tower isn't open as an official village library, but you can arrange with the owner to borrow a book (or, more often, to deposit it).
4 floor
The observatory's control center. Here are the computers used by the tour guide to set up the telescopes before the tours. All the equipment in the observatory is automated, so the computer can "set" the star the telescope should be pointed at, rather than searching for it across the entire sky.
5 floor
Observatory. A space with telescopes. The first telescope, a MEADE LX200R, weighs 325 kilograms and allows for a 650x magnification of celestial objects. The second, a Meade LXD75 Schmidt-Newtonian, doesn't zoom as much but does show clusters of stars and galaxies. The roof over the telescopes partially opens and rotates 360 degrees, allowing for stargazing anywhere in the sky.
A weather vane that also serves as a lightning rod. It's essential, as the Old Tower is the tallest structure in Chervyshevo.
A weather vane that also serves as a lightning rod. It's essential, as the Old Tower is the tallest structure in Chervyshevo.
Watches
They're synchronized with satellites and always show the correct time. Couples often arrange dates under them.
Amateur astronomer Vitaly Ugreninov arrives at the Old Tower in Chervishevo at nine o'clock in the evening. By this time, the village near Tyumen is already starting to get dark. In half an hour, a group of ten people will gather—the lucky ones who managed to sign up for a tour of the only observatory in the region.
On average, reservations for the Tower close within a minute, as there are so many people applying. Those who don't have time to reserve a spot at the observatory come to Chervyshevo and try to arrange a spot on site. This is often futile—visitors hold on to their spots and don't miss out on their stargazing experience.
Residents of Tyumen and its suburbs might not have had such a popular space if the old water tower, once deemed unnecessary, had been demolished. That was exactly what they wanted, but Tyumen businessman Vladimir Kurakin prevented it.
On average, reservations for the Tower close within a minute, as there are so many people applying. Those who don't have time to reserve a spot at the observatory come to Chervyshevo and try to arrange a spot on site. This is often futile—visitors hold on to their spots and don't miss out on their stargazing experience.
Residents of Tyumen and its suburbs might not have had such a popular space if the old water tower, once deemed unnecessary, had been demolished. That was exactly what they wanted, but Tyumen businessman Vladimir Kurakin prevented it.
2023 year
Watches
1960 year
* Hover over floors to see additional information.
1 floor
2 floor
3 floor
4 floor
5 floor
Amateur astronomer Vitaly Ugreninov arrives at the Old Tower in Chervishevo at nine o'clock in the evening. By this time, the village near Tyumen is already starting to get dark. In half an hour, a group of ten people will gather—the lucky ones who managed to sign up for a tour of the only observatory in the region.
On average, reservations for the Tower close within a minute, as there are so many people applying. Those who don't have time to reserve a spot at the observatory come to Chervyshevo and try to arrange a spot on site. This is often futile—visitors hold on to their spots and don't miss out on their stargazing experience.
Residents of Tyumen and its suburbs might not have had such a popular space if the old water tower, once deemed unnecessary, had been demolished. That was exactly what they wanted, but Tyumen businessman Vladimir Kurakin prevented it.
On average, reservations for the Tower close within a minute, as there are so many people applying. Those who don't have time to reserve a spot at the observatory come to Chervyshevo and try to arrange a spot on site. This is often futile—visitors hold on to their spots and don't miss out on their stargazing experience.
Residents of Tyumen and its suburbs might not have had such a popular space if the old water tower, once deemed unnecessary, had been demolished. That was exactly what they wanted, but Tyumen businessman Vladimir Kurakin prevented it.
2023 year
Watches
1960 year
1 floor
The tower's entrance hall. Immediately beyond the door is a small space. There's a table with an old lamp on it, and a bookcase nearby. Visitors can undress and leave their belongings here.
2 floor
An exhibition of film, photography, and radio equipment from various eras (one of the tower's owner's hobbies). Initially, the second floor housed a photo and internet salon. Then a library and a children's astronomy club. The former was moved upstairs, but the latter was abandoned due to the curfew—children under 16 are not allowed outside after 22 PM without a parent, making it impossible to see the stars at night. And what would an astronomy club be without that romantic touch?
3 floor
Library. Books here aren't just about space, but also those brought by villagers hoping to preserve them. The tower isn't open as an official village library, but you can arrange with the owner to borrow a book (or, more often, to deposit it).
4 floor
The observatory's control center. Here are the computers used by the tour guide to set up the telescopes before the tours. All the equipment in the observatory is automated, so the computer can "set" the star the telescope should be pointed at, rather than searching for it across the entire sky.
5 floor
Observatory. A space with telescopes. The first telescope, a MEADE LX200R, weighs 325 kilograms and allows for a 650x magnification of celestial objects. The second, a Meade LXD75 Schmidt-Newtonian, doesn't zoom as much but does show clusters of stars and galaxies. The roof over the telescopes partially opens and rotates 360 degrees, allowing for stargazing anywhere in the sky.
A weather vane that also serves as a lightning rod. It's essential, as the Old Tower is the tallest structure in Chervyshevo.
A weather vane that also serves as a lightning rod. It's essential, as the Old Tower is the tallest structure in Chervyshevo.
Watches
They're synchronized with satellites and always show the correct time. Couples often arrange dates under them.
Amateur astronomer Vitaly Ugreninov arrives at the Old Tower in Chervishevo at nine o'clock in the evening. By this time, the village near Tyumen is already starting to get dark. In half an hour, a group of ten people will gather—the lucky ones who managed to sign up for a tour of the only observatory in the region.
On average, reservations for the Tower close within a minute, as there are so many people applying. Those who don't have time to reserve a spot at the observatory come to Chervyshevo and try to arrange a spot on site. This is often futile—visitors hold on to their spots and don't miss out on their stargazing experience.
Residents of Tyumen and its suburbs might not have had such a popular space if the old water tower, once deemed unnecessary, had been demolished. That was exactly what they wanted, but Tyumen businessman Vladimir Kurakin prevented it.
On average, reservations for the Tower close within a minute, as there are so many people applying. Those who don't have time to reserve a spot at the observatory come to Chervyshevo and try to arrange a spot on site. This is often futile—visitors hold on to their spots and don't miss out on their stargazing experience.
Residents of Tyumen and its suburbs might not have had such a popular space if the old water tower, once deemed unnecessary, had been demolished. That was exactly what they wanted, but Tyumen businessman Vladimir Kurakin prevented it.
What's next?
Transformation
History
The beginning of a new life
look inside
Villagers built a water tower in the 1950s. The bricks were formed from local clay and fired right there in Chervishevo. Thirty years later, the village received a central water supply, and the water tower was no longer needed, so it was abandoned.
The four-story building became popular with young people: it was a convenient place to gather without adults and drink. Local residents feared that one day these gatherings would end in tragedy, with someone falling from the tower. The only option they offered was to demolish it. The year was 2004.
The four-story building became popular with young people: it was a convenient place to gather without adults and drink. Local residents feared that one day these gatherings would end in tragedy, with someone falling from the tower. The only option they offered was to demolish it. The year was 2004.
History
Archive photo, 2006
Archive photo of the Old Tower, 1967
Into an apartment building — as in the former water tower of the Tula Vodokanal
What else can you turn a tower into?
Villagers built a water tower in the 1950s. The bricks were formed from local clay and fired right there in Chervishevo. Thirty years later, the village received a central water supply, and the water tower was no longer needed, so it was abandoned.
The four-story building became popular with young people: it was a convenient place to gather without adults and drink. Local residents feared that one day these gatherings would end in tragedy, with someone falling from the tower. The only option they offered was to demolish it. The year was 2004.
The four-story building became popular with young people: it was a convenient place to gather without adults and drink. Local residents feared that one day these gatherings would end in tragedy, with someone falling from the tower. The only option they offered was to demolish it. The year was 2004.
Archive photo, 2006
Archive photo of the Old Tower, 1967
History
The oldest photo of the Old Tower, 1967.
Source: Old Tower website astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Source: Old Tower website astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Archive photo of the Old Tower, 2006.
Source: Old Tower website astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Source: Old Tower website astro.kosmopoisk72.ru
Chervishevo resident Vladimir Kurakin, a prominent businessman, winner of the State Prize in Science and Technology, and later a district council member, prevented the structure's demolition. He proposed preserving the tower. He went to the administration and resolved all the legal issues.
Kurakin doesn't go into detail about how exactly he acquired the property or for how much, only stating that the process took six months and bluntly saying, "It's not difficult to formalize everything legally."
The businessman has interests in various fields—chemical storage, loans, logistics, enhanced oil recovery technologies, bread baking, construction… His knowledge of the latter industry helped him carry out the reconstruction of the Old Tower. And he knew right away what it would house.
Kurakin first looked through a telescope as a schoolboy. He peered at the universe from the garden of his private home through an old TAL-150 telescope. The first thing he saw was Saturn. The technology's power increased over the years, as did the horizon. So when talk of demolishing the tower in his hometown of Chervishevo arose, Kurakin thought it would be a great place to gaze at the stars.
Kurakin doesn't go into detail about how exactly he acquired the property or for how much, only stating that the process took six months and bluntly saying, "It's not difficult to formalize everything legally."
The businessman has interests in various fields—chemical storage, loans, logistics, enhanced oil recovery technologies, bread baking, construction… His knowledge of the latter industry helped him carry out the reconstruction of the Old Tower. And he knew right away what it would house.
Kurakin first looked through a telescope as a schoolboy. He peered at the universe from the garden of his private home through an old TAL-150 telescope. The first thing he saw was Saturn. The technology's power increased over the years, as did the horizon. So when talk of demolishing the tower in his hometown of Chervishevo arose, Kurakin thought it would be a great place to gaze at the stars.
The beginning of a new life
The Orion Nebula, photographed with a phone through a telescope
Chromosphere, photographed with a phone through a telescope
Saturn, taken with a phone through a telescope
The beginning of a new life
Saturn, taken with a phone through a telescope during one of the excursions to the observatory.
Source: Old Tower group on VK
Source: Old Tower group on VK
The chromosphere, photographed on a phone through a telescope during one of the excursions to the observatory.
Source: Old Tower group on VK
Source: Old Tower group on VK
The Orion Nebula, photographed on a phone through a telescope during one of the excursions to the observatory.
Source: Old Tower group on VK
Source: Old Tower group on VK
First, Kurakin and his partner removed the debris from the tower. It amounted to five KAMAZ trucks. Then they discovered the structure had four floors, plus a fifth, open, roofless floor. They removed the old water tank, and examined the strength of the floors and walls. It turned out they needed to be reinforced. A reconstruction project was commissioned.
Now, the tower is supported by four metal beams along its entire height, bearing the entire weight of the new floors and ceilings. The wiring has been completely redone. A spiral staircase has been installed inside. The fifth floor has been reinforced and dedicated to an observatory. The remaining issue was the dome—to allow for stargazing at any time and from any position, it must be able to open and rotate.
Kurakin and an engineer friend built this 360-degree polycarbonate dome in their garden. The only thing missing for the opening hatch was handles, so they took them from a regular garden cart. They lifted the roof onto the tower with a crane. But it only lasted a few years. It turned out the polycarbonate got very hot in the summer, and so did all the equipment. They decided to replace it with plywood. But they kept the cart handles—they turned out to be very convenient to use.
Tour guide Vitaly Ugreninov proudly talks about the rotating roof during excursions and defuses the scientific atmosphere with a warning: "Careful, the roof's gone!"
Now, the tower is supported by four metal beams along its entire height, bearing the entire weight of the new floors and ceilings. The wiring has been completely redone. A spiral staircase has been installed inside. The fifth floor has been reinforced and dedicated to an observatory. The remaining issue was the dome—to allow for stargazing at any time and from any position, it must be able to open and rotate.
Kurakin and an engineer friend built this 360-degree polycarbonate dome in their garden. The only thing missing for the opening hatch was handles, so they took them from a regular garden cart. They lifted the roof onto the tower with a crane. But it only lasted a few years. It turned out the polycarbonate got very hot in the summer, and so did all the equipment. They decided to replace it with plywood. But they kept the cart handles—they turned out to be very convenient to use.
Tour guide Vitaly Ugreninov proudly talks about the rotating roof during excursions and defuses the scientific atmosphere with a warning: "Careful, the roof's gone!"
Transformation
The first polycarbonate dome, spring 2007
Installation of the dome, June 07, 2007
Transformation
The first polycarbonate dome, spring 2007.
Source: Old Tower group on VK
Source: Old Tower group on VK
Installation of the first dome on the tower, June 07, 2007.
Source: Old Tower group on VK
Source: Old Tower group on VK
Kurakin won't disclose the cost of the tower's renovation or maintenance. But he can, so to speak, afford it. And although tours are currently available for a fee (400 rubles per person), this is more out of necessity than a desire to make money: the fee is needed to encourage visitors to attend the tour more seriously, rather than canceling at the last minute.
In the year of the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight, the Old Tower was added to the International Astronomical Union catalog. This means it is now an official observatory, not an amateur one. It is the only such observatory in the Tyumen region.
In the year of the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight, the Old Tower was added to the International Astronomical Union catalog. This means it is now an official observatory, not an amateur one. It is the only such observatory in the Tyumen region.
What's next
What's next?
look inside
It was built between 1899 and 1900 and remained in use until 1963. In 1957, staff and students from the Physics and Mathematics Department of Bashkir State University established an observatory there, which operated until the 1980s. Since then, the tower has been abandoned. Its riveted boiler and mechanisms were cut out and sold for scrap. Since the 2000s, the tower and surrounding area have become littered and turned into a garbage dump.
In 2021, the tower was designated a regional cultural heritage site. It is currently abandoned and neglected.
In 2021, the tower was designated a regional cultural heritage site. It is currently abandoned and neglected.
These towers are waiting for their owners
Ufa.
Water tower on Altayskaya Street-4
Water tower on Altayskaya Street-4
Built in the early 20th century to serve as a teachers' seminary, the structure utilized neo-Romanesque architectural techniques. After the Soviet-Finnish wars, Vyborg's water supply system changed, and the structure lost its function as a water tower.
The tower was neither used nor protected, and many architectural details were lost, including its high conical roof and all wooden structures. The interior fell into disrepair. It is listed as a historical monument.
The tower was neither used nor protected, and many architectural details were lost, including its high conical roof and all wooden structures. The interior fell into disrepair. It is listed as a historical monument.
Vyborg, Leningrad Oblast. Water tower in Markovilla
To the editor — as in the “Tower on Marx”, where a television company lived for several years (however, it is now an art space).
What else can you turn a tower into?
Photo by Vladimir Pankratov. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Photo by Vladimir Pankratov. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Built in 1898 in Tilsit, a German city in East Prussia, which was renamed Sovetsk after the region was annexed by the Soviet Union and the German population was deported.
Water was supplied from a pumping station located on the other bank of the Neman River. Near the tower are tanks used for water purification and storage, now covered with earth and debris. The tower was damaged during World War II, and its roof was lost in the postwar years. It is designated a cultural heritage site of local (municipal) significance.
Water was supplied from a pumping station located on the other bank of the Neman River. Near the tower are tanks used for water purification and storage, now covered with earth and debris. The tower was damaged during World War II, and its roof was lost in the postwar years. It is designated a cultural heritage site of local (municipal) significance.
Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Oblast. Water tower on Angel Hill
The estimated construction date is the last quarter of the 19th century. It has a stone plinth and a brick foundation. The log roof was sheathed with iron after construction was completed. Its eight sides are decorated with shallow niches containing windows on every other side.
The entrance to the tower is on the railway side; this side of the tower, according to the website watertower.ru, is distinguished by its "astonishingly beautiful masonry." The tower bears a leveling mark from the Volga Geological, Hydrogeodetic Administration (1934).
The entrance to the tower is on the railway side; this side of the tower, according to the website watertower.ru, is distinguished by its "astonishingly beautiful masonry." The tower bears a leveling mark from the Volga Geological, Hydrogeodetic Administration (1934).
Bogatoye, Samara Oblast. Water tower of the Orenburg Railway.
According to the website watertowers.ru, which collects photographs of water towers and other structures, the plant's workshops have been rented out for many years, primarily as storage facilities. The outskirts of the vast grounds are littered with debris, ruins, and thickets of hogweed.
A brick water tower appeared at the plant after the war; a one-story warehouse was later built around it. Photo taken in July 2023.
A brick water tower appeared at the plant after the war; a one-story warehouse was later built around it. Photo taken in July 2023.
Ivanovo. Water tower of the former Ivanovo Melange Plant named after K. I. Frolov
Photo by Vladimir Kiselev. Source: personal blog
Photo by: Zhenya Ogon. Photo source: Wikimapia
Photo source: watertowers.ru, author unknown.
Do you want a tower too?
Read tips from the project's heroes
To the business center
as in the water tower of the former Krasny Gvozdilshchik plant in St. Petersburg
as in the water tower of the former Krasny Gvozdilshchik plant in St. Petersburg
What else can you turn a tower into?
Alexander Lunev
Vladimir Kurakin
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Observe safety precautions: "I almost fell off a roof, burned my hands on a rope, tried to saw off three of my fingers with a chainsaw... I've had so many things happen! And I'm incredibly lucky that I didn't get hurt and survived."
If you can’t get rid of the obsession with the tower, try to get rid of it as much as possible rationalizeFirst, consider which emergency and conservation measures need to be implemented first, and then save up available funds and use them to carry out the work in stages.
"For example, the first thing I needed to do was fix the roof. At the very least, cover it with some metal sheets to stop water from leaking in, and board up the windows with plywood," Lunev explains. "But in the first year, I, on the contrary, bravely rushed to remove all the metal from the roof, haul away the trash from the tower, and install electricity. Although the electricity wasn't a mistake—it's very inconvenient without it."
"For example, the first thing I needed to do was fix the roof. At the very least, cover it with some metal sheets to stop water from leaking in, and board up the windows with plywood," Lunev explains. "But in the first year, I, on the contrary, bravely rushed to remove all the metal from the roof, haul away the trash from the tower, and install electricity. Although the electricity wasn't a mistake—it's very inconvenient without it."
Have the project, concept and plan regarding its further use: “I knew for sure that a telescope would be installed in mine.”
Be sure to pay attention to preservation of the towerMetal supports, a dome structure, and other technical solutions may be needed. This requires the help of knowledgeable people. "My partners and I have a strong Soviet engineering background. This was very helpful in developing the concept and executing the tower's reconstruction with care," says Kurakin.
Consult a psychiatrist
"Start and don't stop."
Alexander says that he would have given himself such advice if he had understood what he was getting into.
September, 2023
Archival photos found on the website russiainphoto.ru