It originally was the residential house of joint-stock company ‘Torkel’, built in 1898 according to the project of Finnish architect Eduard Dippel.
The designers were given a specific triangular plot with two sharp corners. This is how the building got its shape, which is popularly dubbed a ‘house-iron’ or a ‘house-wall’: from some angles, it appears to be flat.
The exterior of the house is as expressive as its interior layout. The facades with Gothic gables are faced with natural stone: it reminds of the masonry of old Vyborg fortifications. In 2016, the house was granted the status of a cultural heritage object of regional significance.
The origin of the “witch’s” nickname is not known. Probably, it comes from the unusual shape of the building. But, such a name definitely helps attract tourists and connoisseurs of Finnish architecture!
Dear readers,
Our website and social media accounts are under threat of being restricted or banned, due to the current circumstances. So, to keep up with our latest content, simply do the following:
If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.
Subscribe
to our newsletter!
Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox
