Income Houses Through the Eyes of an Architect. History, Decor, and Arrangement of Antique Interiors

This book is a unique immersion into the world of pre-revolutionary and early Soviet income houses, their architecture, interiors, daily life, and arrangement. The author, Nelly De, an architect, restorer, and art historian, shares how income houses were built, arranged, and operated, who lived in them and how, and what materials and technical solutions were used. You will learn what apartments of different classes looked like and why even in the most modest housing attention was paid to details and the quality of finishes. The book describes in detail the arrangement of common areas — from laundries and ice houses to grand staircases and entrances, revealing the nuances of renting and daily life. This is not just a story about the past, but also an inspiring call to treat the old stock with care, to preserve historical interiors, and to appreciate the traditions of urban living.