Metenkov's House, Yekaterinburg (must see)

Metenkov's House is a late 19th-century residential building closely connected with the early development of photography in Russia. It was built in the 1890s for Veniamin Metenkov, a photographer, publisher, and active figure in local cultural circles. Metenkov documented industrial growth, street life, and architecture during a period of rapid change. His photographs remain an important visual record of everyday life at the turn of the 20th century.

Architecturally, the house is a mixed-construction, or semi-stone, building, with a brick or stone lower level for strength and fire safety and a wooden upper floor, a common solution for urban homes of the period. The building keeps the scale of a private residence rather than a public institution. Inside, the layout follows a traditional residential plan, with rooms arranged along corridors and linked by a central staircase. Preserved interior details show how living and working spaces were combined in a professional household, while modest room sizes and natural light support close viewing of photographs and objects.

Today, the house functions as a photography museum and exhibition space. Permanent displays show Metenkov’s work, early cameras, glass negatives, and printed photographs, explaining photography before modern technology. Temporary exhibitions focus on contemporary photography and archival research. Lectures and small workshops are also held, using the intimate setting for close viewing and discussion rather than large events.