Personal & Biography
of Mikhail Bulgakov
The New Museum
Story
This house-museum of Mikhail Bulgakov opened its doors as a new attraction for visitors in 2021. Bulgakov lived at this address for 7 years: it was the first apartment where he had his own office, and the place where he wrote many of his world-renowned stories. In addition to a multidisciplinary permanent exposition about the author, the museum marked its opening with an interactive exhibition entitled Lyubov Belozerskaya, dedicated to his second wife. Belozerskaya spent a lot of time abroad and served in large part as Bulgakov’s “eyes and ears,” as he never managed to leave the Soviet Union. After their divorce, Lyubov Belozerskaya stayed in the apartment, which would later turn into a gathering place for admirers of her ex-husband.
Photo: Bulgakov’s desk in a room at Bolshaya Pirogovskaya 35A
Mikhail Bulgakov, the renowned Russian writer, initially pursued a career in medicine before transitioning to literature. Born in Kiev in 1891, he graduated from the Medical Faculty of Kiev University in 1916 and worked as a country doctor in Smolensk province during World War I. However, his passion for writing led him to ultimately abandon medicine and devote himself fully to literature. Bulgakov’s experiences in the medical field greatly informed his later works, including «The White Guard» and «The Master and Margarita,» showcasing the profound impact of his early professional life on his literary legacy.
«...this address is one of the most important in Bulgakov’s biography. At Pirogovka he wrote «Cabala Svyatosh», the play «The Run», finished the first edition of «Master and Margarita». It was in this flat on 18 April 1930 Bulgakov called Stalin after the writer sent his now famous «Letter to the Soviet Government», in which he complained about the frenzy of censorship and pogrom criticism. Here ended one period of his life and began another, the last»
Museum CEO & Head curator Peter Mansilla-Kruz
Project
Personal & Biography
Type
New Museum of Mikhail Bulgakov
Place
Bolshaya Pirogovskaya 35A
Address
Department of culture of the city of Moscow
Initiator
Peter Mansilla-Kruz
Curator
350 sq.m
Area
>100 pieces
Number of exhibits
Peter Tolpin, Anna Manzarova, Irina Korzh
Team
TUMAN studio, 911 studio
Consortium
Permanent exhibition plan
Permanent exhibition Axonometry
Room installation Axonometry
The exposition consists of three parts: a corridor, an office and a room. In the corridor, visitors hears fragments of memories of Bulgakov’s life and work on Bolshaya Pirogovskaya Street.
The room features specially designed interactive tables that serve as tools for studying Bulgakov’s texts. They offer various methods of interpreting his works, highlighting the relationship between text and context: travelling through time with the help of literary works, textology, music, the social circle and Moscow. In the niches of the tables are display cases with authentic objects that belonged to the writer, his family and friends.
In addition, the exposition includes a documentary comparison of the modern interior and photographs of the office in which the writer worked.
A separate area of the exposition is a specially designed archive cabinet dedicated to the letter that Mikhail Bulgakov wrote to the USSR government on 28 March 1930.
In addition to the permanent exposition, the museum also presents temporary exhibitions.
The room features specially designed interactive tables that serve as tools for studying Bulgakov’s texts. They offer various methods of interpreting his works, highlighting the relationship between text and context: travelling through time with the help of literary works, textology, music, the social circle and Moscow. In the niches of the tables are display cases with authentic objects that belonged to the writer, his family and friends.
In addition, the exposition includes a documentary comparison of the modern interior and photographs of the office in which the writer worked.
A separate area of the exposition is a specially designed archive cabinet dedicated to the letter that Mikhail Bulgakov wrote to the USSR government on 28 March 1930.
In addition to the permanent exposition, the museum also presents temporary exhibitions.
Reliquaries:
1. Friends
2. Censorship
3. Music
4. Time
5. Routes
1. Friends
2. Censorship
3. Music
4. Time
5. Routes
Lubov Belozerskaya exhibition
In August 1927 Mikhail Bulgakov and Lyubov Belozerskaya moved into house 35a on Bolshaya Pirogovskaya Street. In 1932 they parted, the writer soon moved out, and Lyubov Evgenievna lived in this house until the end of her days. In 1970-1980s her flat became the main meeting place of numerous admirers and biographers of the writer.
The exhibition is Belozerskaya’s story about herself, Bulgakov, time and the people she knew.
The exhibition is Belozerskaya’s story about herself, Bulgakov, time and the people she knew.
Temporary exhibition plan
Temporary exhibition Axonometry
Visual communication
In consortium with our long-term partners Tuman Studio, a unique design code and overall graphic design of the project was developed.
The format grid is three-part, it is built in accordance with the Museum's space plan in different years of its existence. Austerity of the font and density of the set allow to freely place text on a non-standard grid, forming a graphic system and setting dynamics of the composition within the format space. Graphic elements are placed in headings, quoting the writer's remarks, punching up the communication.
The format grid is three-part, it is built in accordance with the Museum's space plan in different years of its existence. Austerity of the font and density of the set allow to freely place text on a non-standard grid, forming a graphic system and setting dynamics of the composition within the format space. Graphic elements are placed in headings, quoting the writer's remarks, punching up the communication.
Key image lettering principle
The graphic idea is continued in the navigation system for the Museum, as well as in the layout of texts and labels for the internal space of the Museum and regular exhibitions.
As part of the identity, souvenir products and printed products style were created. A flexible dynamic system shapes the approach to graphic solution.
As part of the identity, souvenir products and printed products style were created. A flexible dynamic system shapes the approach to graphic solution.
Graphic solution principle
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