The Krasnye Kazarmy (Red Barracks) is a historic complex of military barracks in Nizhny Novgorod, built between 1835 and 1853 and located on the Nizhne-Volzhskaya Embankment (address: Nizhne-Volzhskaya Embankment, 1a, 1b). It is recognized as a regional heritage site and has been in private ownership since 2014.

History and Architecture

The complex was built in the mid-nineteenth century and historically served as military barracks. Its buildings housed garrison soldiers and gendarmerie companies.[4] The complex was designed by architect Ilya Yefimov: the design was approved in 1837, the foundations were laid in 1838, and the walls of the buildings were brought to rough completion in 1844.[4] The complex includes a three-story Eastern Wing facing the Volga embankment. The building has survived to the present day and remains an architectural monument of the Nicholaevan era within the fabric of Nizhny Novgorod's embankment.[2]

Private Ownership and Restoration Plans

In 2014, the complex was acquired by Nizhny Novgorod entrepreneur Dmitry Volodin. The transaction value, including VAT, was 107.83 million rubles; the land plot was valued at 82.561 million rubles.[1]

Following the purchase, the Eastern Wing underwent partial reconstruction: the façade, roof, glazing, and inter-floor structures were brought into order. The Nizhny Novgorod city administration received the Eastern Wing and the checkpoint building from the Russian Ministry of Defense in early 2013 — after a year and a half of negotiations over the transfer of the property to the municipality.[4] Concurrently, a project was being prepared to adapt the building for use as a hotel; options for use as offices, a business center, or apartments were also considered. By the end of 2013, City Hall: the starting price for the four-story building with a basement level, totaling 5,980 sq. m., and the 88 sq. m. checkpoint was set at 215.66 million rubles, with an auction increment of 10.78 million rubles.[4][2] In 2019, the Eastern Wing was listed for sale at 520 million rubles; over the following two years the price rose to 650–870 million rubles, and by 2022 it approached 1 billion rubles.[2]

The developer for the restoration and adaptation of the Eastern Wing for modern use is Vesenniye Investitsii LLC. Project documentation was prepared by four organizations: Istoki LLC, Veles NN LLC, Ventsservis LLC, and the Regional Expert Agency for Fire Safety LLC. State review was conducted by the State Autonomous Institution of Nizhny Novgorod Region "Department of State Expert Review of Project Documentation and Engineering Survey Results."[1]

On August 4, 2026, it became known that the state expert review had issued a negative conclusion on the Eastern Wing's restoration project: the authority rejected both the project documentation and the engineering survey results. This information was published in the Unified State Register of Expert Conclusions (EGRZ).[3]

Related Plans

Alongside the restoration, there were discussions about constructing a multi-level parking facility in the courtyard of the Krasnye Kazarmy — with the aim of relieving the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin area of vehicle traffic. Completion of the relevant design work was planned for 2026. Vesenniye Investitsii LLC, as the owner of the adjacent plot, opposed the construction of this parking facility. In May 2026, the Krasnye Kazarmy site, covering approximately five thousand square meters, was used for the first time to host the Kontur contemporary art fair and Kontur. Photo — the fourth edition of the graphics fair and the second photography fair organized in Nizhny Novgorod.[5][2]

Sources

  1. Kommersant (Volga Region) — The complex was designed by architect Ilya Yefimov: the design was approved in 1837, the foundations were laid in 1838, and the walls of the buildings were brought to rough completion in (archive)
  2. Vedomosti — In May 2026, the Krasnye Kazarmy site, covering approximately five thousand square meters, was used for the first time to host the contemporary art fair "K (archive)
  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Restoration project for the Nizhny Novgorod Krasnye Kazarmy wing fails state expert review — Nizhny Novgorod News (archive)
  2. GIPERNN — State expert review rejects restoration project for Krasnye Kazarmy in Nizhny Novgorod
  3. Vzglyad-NN — State expert review rejects restoration project for the Eastern Wing of the Krasnye Kazarmy in Nizhny Novgorod — Business News. Time to Earn (archive)