Today we remember a man whose name may not be known to every resident of Narva, but whose buildings have been seen by almost everyone. It marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of architect and artist Alexander Vladovsky.
Vladovsky was born on March 10, 1876, in Saint Petersburg. In 1894, he graduated from a commercial school. At first, it seemed that he would pursue a stable and “serious” profession, but fate had other plans. From childhood, Alexander loved drawing above all else. The lines of buildings, the outlines of streets, the play of light and shadow—all of this gradually became not just a hobby, but a calling.
In 1896, he became a non-degree student, and a year later was admitted to the architectural department of the Higher Art School. After graduating in 1903, Vladovsky received permission to travel abroad to further develop his skills. During this period, he created numerous paintings, watercolor works, and competition projects.
In 1908, Alexander Vladovsky became the architect of the Kreenholm Manufacturing Company, and even today, buildings associated with his name can still be found in the city.
For example, the Kreenholm Hospital is a building in the Romantic Art Nouveau style, constructed using advanced technologies of its time. More than a century has passed, and the hospital continues to fulfill its main mission—caring for people’s health.
In 1916, Vladovsky transformed a food warehouse building on the Kreenholm Market grounds into a People’s House—a place for meetings, communication, and cultural life. Today, this building houses the Evangelical Christian Church, and the space remains vibrant and full of life.
Many are also familiar with the building of the Narva Vanalinna Basic School. It was once the residence of Baron von Velio, and in 1916 it was reconstructed according to Vladovsky’s design for use as an educational institution. For many generations, students have studied within the walls of this historic building.
In 1920, Vladovsky moved to Tallinn, where he played a significant role in the architectural life of the capital.
The history of cities is not only a series of dates, but also the stories of the people who shaped them. The name of Alexander Vladovsky rightfully holds an important place in that history.

Architect of the Kreenholm Manufacturing Company Alexander Vladovsky. Illustration from A. Yu. Ponomarev’s book “Architect-Artist Alexander Vladovsky: Materials for a Creative Biography”, Moscow, 2018

Kreenholm Hospital. 1930–1940. Photo by Oswald Haidak. From the photo collection of the Narva Museum

People’s House for Kreenholm workers. Illustration from Gesellschaft der Krähnholm Manufaktur für Baumwollfabrikate 75 (1857–1932), Verlag der Krähnholm Manufaktur, 1933

Evangelical Christian Church. 2022. Photo by Anna Markova

Narva Boys’ Gymnasium. 1920–1940. From the photo collection of the Narva Museum