Kalgin Anatoly

Kalgin Anatoly (1873–1943), Russian architect. Born in Vladikavkaz. In 1900 he graduated from the Petersburg Institute of Civil Engineering. Since 1907 he lived and worked in Tbilisi. Starting from 1922, he was engaged in pedagogic activity (he was appointed to the position of a professor). A. Kalgin linked his work to the cultural and scientific activity in Georgia. In 1907 he took part in the expeditions organized by E. Takaishvili in the federal districts of Artaani, Oltisi and Kaghizmani, where he surveyed and measured up the churches. He also surveyed the Temple of Bana, the most important monument of Georgian Architecture and worked out his own variant of its reconstruction. Once again, in 1917, A. Kalgin joined E. Takaishvili’s expedition in Tao-Klarjeti. His measurements are the only graphic documents that are very essential for researching outstanding monuments of the 10th – 11th cc. – Oshki, Khakhuli, Ishkhani and others. Among the works of A. Kalgin stands out the building of Tbilisi Bank of the Nobility (presentday National Library, 1912 – 1916, designed together with the artist H. Hrinevsky), which is believed to be an excellent specimen of Georgian architecture. Besides, he designed Avchala Hydropower Station (Zahesi, 1927, elaborated along with K. Leontiev and M. Machavariani) as well as other significant structures.

Anatoly Kalgin died in Tbilisi. He was buried in Mtskheta, in the courtyard of Samtavro Temple.