Kalashnikov Mikhail

Kalashnikov Mikhail (1886–1969), Russian architect. Born in Dagestan, in Temir-Khan-Shura (present-day Buynaksk), where his father, Russian army doctor, was sent on a mission. Mikhail’s father, as a serviceman, frequently moved from place to place. In 1887 the Kalashnikov family moved to Borjomi, 2 yars later – to Akhaltsikhe and in 1894, the Kalashnikovs returned to Tbilisi. In 1896 M. Kalshnikov entered Tbilisi non-classical secondary school. In 1904 after graduating from the school, he left for Petersburg, where he entered the Civil Engineering Institute. In 1910 he changed the university for the higher school of Imperial Academy of Art. In 1917, after its graduation, he returned to Tbilisi. He started work at the Caucasian Historical-Archaeological Institute as an artist-architect (in 1922 – 1931, he served as an academic secretary of the same institute). As of 1938 he filled the position of an architect of the Department of Georgian Cultural Monuments. M. Kalashnikov made significant contribution to the research of Georgian architectural monuments and development of Georgian architecture. During several decades, M. Kalashnikov took measurements of many important monuments, among them the temples of Ateni (7th c.), Tsromi (7th c.), Old Shuamta (5th -7th cc.), Ikorta (12th c.), Kintsvisi (12th -13th cc.), Timotes Ubani (13th c.), Pitareti (13th c.), Betania (13th c.) and others.

M. Kalashnikov designed over 100 projects of buildings of various purposes (out of his 100designs, 18 projects were realized), which were distinguished by their skilled professionalism. The residential house with 100 apartments (aka 11-storied building) on the Square of Heroes (together with N. Severov) that enhances the beauty of the district, has become one of the sights of the city. His other significant works are Libani health resort (1926), Khashuri theater (1927), bathhouse of balneology health resort in Tbilisi (1937), restored old belfry (1946) of Sioni Temple (15th c.), etc.

In 1947, M. Kalashnikov was granted the title of the Honored Art Worker of Georgia.

From 1957 M. Kalashnikov lived in Moscow. He died in Moscow.