Lutheran cemetery
There is a square with Babr sculpture in front of the 13th quarter in the direction of the streets of Linina, Sedova, Krassnogo Vosstanya and Timiryazeva. This spot is a territory of Lutheran Cemetery, which was often called a German Cemetery. It was founded in 1730 and was far away from the city itself. It functioned till the end of XVIII century. Many famous administrative workers who played a great role in the history of Irkutsk guberniya were buried here. Among them were I. A. von Lineman, a foreman and a chief commandant (buried in 1736), Lorents Lung , a vice-governor of Irkutsk province (buried in 1752), Karl Frauendorf, the first Irkutsk governor and a major-general (buried in 1767). Lutheran Cemetery was surrounded by a hign stone fence which was ruined in 1910. 10 tombs with the grave monuments were still at this spot. Soviet Power tried to install monuments at this very spot but those would have been monuments dedicated to young communists and, later, to Decembrists. Finally, after the celebrations of the 350th anniversary of Irkutsk in 2012 a Babr sculpture was installed in the city square. Babr is the symbol of Irkutsk. There were two authors of the sculpture: one was Natalia Bakut, a sculptor and Olga Smirnova, an architect. The location of Babr at the territory of the cemetery where there are still Irkutsk citizens remains, was a reason enough for the citizens to protest against the project. The authors of the sculpture were not happy with this location too.
130 Kvartal (Irkutsk Sloboda)
Decision to create a special space which would recreate historical appearance of the city was taken in 2008 to mark the 350th anniversary of Irkutsk. This space should be located in the city center at the direction of the streets Lenin, Timiryazev, Sedov, Krassnogo Vosstania, and Tretiego Iyulia. Kvartal, meaning “quarter” in Russian should be of triangular form and be bordered by Sedov, Tretiego Iyulia and Kozhova streets. This place has a serial number of 130 as it was formed historically. He was then called Irkutsk Sloboda but 130 Kvartal name stayed. In the Spring of 2010 people who lived at this spot in dilapidated and dangerous houses started to move. The houses situated on the perimeter had historical significance and were kept, the project suggested to restore them and give them new significance in the whole complex of Kvartal. The rest of the territory was covered by so called historical replica of the houses, those were restored in accordance with the modern houses projects and the houses which were lost or destroyed in other parts of the cities. The landscape of the territory was like this that the houses were built on the higher podiums which were covered by natural stone. The houses were situated one by one as a chain and had no characteristic features of Irkutsk historical mansions. These are serious deviations from the historical accuracy. 130 Kvartal has souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, museums, shops, clubs and various studios. 130 Kvartal was a mutual project of Saint Petersburg Institute, Irkutsk Government and NGOs. The territory of Kvartal has the surface of 5.7 hectares where 67 houses are situated. They have different nature. This spot became very famous among the citizens. There is a pedestrian bridge above Sedova street which leads from Irkutsk Musical Theater and musical salon of pianist Denis Matsuev. There is an office of “Stars on Baikal” in this studio.
