Rental apartments owned by E.L. Nobel.

1910-1912, architect F.I. Lidval.

(on the small photo you see it in 1910)

Old bricks.

The left one is clearly marked "NOB..." (from "NOBEL").

This nameless street goes to Big Sampsonievsky Prospekt.

Residential buildings of Nobel Factory were here.

Block 1-2 (1906) by architect R.F. Meltser.
Block 3-6 (1893-95) by architect V.A. Shreter.

Now turn around and look at the building from its back side.

What can you tell? It's not as pretty as its front. ;)

It just reminded me that someone asked why the outside elevators were added to these old buildings starting only from the second floor?

The answer is quite simple: the little space allowed either to cover the door on the 1st floor or the row of windows.