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"QUANTUM SHOT" #646
Link - article by Avi Abrams
      

      Even the ghosts inhabiting these houses are sad and miserable

      We admit, there is a certain beauty in decay (see our
      article), but the houses shown on this page hold not only historic and
      architectural value - they are also fascinating in a
      "Despicable Me" sort-of way: they all housed at one time the most
      notorious villains in Earth's history.

      
      (Stalin's "Blizhnaya Dacha" - "Near Cottage" - in Kuntsevo,
        Moscow)

      Some of these residences are still standing, some are neatly maintained,
      while others are falling into disrepair - and today we have a rare
      opportunity to peek inside them and, perhaps, shudder:

      Stalin's Summer Residence in Kuntsevo, Moscow

      Often called "The Court of the Red Tsar", this is a closely
      guarded, fully-intact house of Joseph Stalin, in which he lived
      continuously after the death of his second wife (suicide, no less). It's
      located smack in the middle of Moscow, only ten minutes from Kremlin,
      perhaps connected to it by an underground railroad (more
      info).
      
This somber structure must be swarming with ghosts and unpleasant memories to such a degree... that even KGB is reluctant to visit: nobody is allowed inside. The place is still considered "top secret", "off limits" and "under wraps", some 57 years later after Stalin died there. (bottom right image: note the couch - this is the bed on which Stalin died in 1953) According to memoirs of Stalin's daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, this house was full of Stalin's comrades and party bosses night and day - mostly during the night: incredibly long meals stretched till four in the morning, and during these strange "feasts" most of the political and security issues were discussed (and surely dreaded by all involved).
Note the rich carpet there - an Iranian custom job which took 10 years to complete. According to some sources, it now costs more than a million dollars; perhaps the most expensive carpet ever made: (images via 1, 2) The imposing building features very high ceilings... and sits in neatly manicured forest and gardens (Stalin liked ordered, cultivated nature and often went digging vegetables himself): Among interesting objects in this residence (see other personal possessions of Stalin in this article): crystal table set, made in the shape of the planned Palace of the Soviets skyscraper... and state-of-the-art record player and radio. The latter was a present from Winston Churchill himself, and featured automatic changing of records, up to 10 records in a set. The empty, strangely "Spartan" bathroom is equally fascinating (all the plumbing still works): There were almost no mirrors in the house... (vampires? living dead, anyone? Just kidding, but it's a well-known fact that Stalin disliked mirrors). Also, a strange habit: Stalin liked to live in "room capsules" - all-purpose furnished rooms where he slept, dined and worked, all in the same space. He would occupy these small enclosures willingly, and after a week or so there will move to the next, similar one... This is why his house is full of almost identical rooms with identical sets of furniture (talk about "modular" and "scaled-down" living!). Another spooky old summer residence, bearing the name of - perhaps - the greatest villain of all: Abandoned "Dacha" (Summer Cottage) of Lavrenti Beriya Lavrenti Beria was the head of Soviet Secret police (NKVD, later KGB) and the most trusted hand of Stalin after the War. He is personally responsible for organizing and master-minding (under Stalin's watchful eye) the political Terror of unthinkable magnitude, when millions of Soviet citizens were sent to prisons, many shot as traitors, and the whole country plunged into medieval, inquisiton-like dread... Speaking about ghosts, this particular house should have them a-plenty, the most haunted dark residence ever - knowing how troubled and perhaps even mad, Lavrenti Berya was. (images via) Osama Bin Laden's Mansion This house was the residence of Bin Laden's brother in Florida. Osama was a frequent guest there. 17+ acres, 1.5 million dollars, built in the 1920s... Photos are courtesy Nomeus, the founder of Flurbex "The Home Of Florida's Urban Explorers", exclusively for Dark Roasted Blend: UPDATE: The house just has been sold! Wow, I wonder if we played a hand in a publicity for it ;) Not much is known about the house itself. As for why is it abandoned: according to this source, the government flew the nephew and his family out right after 9/11 (or not). The house spent a few years on the market, but there were no takers: (images credit: Nomeus) Let us know if you like to see more abandoned "villain" houses - we have more material to share for the second part... certainly, shudder-inducing. Here is something strange: Speaking about abandoned houses with really bizarre design and unfathomable history... Anybody knows anything about this "upside down" house? Did it land in the middle of the field as a result of some crazy twister? UPDATE: This is a college of architecture in southern India (rural Tamil Nadu) - (image credit: Tom Grundy) CONTINUE TO "ABANDONED CASTLES OF RUSSIAN COUNTRYSIDE" ->

Join us on the New Digg

Also Read: "Fear & Loathing inside Abandoned Stalin's Mines" -> Don't Miss our "Abandoned / urban Exploring" Category! ->



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YOUR COMMENTS::

27 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

That upside down building is either an expensive art project or a new Wonderworks amusment park. :)

Looks just like the one in Orlando but on a grand scale.

___  
Blogger Nomeus said...

the upside down building is a college of architecture in southern India (rural Tamil Nadu) and is due to be officially completed in a few days

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Anonymous Fran Domínguez said...

An architecture college :O Awesome!

___  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the Bin Laden house shown here is currently on the market for 2.5 million and according to the real estate listing is "rumored to be built by the inventor of JELLO"

I live near by is how i know.

___  
Anonymous Pluto said...

The upside down building seems to be an attraction in a new amusement park in India: http://evpworld.com/EVP-mansion.html

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Anonymous Pluto said...

And to add to that, the reason the statues are facing in the other direction (better seen here: http://i.imgur.com/xs4Fj.jpg) is probably because that will be marriage hall: http://evpworld.com/marriage-hall.html.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Down! Let's see the second part

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

There's one in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It's a Ripley's Believe it or not attraction, it looks just like this only it's been completed for a few years now. I think it's even got upside down palm trees coming out of the base/top of the building.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Stalin's million dollar carpet really ties the room together....

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Blogger jbeebs said...

I believe that is Khalil bin Laden's estate.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Holy crap! The Bin Laden mansion interior looks exactly like the villa from the N64 game Perfect Dark!

___  
Anonymous San Francisco said...

That's my dream house, but why its been abandoned? The architectural designs are very impressive. I will be waiting for the second part.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

The lesson here is that those who claim to do everything for "the little guy" live in mansions beyond the dreams of any "little guy".

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Anonymous Guzzo said...

Anyone notice that Bin Laden's nephew's house had a bar in it? Why would someone considered a devout Muslim have a bar in their house?

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Anonymous speak said...

At least you recognise levrenti beria as one of the most evil people who ever lived, has anyone ever read his book on Psycho politics?

Interesting read

___  
Blogger Elliot said...

The Bin Laden house has been sold!

http://www.wftv.com/news/16223248/detail.html

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Blogger Avi Abrams said...

Wow, Elliot - just wow

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Blogger storm1516 said...

That was great...lets see the second part.

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Anonymous Elli Davis said...

What a great collection. The house I like definitely the most is the Bin Laden's Mansion. However I would advise the owner to moan the loan, change the water in the swimming pool and jacuzzi before taking pictures. No wonder it took so long to sell the house. Thanks for sharing btw.

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Anonymous nomeus said...

here is a night time shot of bin laden mansion done with tea lights.

http://imgur.com/k12mX.jpg

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.wonderworkstn.com/

That last building does indeed harken back to the Wonderworks building in Tennessee.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where's the white house in this list??

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Anonymous Paul H Wilson said...

I am a born and raised-up Chicagoan.
Therefore an Architectural Critic.
Yes I want "to see more abandoned "villain" houses".
Paul H Wilson

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Anonymous Calgary said...

I bet there has been some pretty interesting conversations in these places. I can't even imagine what Stalin or Bin Laden would have come up with.

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Anonymous Brett said...

Always amazing to see the lavish luxury of some mansions that people live in yet how quickly it can be destroyed by the elements

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Anonymous DestinyRules! said...

Does the carpet match the drapes?

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fix your up-date on the upside down house. It is the entrance to the abandoned EVP World Amusement Park near Chennai.

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