This is the first popular-interest book about Alexey Shchusev—the man who designed and brought to life dozens of iconic buildings, including the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent, Kazansky Railway Station, and Lenin’s Mausoleum in Moscow, the Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tashkent, and the Russian Pavilion in Venice. Shchusev was a great architect, but achieving what he modestly called "decent results" required more than just the ability to construct buildings. It demanded a broader range of knowledge, skills, and talents—qualities that also define Alexey Viktorovich as an exceptional restorer, urban planner, educator, and artist.

Shchusev’s life spanned a period marked by profound shifts—in public taste, the pace of life, political systems, and attitudes toward the past. Yet, he managed to "conquer time," remaining a leading figure in Russian architecture regardless of the upheavals unfolding in society, the arts, or the nation.
The authors—researchers at the A.V. Shchusev State Museum of Architecture—offer an engaging and affectionate portrait of this great man. Through his story, children and their parents can learn how talent, hard work, and a genuine passion for one’s craft—even in the face of revolutions, wars, and regime changes—make it possible not only to keep pace with the times but also to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

This book was produced in collaboration with the A.V. Shchusev State Museum of Architecture and the "Connection of Eras" (Svyaz Epokh) Foundation, with support from the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.