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Photos of the stunning, dilapidated wooden architecture of Russia

Photos of the stunning, dilapidated wooden architecture of Russia

Wooden Russian houses are falling into decay.

Photos of the stunning, dilapidated wooden architecture of Russia

People are moving away from rural areas, where the wooden houses are.

People are moving away from rural areas, where the wooden houses are.

Source: Reuters

So there are few people to take care of them.

So there are few people to take care of them.

And the upkeep can be expensive.

And the upkeep can be expensive.

But the fine details can be beautiful.

But the fine details can be beautiful.

Houses have been built from wood in Russia since ancient times.

Houses have been built from wood in Russia since ancient times.

Source: Reuters

Alexander Morozov, director of the local history museum in the town of Borovsk, told Reuters that many of Russia's most beautiful houses are made from wood.

Alexander Morozov, director of the local history museum in the town of Borovsk, told Reuters that many of Russia

Source: Reuters

"Wooden huts, wooden churches and chapels, wooden mills on the rivers. Only very wealthy citizens built on brick foundations," he said.

"Wooden huts, wooden churches and chapels, wooden mills on the rivers. Only very wealthy citizens built on brick foundations," he said.

Source: Reuters

It's a shame. Works of fine craftsmanship are being lost.

These houses are sometimes more than 100 years old.

These houses are sometimes more than 100 years old.

Source: Reuters

And some of them are built like a puzzle.

And some of them are built like a puzzle.

"The quality of work and the skills of the craftsmen were such that an ordinary peasant hut was like a Lego construction set," Morozov said.

"The quality of work and the skills of the craftsmen were such that an ordinary peasant hut was like a Lego construction set," Morozov said.

Source: Reuters

"It was possible without a single nail to put together and dismantle a house to transfer it quickly to a new place... Nails were simply not needed."

"It was possible without a single nail to put together and dismantle a house to transfer it quickly to a new place... Nails were simply not needed."

Source: Reuters

Because of each building's careful construction, they're difficult to restore.

Because of each building

Russians living in the countryside simply don't have the money to do it.

Russians living in the countryside simply don

Source: Reuters

Some homeowners are taking down carved lintels and other elements as they get worn away.

Some homeowners are taking down carved lintels and other elements as they get worn away.

Source: Reuters

Instead, they're installing more practical replacements, like plastic windows.

Instead, they

Source: Reuters

Nina Vasilevna, for example, has lived in a wooden house for 64 years.

Nina Vasilevna, for example, has lived in a wooden house for 64 years.

Source: Reuters

She remembers when the building was also used for a state farm office and library.

She remembers when the building was also used for a state farm office and library.

Source: Reuters

"Everything here needs repairing but nobody has any money," she told Reuters.

"Everything here needs repairing but nobody has any money," she told Reuters.

Source: Reuters

The houses live on the Russian countryside as mementos of an earlier time.

The houses live on the Russian countryside as mementos of an earlier time.

It's a time that's fading away, with no one to remember it.

But still, some of their haunted beauty lives on — for now.

But still, some of their haunted beauty lives on — for now.

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