At the corner of Petropavlivska and Pershotravneva streets in Sumy stands the Sukhanov-Sumovsky estate — a two-story mansion resembling a small palace. It was built by the Sumy entrepreneur and philanthropist Mykola Sukhanov in the 1890s, and later the house passed to the Sumovsky family. Today, the Institute of Applied Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine operates here.
The House with Lions
The first floor is rusticated “under a coat,” while the second is designed according to the canons of classical architecture: Corinthian pilasters, half-columns, stucco garlands, modillions, cartouches, and plant ornaments. The keystones of the arches above the windows resemble lion heads. Above the central entrance is a small balcony. Nearby stands the second, one-story building of the ensemble — the former office with a stucco cornice. Both buildings are united by a metal fence on brick pillars.
Electricity and an Underground Passage
Construction began in the early 1890s and was completed in 1895. The estate was equipped with the latest technology, including electric lighting. An underground passage still exists between the main house and the office. Later, the estate passed to the Sumovsky family. The son of the last owner, Oskar Hansen, managed to hide the family collection of decorative and applied arts during World War I — it is now housed in the Sumy Art Museum.
From City Committee to Institute
During Soviet times, the estate housed the city committee of the Communist Party, and since December 1991 — the Institute of Applied Physics. On April 13, 2025, as a result of a Russian missile strike on Sumy, the building was damaged: the facade and interior were affected, windows were broken. However, the load-bearing walls held.
How to Get There
Address: Sumy, Petropavlivska Street, 58 — city center. Nearby are the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral and the regional local history museum.
What to Keep in Mind
The building is occupied by a scientific institution, so view it from the outside. Sumy regularly experiences attacks — check the security situation before your trip.
