Artemy Lebedev Criticizes Plenipotentiary Representative's Building in Yekaterinburg

On social media, designer Artemy Lebedev called the plenipotentiary representative's residence in Yekaterinburg 'a spectacular vomit,' contrasting it with the building of the Russian Copper Company.

Feb 28, 2026

Artemy Lebedev«s social media post contrasts the Russian Copper Company building with the plenipotentiary representative»s residence.
Source:
temalebedev / Instagram.com (social network banned in the territory of the Russian Federation)

Designer Artemy Lebedev, visiting Yekaterinburg, posted a harsh review of the city«s development on social media. He praised the architecture of the Russian Copper Company headquarters, designed by Norman Foster, but subjected the building of the plenipotentiary representative of the president in the Urals Federal District to harsh criticism.

The image shows the buildings in Yekaterinburg that Lebedev commented on in his online review.
Source:
temalebedev / Instagram.com (social network banned in the territory of the Russian Federation)

In the publication, Lebedev wrote:

Yekaterinburg is a city of contrasts. On the right is the most beautiful building of the Russian Copper Company, designed by Norman Foster. And on the left is the plenipotentiary representative«s office of the Russian Federation in the Urals Federal District. A spectacular vomit. It was designed by a janitor in the style of Albanian baroque.

The press service of the plenipotentiary representative«s office stated that they do not comment on designers» opinions.

The construction of the residence was accompanied by lengthy preparation: design and approval lasted eight years, and the actual construction took two years. The building is located on Dobrolyubova Street, where a merchant settlement was previously located. The mansion was commissioned in 2010.

The plenipotentiary representative«s residence became the first object of its kind in Russia. The yellow-white three-story mansion in classical style quickly became recognizable and was unofficially called the »Buckingham Palace.«

The Russian Copper Company headquarters, built according to the design of Norman Foster«s bureau, opened in 2020. The construction of the tower took five years. This building has repeatedly received awards at architectural competitions as one of the best in Russia.

Lebedev often speaks out about Yekaterinburg. In the fall, he criticized the updated keyboard monument. Earlier, the designer filled an entire hall at the 100+ TechnoBuild forum, and a year ago he shared thoughts on the problems of modern cities and gave an unflattering assessment of Sredneuralsk.