The House of Stolypin Migrants to Eastern Siberia (From a Pit-house to an Estate)(1)

Abstract

This article studies the development of house and homestead design in Siberia after the Stolypin reforms. It traces the history of the homesteading process, the architectural elements and designs and how they have changed over the years. It is based on fieldwork in the Irkutsk oblast’ conducted by the author between 2003 and 2010 in Ukrainian, Belarusian, Chuvash and Russian villages. House design from various periods since the settlements began in the early 20th century reflects the socio-cultural patterns of the day. Oral narratives about the past and the experience of settlement serve as a window into an understanding of cultural attitudes.