THE TACIT WITNESSES OF HISTORY:THE HOUSE OF KARL KÜHN IN SVETLOGORSK AS A REFLECTION OF THE INFLUENCE OF AGES ON SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Damshin Maxim Vladimirovich

This article explores the unique succession of historical periods using the example of the Karl Kühn House, one of the most recognizable buildings in Svetlogorsk (Rauschen), located in the modern-day Kaliningrad Region. The author examines the house's history from its early days as a spa resort, when the town was initially a small Prussian settlement, to its subsequent rise as a sought-after European resort, largely thanks to the philanthropist and industrialist Karl Kühn, known for his social and commercial initiatives. The article examines the influence of social structure on the house's history and the significance of its owner's activities in the life of the city. Using the role of the architectural structure and attitudes toward it as an example, the author traces how changes in the historical landscape influenced social structure and the fate of the resort as a whole.

Keywords:Rauschen, Svetlogorsk, East Prussia, Karl Kühn, World War II, Prussian resorts, Königsberg, Kaliningrad Region