The Rechmann House in Tallinn, built in 1910, is an exquisite example of Art Nouveau architecture. The building is ornately decorated with masks, floral motifs, and two unique figures: a man with binoculars peering down from the roof towards Pikk Street ("Long" in Estonian) and a black cat on the side facing Hobusepea Street ("Horse Head" in Estonian).

The man's figure dates back to a local legend from 300 years ago. It's said that a bachelor lived in the house that once stood on the site who had a notorious habit of peering through his window into the house across the street. In that house lived three young women, and the man enjoyed watching them as they prepared for bed. His wide-eyed figure on the roof, complete with a lustful half-smile, immortalizes his voyeuristic pastime.

The modern house, built at the beginning of the 20th century, was designed by a young architect named Jaak Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum had moved from Tartu to Tallinn in 1907 and soon received a commission from a wealthy local entrepreneur, Rechmann, to design a house on the corner of Pikk and Hobusepea Streets. In addition to the ornate decor, Rosenbaum decided to adorn the building with the bust of the voyeuristic man and a cat figure, possibly influenced by an amusing urban legend he'd heard. August Volz crafted the sculptures.

The figures soon gave rise to even more local legends. One suggests that the house owner used to take evening walks, leaving his young wife at home. He placed his figure on the roof to keep an eye on her while his resourceful wife installed a cat figure on the opposite side, implying she'd still escape if she wished to. This playful interaction between history, architecture, and local folklore highlights the unique charm of Tallinn's architectural heritage.

Photo By Pierre André - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0