THE PHENOMENON OF THE SAINT PETERSBURG VARIANT OF THE REGULAR CITY
Leonid Lavrov1, Feodor Perov2
1,2 4 4 A G 2 A 5 A H EEEQ
1 [email protected], 2 [email protected]
Abstract 2 2 4 2 4 4 : 2 4 4 4 ] 4 4 2 4 4 4 4 4 \ 4 4 2 of such result: parceling at the initial stage of the city organization, metropolitan ambitions supported by 4 4 2 4 2 2 2 a short period of time, involvement of skilled professionals. 2 4 R 2 4 O 4 P Keywords Saint Petersburg architecture, classicism, development control, parceling, order placement
1. Introduction 4 2 4 2 4 4 5 2 4 4 5 6 2 4 2 \ 4 C 5 ] Intersection of straight streets and loose river bends < 4 4 > 4 :4 2 Principle of architectural complexes strongly 2 4 4 affected organization of urban buildings image. Image 2 5 4 F 4 2 4 5 2 4 local landscape charming. 4 A 44 2 W 2 4 A 4 4 2 : 4 4 4 2 4 2 4 22 4 4R barracks integrated into single area represented a construction trestle, but all architecturally iconic 5 O 4P 2 4 4 4 2 : this background. the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, the Admiralty building, W 5 5 ] 4 2 : 4 4 4 4 4 2 : is typical to this approach. According to the plan of K.I. Nevsky Prospect area and near Palace Square. 4 C 5 5 4 These dominant structures perfectly harmonized 2 4 2 :6 F] 45 2 4 4 thus ensuring integrity of Saint Petersburg urban 4 2 5 5 environment. A.N. Benois highly appraised the city 5 4 center landscapes: “Its beauty is in its entirety or, 4 G 2 4 4 2 2 the building lines of the Square and Mikhailovskaya 2 4 P < EU> Street and drafted frontispieces of all buildings. 2 4 2 4 5 4 4 4 of Nevsky Prospect. To the north its axis looks out involved into development of design and planning onto the group of squares surrounding the Admiralty 4 4 5 theater and the Gentry assembly did not distinguish 4 4 22 from each other. the Peter and Paul Fortress. The area of Nevsky 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 2 : 5 5 ] : 5 4 2 4 DU 4 4 6 ] 4 2 32 UUE 2 2 4 4 totally symmetrical buildings located opposite to buildings, their frontispieces are totally identical. 4 { | 4 4 2 4 place of military educational establishments, but the 4 4 2 R Ministry of National Education and Ministry of Internal family members, palaces of the court notables, 4 { U 2 A 4 Department constructed in the city center set constructed as a commercial apartment building and 2 4 at the beginning its ground level consisted of small appearance served as an example for residential 2 4 2 O 4 P 5 5 F F 2 to the Directorate of the Emperor’s Theaters. There then in Saint Petersburg a commercial apartment 4 4 2 4 U 2 4 a) administrative building and barrack in the center of Saint Petersburg. 2 2 4 2 in Vista of Nevsky Prospect by V.S. Sadovnikov (Kotelnikova, 1974). It depicts 108 buildings, including 98 residential buildings. Uniformity of the picture is surprising: all structures consist of H 4 4 : A 4 6 { E 4 : { D 4 : b) { UE 4 = : < { U :4 as its frontispiece opens to Nevsky Prospect and it H > 4 22 6 E= building out of 108 are the examples of classicism (except for Beloselsky Belozersky Palace that is of ] > ] 5 4 D EF < aspects) building development could be considered O 4 P 4 2 2 4 squares had clear geometry outlines. The face of building block development stretched along the > straight line. Buildings located along the streets had A 4 4 2 4 4 4 2 4 length could equal to 447.3 m on Vasilyevsky Island, HUV QQ D 2 45 4 W 3.2. 1703–1717 — Saint Petersburg is a "window on Europe", a new city with dispersive urban planning 6 O existed from the very origin of Saint Petersburg. P (Benois, 1902). Peter the Great considered foundation of U 4 4 2 (contemporary photographs): implementation of a strategic plan for strengthening 5 4 2 C 4 45 5 2 4 at the Field of Mars 2 4 33 Architecture and Engineering Volume 1 Issue 1 When arranging a European-type city, Peter the 4 2 Great deemed it necessary to employ the services of 4 4 4 2 UEE foreign specialists. They considered the conditions of 52 Saint Petersburg non-conventional and comparable 2 4 4 4 4 22 4 4 4 4 4 2 4 : 4 O C 4 P 2 2 2 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 = Q = = F 5 C 2 4 WW 4 22 O 4 P 4 4 4 starting point of Saint Petersburg arrangement on 4 2 2 4 4 the basis of a planning scheme. 2 5 3.3. 1717–1737 – a new city with a center on = U 2 F 4 Vasilyevsky Island 2 WW R A 4 5 44 : 5 the ambitions of the huge Empire capital city. So 4 2 A 4 2 4 4 found. A possibility of main building development O 4 P W 4 G 4 colossal sizes of urban elements (the main square decade of Saint Petersburg existence impresses proposed by Le Blond had overall dimensions of HHV U HHV U 2 < 2 UEEV> 4 4 4 6 Trezzini’s concepts did not match by many aspects, 4 2 4 but both of them agreed that Vasilyevsky Island 4 4 2 should be the city center and the location for the bulk 4 4 of the population. Peter the Great also supported Empire’s capital. this idea. In a short time, on the eastern point of the 4 Island, the base of the important functional center traveled throughout Europe. We cannot determine 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 him the most. A.N. Benois used a general term of 2 2 6 2 4 2 : O 4 P < EU> 2 HEE 2 2 4 2 4 of Gostiny Dvor building equaled 740 meters. 2 4 These buildings outlined the area of the future large settlements. presentable square compatible in its size to those of 2 2 O P some medieval European cities. cities accounted for many centuries. A successful Upon development of the other parts of the Island, 4 2 5 4 4 4 2 2 F 2 4 5 2 4 4 < ] 4 by base dimensions of a residential block, namely > HH= : HE V 2 2 4 2 4 < 4 4 2 4 granted on the basis of Magdeburg rights) attracted of building frontispieces equaling 85 meters and the 2 F 4 2 E 2 get some of the privileges (“atmosphere of a city 2 2 2 5 P> 4 4 on designing location of channels along the axes of densely populated and developed. The community 4 22 4 4 2 2 4 4 W 2 4 4 rights standard conditions for house construction be allocated for the purpose of building development. 4 4 F 4 E HE 2 and established the land size. The idea of such city 4 2 4 2 2 6 (one module, 21.60 m in length), average (one and 2 4 2 U HE 2> < 2 4 F 2 4 4 43.20 m in total length) ones (Sementsov, 2006 (1,2)). due to desolation of the near-Neva area no one 2 2 could reckon upon accidental drift of the population 5 2 2 4 4 4 4 2 4 < 34 embankments), structural volumes consisted of - skilled professionals, mainly the foreign UFU Q A 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 4 frontispiece of the block. They reminded Peter F 2 A 4 4 the Great the landscapes of Dutch cities he loved 4 4 4 2 4 2 4 22 capital. mansions designed for living of a single family After the founder’s death, Saint Petersburg faced 4 4 ] 4 4 6 F 4 F =UD = E 2 4 2 2 2 Modest buildings prevailed consisting of one or 4 4 4 4 : 4 4 W 45 4 2 4 invest in construction activities, rather than technical Petersburg. 4 44 22 4 F = V = = 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 4 central Admiralty area of the city (Lisovsky, 2004). In principle, the concept of the city development had to each housing building had one household. If the 4 4 2 2 3.4. 1737–1837 – a city of baroque and Saint Petersburg, then their houses in some cases classicism with the center at the Admiralty Side 2 : When the Emperor’s family returned to Saint 4 2 4 4 = 4 6 Admiralty Side. Main government establishments individuals considered as noblemen and nobility 4 4 2 2 2 E 4 4 2 4 in the capital on continuous basis and have their 4 = = 22 < 2 4 2 4 6 2 direction of P.M. Yeropkin. This scheme determined 4 2 2 4 4 location, he lost his privileges). began from the spire of the Admiralty building, and 2 4 4 outlined planning solution for other areas, including 2 44 those located to the south of the Fontanka river. This 5 plan can be considered as an important document. 4 2 F 2 F It determined the second stage of Saint Petersburg permanent houses prevailed. To make these houses regular development. 5 2 At this stage some of the conditions determining 45 F 5 4 2 the building development changed: F 4 5 - forced city accommodation and private General Governor, stood out of the other buildings. It 4 4 2 F 2 4 4 - the city became attractive and the amount of 2 2 =UQ 2 ] 4 2 E 4 population reached 40,000 people. F 2 4 4 2 4 construction of administrative buildings, Ministry 4 W C A 4 4 beginning: F 4 4 F ] 4 4 <2 infrastructure 4 4 > ] 4 4 2 F 4 4 4 F - tough administrative control over the building - the city accommodation and building 2 W 4 2 4 - importance of the capital architectural : 4 4 2 W Vasilyevsky Island. - stone buildings comprised the smallest part of Administrative control related to design and 4 4 4 4 4 2 F 45 4 4 extremely tough at this period of time. For example, prevailed in the city center. 22 4 By the end of the 18th century, living conditions at the “correctness, beauty and propriety of each of Saint Petersburg had changed. Voluntary 4 P < 2 44 22 4 2006(1)). Thus, uniform style of building residential buildings. Motivation for civil engineering 2 4 development appeared. The building development achieved by natural focus of architects on the use 4 2 : of the leading architectural concept of that time as F F 2 4 2 4 2 F and construction activities. A phenomenon of Saint for several families' living. Petersburg comes out in integrity of its appearance =VQ 4 4 2 aiming at improvement of royalty appearance of the 4 2 O 4 4 2 capital city: 4 4 P F 4 (Benois, 1902). 4 A 4 4 In the process of restoration, the buildings got 5 4 2 4 4 4 and administrative requirements. The possibility equal to the length of the land along the building 4 line. As a result, building block development became 4 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 F O 4 4 P 4 4 4 2 2 4 2 F F 4 4 4 4 : 45 4 ] ] 4 4 4 2 buildings depicted on the Vista of Nevsky Prospect 4 4 R 4 4 =VQ 22 A 4 4 4 5 2 52 2 45 D 4 building at the level of 10 sagenes in order “the R 4 4 2 2 : 4 decorative plaster. 2 52 4 4 P D E F four-storey buildings prevailed at Nevsky Prospect 3.5. 1840–1917 – post-classicism in Saint and at some other areas of importance. Petersburg F 4 6 DQE constructed, the authorities decided to constrain 4 HD= EEE 2 44 D ] E EEE EE ] to the ordinance executed by Nicholas I, height of H V EEE = ] U EE EEE private buildings could not be above the cornice of The stage of classicism is over. The concept the Emperor’s residence, i.e. Winter Palace (23.47 of regular building development is criticized more 2> 4 5 4 often. At that, traditional and randomly developed : 4 4 settlements are claimed to be the positive options to building height due to fear of building collapse and O 4 P 44 2 O 4 to prestige. no appearance: they are too correct, too smooth… Since mid-18th century, trend of areas F 2 consolidation and buildings integration can be 4 5 2 P observed in the city center. Some particular < QE> 2 W 4 2 : 2 6 =Q= =QD 2 O P 4 2 2 52 A 2 4 4 < = =V >6 O residential buildings constructed here under the 4 A 4 5 5 2 2 5 <4 { 4 P < 5 D > 4 2 2 52 > = F = 5 In early 1840-ies the authorities decided it 4 F U= reasonable to refuse from “uniformity in urban 36 2 P C 4 2 5 turned into a sampler of styles used in Petersburg 2 R DH DHH 4 4 4 4 2 ] 2 F 4 O F 2 4 P 4 4 2P 4 4 P 4 2 F 4 4 development. had the title to all lands, and that facilitated freedom D EF 5 2 4 the city center style. 2 DHEF 2 - status of the capital city determined state 2 < 5 26 4 4 4 O 4 4 4 4 retained. 2 P> 2 EE UEEEF 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 - availability of tough building regulation system for historical sites. 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 - limited period of time for main building the regular design of building development and style 2 4 4 uniformity in the Saint Petersburg center: 4 4 2 Table 1 2 4 2 2 4 4 4 Saint Petersburg No. Feature Traditional O P 4 D O P 4 fortress centuries W Status capital city of the large city-state, country 4 and urban state planning aspects Population several hundred 10 000 people 10 000 people thousand of people maximum maximum 4 is absent is desirable is mandatory building development Time of formation one century several centuries a decade at the beginning at all stages of minimum of development — development - minimum considerable F4 < > 4 considerable in exceptional cases complete building development F is available is absent at the beginning building development of of development — mansion type minimum Building regulation centralized, overall moderate centralized, overall 4 4 2 4 2 4 2 Building development along 4 2 4 2 4 2 the streets in a “house-to- 4 P Administrative constraints is carried out is possible is carried out related to building height (number of storeys) 2 ] on an ongoing basis possibly local on an ongoing professionals into design and basis construction activities Quantity of civil Number of administrative 4 4 4 buildings the city building Number of sovereign’s and 4 4 4 development noblemen palaces Number of barracks and large 4 4 2 A 4 Length of a ribbon area along D H U V 2 2 buildings the main frontispiece Number of storeys up to 5 = H Number of residential units H D E W Frontispiece presentability severe moderate moderate requirements 38 F 2 ] importance of concept design stage for building professional craftsmen and architects in image, rather than architectural ideas: F 4 4 2 2 - particular features of construction technology < 45F 5 4 > restore buildings and change their frontispieces style - allocation of areas for building development. 4 The key to architectural issues can be found in 2 4 2 Summary macroeconomics to microeconomics level and The analysis of historical approaches to development of residential buildings' construction 4 2 4 22 in Saint Petersburg discovered solutions for some 2 A 4 4 4 4 F F 2 4 2 and small land areas. References < EU> 4 ] 5 = Q < > < QE> 5 5 2 4 2 4 4 4 5 : 2 V 4 4 Q < > G 5 G 5 39