Voronikhin A.N. (1759-1814), architect

Categories / Architecture/Personalia
VORONIKHIN Andrey Nikiforovich (1759-1814, St. Petersburg), architect, adherent of Neoclassicism. Prior to 1785, a serf of Count A.S. Stroganov. He studied in Moscow (from 1777) under the supervision of V.I. Bazhenov and M.F. Kazakov and in St. Petersburg (from 1779), under the supervision of F.I. Demertsov. In 1786-90, he studied architecture, mechanics, mathematics, and natural sciences in Switzerland and France. Was a member of the Academy of Fine Arts (1797), taught there (from 1800; from 1802 as a professor). He first became known as a decorative artist. His early works (1795-96) were done for A.S. Stroganov: rebuilding the summer residence at Chernaya Rechka, the construction of the harbour, the "minor summer residence" of P.A. Stroganov (has not survive). In 1800, he was involved in remaking of the Grand Grotto and colonnade near the Sampson’s Scoop in Peterhof. In 1800, he was appointed architect for the construction of Kazan Cathedral the main creation by him and one of the main architectural ensembles in St. Petersburg. In 1807-09 he erected the house of the Department of Lots (18 Dvortsovaya Embankment, was rebuilt), in 1806-09, the building of the Mining Institute. He worked in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, mainly in Pavlovsk (interiors of the palace). He constructed fountains for Tsarskoselskaya Highway, did sketches for glass, porcelain, stoneware objects. He took part in the competition for designing St. Isaac's Cathedral. He is the author of the project of the ensemble for the Tatar Metochion with a mosque attached and of the Prison castle on the Fontanka River (never constructed). The style of Voronikhin is characterized by laconism, monumentalism, large-scale construction and the use of the newest building techniques. He lived at 27 Nevsky Prospect, 62-а Kamennoostrovsky Avenue, at the summer residence based on his projects in 1809-11 (dissembled in 1980). He was buried at 18th century Necropolis. The park in front of the western facade of the Kazan Cathedral (former Kazansky) is named after Voronikhin.

References: Гримм Г. Г. Архитектор Воронихин. Л.; М., 1963; Лисовский В. Г. Андрей Воронихин. Л., 1971; Шуйский В. К. Андрей Воронихин // Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XIX - начало XX века. СПб., 1998. С. 19-38.

В. В. Антонов. Bazhenov Vasily Ivanovich
Demertsov Fedor Ivanovich
Kazakov Matvei Fedorovich
Stroganov Alexander Sergeevich, Count
Stroganov Pavel Alexandrovich, Count
Voronikhin Andrey Nikiforovich
Dvortsovaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 18
Kamennoostrovsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 62, litera л. А
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 27
Лисовский В. Г. Андрей Воронихин. Л., 1971
Гримм Г. Г. Архитектор Воронихин. Л.; М., 1963
Шуйский В. К. Андрей Воронихин // Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XIX - начало XX века. СПб., 1998 Kazan Cathedral
Pashkov House (Liteiny Avenue)
Plekhanov State Mining Institute, St. Petersburg
St. Isaac's Cathedral
1980