Contemporary Architecture

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Styles
Categories / Architecture/Urban Planning
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE. A rejection of standard and typical styles used for mass residential blocs from the Soviet period; an attempt to enrich the range of expression. By the 1970s-80s, this tendency could be seen in the creative work of some of Leningrad's architects, particularly with the Morskoy Vokzal sea port (architect V.A. Sokhin, 1973-1983), the Pribaltiiskaya Hotel (architect N.N. Baranov, 1976-1978), and new buildings in Pushkin and Sestroretsk (architect N.M. Zakharyina). But originality passed with difficulty under the strictness of centralised city construction. In the new socioeconomic conditions of the 1990s, the possibilities for individual designs were widened, and investment priorities were changed. Construction in the city's new districts was considerably reduced, paired with an intensive development of "building spots" in the historical city centre, which focused on preserving available old buildings. Hotels, bank offices, and residential houses with high-priced flats were built, as were suburban mansions. Condominiums for the well-off, with full communal services, became a new phenomenon. One of the first condominiums was created at 59 Bukharestskaya Street (1996, E.L. Gerasimov's workshop). New projects tend to differ in style; the Northern Moderne style from the beginning of the 20th century prevails, as seen at the garage-stop at 3 Volynsky Lane (1999-2000, M.A. Mamoshin's architectural-design centre), and the residential house at 23 Karpovka River Embankment, (architects А.R. Shenderovich, V. Valts). The influence of the High Tech style is prevalent, as is that of Western Postmodernism and Deconstructivism from the 1980s-90s. In the 1990s, several interesting hotel complexes were built, including the hotel at 37 Karpovka River Embankment, the Angleterre Hotel (reconstructed, architects A.I. Pribulsky, L.A. Ukhova), and the Nevskij Palace (57 Nevsky Avenue; 1993, architects Y.M. Zemtsov, M.O. Kondiayn). Works by M.A. Reinberg and A.G. Sharov have become exceptional examples of contemporary architecture in St. Petersburg,, including the Eurosib complex at 4 Michurinskaya Street (1993-98), and the apartment house on Manezhnaya Square (1999-2001). The appearance of the multi-functional complex at 28 Odoevskogo Street is expressive of the times, and consists of 17- and 22-story sections (1997-2001, architectural workshop of Y.K. Mityurev). Among the monotonous constructions of the 1970s-80s, there appear a few new and original structures, including the trading-recreational complex Bada-Boom at 113 Engelsa Avenue (1999, architects S.A. Trofimov and N.L. Trofimov). Attention should be given to the creation of pedestrian zones and the development of the transportation infrastructure, including the Ushakovskaya Junction, with a 580-metre overpass (2000, architects O.A. Kharchenko, E.L. Gerasimov), and the Smolnaya Embankment. A number of projects created according to the General Plan of 1980 (a flood protection complex, detour ring routes, Sea Facade for the city) were not realized because of a lack of financial support.

References: Курбатов Ю. И. Конец ХХ в.: поиски новейшей архитектуры: "Тихая революция" конца 1980-х - нач. 1990-х гг. // Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, ХХ век. СПб., 2000. С. 612-632; Лавров Л. П., Лихачева Л. Н. Санкт-Петербург: Архит. путеводитель, 1703-2003. СПб., 2002.

Y. M. Piryutko. Baranov Nikolay Nikolaevich
Gerasimov Evgeny Lvovich
Kharchenko Oleg Andreevich
Kondiayn Mikhail Olegovich
Mamoshin Mikhail A.
Mityurev Yury Konstantinovich
Pribulsky Anatoly Isaakovich
Reinberg Mark A.
Sharov A.G.
Shenderovich A.R.
Sokhin Vitaly Antonovich
Ukhova L.A.
Valts V.S.
Zakharyina Natalia Mikhailovna
Zemtsov Yury Isaevich
Bukharestskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 59
Engelsa Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 113
Karpovka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 37
Karpovka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 23
Manezhnaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Michurinskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 4
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 57
Odoevsky St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 28
Smolnaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city
Volynsky Lane/Saint Petersburg, city, house 3
Курбатов Ю. И. Конец ХХ в.: поиски новейшей архитектуры: "Тихая революция" конца 1980-х - нач. 1990-х гг. // Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, ХХ век. СПб., 2000
Лавров Л.П., Лихачева Л.Н. Санкт-Петербург: Архит. путеводитель, 1703 - 2002. СПб., 2002 Sea Passenger Terminal
Oktyabrskaya Hotel
Angleterre Hotel
Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel