Fontana L. F. (1824-1894), architect

Categories / Architecture/Personalia
FONTANA Ludwig Frantsevich (1824-1894), of Swiss descent, architect, prominent master of Eclecticism. Studied in Pavia (Italy). In 1845, he came to St. Petersburg, apprenticed as a mason with architect G.A. Bosse, since 1860 working independently. In 1851, he was certificated by the Academy of Fine Arts; in (c. 1875) conferred the title of associate academy member of the Academy of Fine Arts, appointed architect for the Finance Ministry. Designer of large public buildings in the city centre: the Evropeiskaya Hotel (1/7 Mikhailovskaya Street; 1873-75, rebuilt, see Grand Hotel Europe), the Maly Theatre (65 Fontanka River Embankment, 1876-78, today the G.A. Tovstonogov Boloshoy Drama Theatre), the building of the All-Russian Manufactory Exhibition in Solyanoy Settlement (10 Fontanka River Embankment, 1869-70). The facades of these buildings contain complex architectural details and moulding; the designs stand out due to their functionality and clarity. On Count's A.S. Apraxin’s commission, he built the Holy Resurrection Church, conceived in the Neo-Byzantine style (1883-84, 59 Fontanka River Embankment, has not survived) and a number of buildings of Apraksin Dvor, on P.P. Durnovo's commission, a mansion (1872-73, 16 Angliiskaya Embankment,) and a summer cottage (22 Sverdlovskaya Embankment). Fontana erected several apartment houses with imposing facades: 11 Millionnaya Street, (1860-63); 33 Second Line of Vasilievsky Island; 61 Galernaya Street.

Reference: Макогонова М. Л. Швейцарские архитекторы - строители Петербурга XIX - начала XX вв. // Швейцарцы в Петербурге: Сб. ст. СПб., 2002. С. 123-125.

V. V. Antonov. Apraksin Anton Stepanovich, Count
Bosse G.A. (see Bosse Yu.A.)
Durnovo Peter Pavlovich
Fontana Ludwig Frantsevich
Tovstonogov Georgy Alexandrovich
2nd Line of Vasilievsky Island/Saint Petersburg, city, house 33
Angliiskaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 16
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 10
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 65
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 59
Galernaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 61
Mikhailovskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 1/7
Millionnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 11
Sverdlovskaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 22
Макогонова М. Л. Швейцарские архитекторы - строители Петербурга XIX - начала XX вв. // Швейцарцы в Петербурге. СПб., 2002 Academy of Arts
Grand Hotel Europe
Tovstonogov Bolshoy Drama Theatre