Proletarskoy Diktatury Square

Categories / City Topography/Urban Network/Squares
PROLETARSKOY DIKTATURY SQUARE (until 1864 - Orlovskaya Square, in 1864-1918 - Lafonskaya Square, in 1918-52 - Diktatury Square), between Suvorovsky Avenue, Proletarskoy Diktatury Street and Tverskaya Street. It is located in front of the Smolny, where the creation of "the world's first state under the dictatorship of the proletariat" (hence the modern name) was proclaimed on 25 October (7 November) 1917. The square was constructed in the first half of the 19th century, close to the ground owned by Count A. G. Orlov-Chesmensky (hence the first name). The second name was given after S.I. de Lafon - one of the heads of the Smolny Institute. In the early 19th century, the parterre type garden was laid out (replanned in the 1920s-30s, architects V.A. Shchuko, V.G. Gelfreich, garden master R.F. Katzer). In 1923-24, the propylaea with the fence (architect Shchuko, Gelfreich) were constructed. On the west side of the square, there is an administrative block (building 8, 1957, architects D.S. Goldgor, S.P. Podlesnova), the former House of Political Education (building 6, 1974, architect Goldgor, G.A. Vasilyev, et al., today Centre for Business Cooperation); at the corner of Proletarskoy Diktatury Square and Suvorovskaya Square, there is the building of Leningrad Region Government (1981, architect Goldgor, K.N. Emelyanov, et al.). Building 5 houses the Consulate of Great Britain. In the 1970s, due to the broadening of Proletarskoy Diktatury Street, Proletarskoy Diktatury Square was connected to Rastrelli Square, using a broad esplanade.

References: Бартенев И. А. Современная архитектура Ленинграда. Л., 1966. С. 164-166; Вержбицкий Ж. М. Ленинград, площадь Пролетарской Диктатуры // СиАЛ. 1969. № 1. С. 11-14.

G. Y. Nikitenko. Emelyanov Konstantin Nikolaevich
Gelfreich Vladimir Georgievich
Goldgor David Semenovich
Katzer Rudolf Frantsevich
Lafon Sofia Ivanovna
Orlov Alexey Grigorievich, Count
Podlesnova S.P.
Shchuko Vladimir Alexeevich
Vasilyev Georgy Alexandrovich
Proletarskoy Diktatury Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Proletarskoy Diktatury Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 6
Proletarskoy Diktatury Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 5
Proletarskoy Diktatury St./Saint Petersburg, city
Rastrelli Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Suvorovsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Tverskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Вержбицкий Ж. М. Ленинград, площадь Пролетарской Диктатуры // Стр-во и архитектура Ленинграда, 1969
Бартенев И. А. Современная архитектура Ленинграда. Л., 1966 Smolny Architectural Ensemble
1973