Stachek Square

Categories / City Topography/Urban Network/Squares
STACHEK SQUARE, known as Narvskaya Square until 1923, at the intersection of Stachek Avenue, Narvsky Avenue and Staro-Petergofsky Avenue. The square assumed the present-day name in commemoration of the strike movement (the name of the square literally translates as "Square of Strikes") of the workers of Narvskaya Zastava. The square was built in the 18th century. In 1813, it was the place where St. Petersburgers followed the coffin with M.I. Kutuzov's body. In 1814, a wooden triumphal arch was built on the square to greet the guard regiments returning to St. Petersburg after taking part in the Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign campaigns of 1813 and 1814 across Europe. In 1827-34, the Narva Triumphal Gate was erected to become the compositional focus of the square. On January 9 1905, the square was the scene of a massacre: the imperial troops together with the police fired on a peaceful demonstration of workers of Narvskaya Zastava on the square (see Bloody Sunday). In 1924, architect L.A. Ilyin developed a plan for the reconstruction of this district, which provided for the formation of a single town-planning complex, divided into two centres based on a utilitarian principle: the cultural, educational and commercial centre was to be set on Stachek Square, while Kirovskaya Square was to accommodate the administrative centre. In 1925-27 Moskovsko-Narvsky Cultural Centre was built on Stachek Square (house No. 4, later called Gorky Recreation Centre) (architects A.I. Gegello, D.L. Krichevsky, engineer V.F. Raylyan); in 1929-30, a mechanised canteen and the Kirovsky Department Store were constructed (house No. 9/3, architects A.K. Barutchev, A.I. Gilter, I.A. Meerzon, Y.O. Rubanchik, engineer A.G. Dzhorogov). All these structures serve as striking architectural examples of constructivism. In 1955, the hall of Narvskaya Metro Station was built here in the manner of Stalinist "Socialist Classicism" (architects A.V. Vasilyev, D.S. Goldgor, S.B. Speransky). The limits of Stachek Square also extend over the school building of the Tenth Anniversary of October 1917 School (No. 11, 1925-27, architects A.S. Nikolsky, A.V. Krestin), shaped as sickle and hammer in the plan, and house No. 1/3 (1970s, architects V.A. Kamensky, G.L. Ashparyan). Both buildings are located at the beginning of Stachek Avenue, where it runs off from Stachek Square.

References: Левитан И. И. Площадь Стачек. Л., 1987.

O. A. Chekanova. Ashrapyan Galina Leonovna
Barutchev Armen Konstantinovich
Dzhorogov A.G.
Gegello Alexander Ivanovich
Gilter Isidor Albertovich
Goldgor David Semenovich
Gorky Maxim (Alexey Maximovich Peshkov)
Ilyin Lev Alexandrovich
Kamensky Valentin Alexandrovich
Krestin Alexander Vasilievich
Krichevsky David (Daniil) Lvovich
Kutuzov (Golenishchev-Kutuzov) Mikhail Illarionovich, Gracious Prince
Meerzon Iosif Alexandrovich
Nikolsky Alexander Sergeevich
Raylyan Vladimir Fomich
Rubanchik Yakov Osipovich (Iosifovich)
Speransky Sergey Borisovich
Vasilyev Alexander Viktorovich
Kirovskaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Stachek Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Stachek Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 9/3
Stachek Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 11
Stachek Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 4
Stachek Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Staro-Petergofsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city
Левитан И. И. Площадь Стачек. Л., 1987 Narva Triumphal Arch
1931