The linear path of development

Contest on the reconstruction project of the famous Apraksin Dvor in St. Petersburg became one of the most famous in architectural life of 2007. Journalists readily covered opposition of the two major players of the game: Glavstroy and Russian Land development corporations. Must admit the concepts paled beside such factors and were rarely highlighted in media. While there were interesting project among them, including the one by "Studio 44". Their concept preserves the historical structure of Apraksin Dvor and enriches it with new features.

Written by:
Anna Martovitskaya

29 October 2009

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Multi-use public and business complex in Apraksinsky dvor, contest concept
Russia, St. Petersburg, territory bordered by Sadovaya and Lomonosov streets, bank of Fontanka river and Apraksinsky pereulok

Project Team:
architects: Nikita Yavein, Oleg Yavein, Vladimir Zenkevich, Vladimir Lemehov, Natalia Arhipova, Sergey Aksenov, Georgy Snezhkin in participation of: Veronika Zhukova, Roman Kondrateva, Yana Reut, Ksenia Schastlivceva, Anastasia Skorik

2007 — 2007

client: OOO "INKOM"
project's developer: RURIC MANAGEMENT

Contest on the reconstruction project of the famous Apraksin Dvor in St. Petersburg became one of the most famous in architectural life of 2007. Journalists readily covered opposition of the two major players of the game: Glavstroy and Russian Land development corporations. Must admit the concepts paled beside such factors and were rarely highlighted in media. While there were interesting project among them, including the one by "Studio 44". Their concept preserves the historical structure of Apraksin Dvor and enriches it with new features. The studio headed by Nikita Yanvein developed their reconstruction concept of Apraksin Dvor from the very history of the area. The architects came to the conclusion that multi-functionality is originally peculiar to Apraksin Dvor: at different stages of its development its main commercial function was constantly added by new - hotel, educational and religious, business and residential. In other words, designers just needed to restore the whole range of its previous functions, providing zone for retail, food, accommodation and business, education and leisure within the reconstructed territory. There came the idea to extend and deepen the existing area saving proportionality of the old and the new. In fact, "Studio 44» transformed Apraksin Dvori into a 3storey town in town where each storey retains linearity traditional for St. Petersburg. Each town - the Lower, Middle and Upper – have individual spatial decoration: streets and alleys, indoor galleries and passages, long atriums. Long “axel” streets have different functional specializations, but "cross” ones show cross-section of the entire storey for visitors. Another tribute to the St. Petersburg tradition of urban planning is done by direct perspectives closed by significant buildings (Drama Theater, Jazz Philharmonic Hall), which serve as kind of guide.

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29 October 2009

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