Russian Kafe » architecture

St. Petersburg’s Okhta Center Gets Approval

jim — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:12:37 +0000

The controversial Okhta Center has received approval from the St. Petersburg government to start construction. St. Petersburg governor, Valentina Matviyenko, signed a document allowing for an exemption to the long-standing rule that limits buildings in the St. Petersburg center to a height of 100 meters. The building, when completed, will be the tallest in Europe. Plans call for the tower to be finished in 2013.

Links:
Okhta Center official site
BBC: Architects reach for Russian sky
Inhabitant: Gazprom Tower Gets Green Light and Will Be Tallest Building in Europe
Wikipedia entry on the Okhta Tower

Soviet Monument to Russo-Georgian Friendship

jim — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:16:15 +0000

Steven G. recently posted some great photos of a Soviet era monument to friendship between Russia and Georgia. He wasn’t able to find out much information about this monument, which is located on Georgian territory, perhaps someone knows the story behind this unique structure? We found the colors in the photos to be amazing, be sure to click on the photos and check out the high quality versions.

Soviet Monument to Russo-Georgian Friendship II by Stefan G.

Soviet Monument to Russo-Georgian Friendship by Stefan G.

Moscow Out: Kremlin inside the walls

jim — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:30:33 +0000

Martyn Andrews of RT continues his series on the most famous tourist destination in Moscow with this 12 minute video featuring the Moscow Kremlin. If you’re planning on visiting Moscow, we recommend watching this video. There are lots of interesting facts and beautiful sights to be discovered inside the Kremlin.

YouTube – Moscow Out: Kremlin inside the walls.

Borovsk, a very photogenic town

jim — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:00:00 +0000

We recently stumbled across a wonderful series of photos by Russian photographer Victoria Zaykina. The photos are of a small town near Moscow named Borovsk. These photos immediately captured our imagination and we wanted to share them with you.

We also asked Victoria to send us some commentary on Borovsk and her photos. Here is what she wrote.

Borovsk is an ancient city with a rich history (13th century), and even 150 years ago it was livelier than it is today. But, the city was a bit out of luck in the 20th century (or vice versa), as it was positioned somewhat away from the Kiev railroad and the Kiev federal highway. This is why the city is “asleep.” You arrive there and you fall into the 19th century. No, not the 19th, even earlier than that, into the 17th. Though the inhabitants of the city are dressed in modern clothes.

As any decent city of ancient Russia, it sits on the hills next to a river surrounded with picturesque nature of Russia. There are many churches (an unbelievable amount, 16 still intact, 11 destroyed and 2 monasteries) all very different architecturally. Borovsk is also considered a stronghold of Old Believers. Feodosia Morozova was killed here. In the 19th centery, 70% of the population were Old Believers.

Besides its historical value, there is a subtle atmosphere of something close to your heart, where you feel at peace and blessed. Near a monastery, if you sit down on a bench, you don’t want to leave, whether you believe in God or not. There is especially wonderful nature around. And pine trees. And fresh air!

Borovsk is loved by artists, writers, and poets. In the summer, students from the Moscow art schools come to work in the open-air. And by the way, many people have a similar story of love for Borovsk. They saw photos and thought “well, it is just an old city, so what?” … and then they come, see it in for themselves, fall in love..buy a house and build their lives there.

I met an interesting old man there. He had retired and moved with his wife from noisy Moscow to Borovsk. And then he started to take photographs!:) His series of photos about Borovsk was exhibited in St. Petersburg and even has won a prize at some photo competition in Germany. Unfortunately, I do not remember his name.

There are many stories like this. There is something special about Borovsk.

Borovsk is 30 minutes from where I live, so I visit quite often. I simply like to walk around Borovsk and soak in the ambiance of something very joyous, and I try to show it through my photographs.

We want to thank Victoria Zaykina for sharing her photos.
See Victoria’s entire Borovsk photoset on Flickr.

Photo: On the night of Cross Raisings

jim — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:37:12 +0000

Russian photographer Misha Maslennikov captured this amazing photo in the Chukotka region of eastern Russia. Maslennikov captured a moment in time as workers were preparing to put the cross on top of a local church. Be sure to check out more of Maslennikov’s work at Flickr.

On the night of Cross Raisings – by Misha Maslennikov.

Controversy Continues Over St. Petersburg Skyscraper

jim — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:25:47 +0000

Controversy continues over the skyscraper project proposed by Russian energy giant Gazprom. The project is a frequent topic for St. Petersburg newspapers and television. This video from Russia Today takes a look at the controversial plans to drastically change the St. Petersburg skyline.

Video on YouTube

Stalin Era Architecture

jim — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:00:22 +0000

The Schusev State Museum of Architecture has some very nice online galleries featuring photos and drawings from the Stalin era. The first gallery features drawings of grandiose, yet unrealized, architectural projects. The second gallery, entitled “Life Became Better, Comrades, Life Became More Cheerful”, features photos of Moscow celebrations and construction projects from the same era.

Link: The Architecture of Moscow from the 1930s to the early 1950s. Unrealized projects
Link: Life Became Better, Comrades, Life Became More Cheerful

Found Photo: Kremlin View

jim — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:00:45 +0000

A view of the Kremlin taken from the Big Stone Bridge. Photo By: Eldar Vagapov

Found Photos: Moscow Power Plants

jim — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:00:28 +0000

Moscow photographer Sergey has published a collection of photographs featuring Russian power plants. We stumbled across these photos and found them very interesting. We asked Sergey why he took the pictures.

“Why do I take the pictures of the power plants? Well, these monster buildings are very unusual for town environment and they attract me by some inexplicable beauty. A huge energy inside them amaze my imagination and it borns I guess some emanations to people that look at them.

Sometimes I think looking at them that people waste significant part of their power and it seems that nobody cares of that, at least in Russia.”

Power Plant in Birjulovo, Moscow. It’s cold -15C.

Power Plant in Kapotnia, Moscow

Link: Power Plants at Flickr

Historical St. Petersburg Bridges

jim — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:00:46 +0000

St. Petersburg is known for its many waterways and bridges. Petersburg-bridges.com presents a history of these bridges. The site features many old photographs and a detailed history of Petersburg bridges.

Link: petersburg-bridges.com