Michael Geller's Blog: St. Petersburg's new buildings and residential development

One of the few new buildings in the historic centre is an unfortunate design solution. The Canadian firm of Diamond and Schmitt took over from a local Russian architect to finish the new Mariinsky Theatre which is across a canal from the historic Mariinsky Opera House. Construction began in 2003 but didn't finish until ten years later due in part to technical difficulties connected with sub-soil problems. The new Mariinsky was predicted to become Saint Petersburg's equivalent of New York's Lincoln Centre. It cost a reported 500 million euros.

Another of the few new buildings I saw in the historic centre.

The St. Petersburg city centre is a marvelous UNESCO site and while there was a proposal for a massive 300 m high Gazprom tower, due to community objections it was subsequently rejected and relocated towards the suburbs. Very few other new buildings have been built. Indeed, they are generally not allowed; nor are additions and renovations that alter the exterior appearance of the existing buildings, which is resulting in very little upgrading.

Once you head away from the centre, there is a significant amount of new office and residential development. However, none of the new housing being built around the city that I saw will every become a UNESCO site.

A few Metro (subway) stops from my hotel was Krestovsky Island. Here I found some luxurious villas and boutique developments in what might be described as the 'nouveau riche' style.

I saw these villas set out in a gated community on Krestovsky Island. No one could tell me the price.

This new development is obviously catering to a more international market.

One example is the Diadema Club House, a 73 unit luxury development with units ranging from 125 to 470 sq.m. The prices are around $10,000 per sq m. which is comparable to luxury apartments in Vancouver. Parking spaces are an additional $60,000 each. This development features large, column free spaces that allow owners to customize their layouts, air conditioning, wood burning fireplaces, video surveillance, etc. There is also a large shared winter garden.

Four seven-storey towers on a single podium, podium, standing on the bank of the Central Nevka and occupies the entire block between the streets of solar, Vakulenchuka, MPs and Konstantinovsky prospect, - a new luxury residential complex Diadema Club House, built by the company "Credo-Invest". The appearance of the complex was created in the architectural bureau Zemtsov. High stylobate faced with black polished granite; residential towers at the corners, which on one side is completely glazed, and on the other - are decorated with dark gray slabs of natural stone; terraced completed the top floors - so looks LCD. The LCD of 73 apartments with an area from 125 to 470 square meters. meters. Spaces give up not only for finishing, but also with a free layout, giving residents full freedom in the process of organizing your home space. Apartments Upper floors feature real wood-burning fireplaces. All construction and finishing materials that were used in the construction of Diadema Club House, consistent with its status. The window openings are set, three-compartment glazed windows in wooden frames. Besides the usual utilities for apartments, this residential complex there is a central air conditioning system. The building is equipped with video surveillance systems, automatic fire detectors. The complex is heated by its own boiler. Organized concierge service and security. Yard area of the complex is designed as a covered atrium, which split a winter garden, a children's playground. Under a glass-roofed atrium entire year maintained at 18 0 C. In addition to the winter garden, a café and a full fitness center. The complex is provided with its own indoor parking for 164 cars. At Krestovsky there are many restaurants, tennis courts and yacht clubs. That is a nursery school and regular schools there are not too good, so tenants Diadema Club House will have to apply for it on the Petrograd side. The metro station "Krestovsky Island" is very close - about half a kilometer. Road travel from the island, despite the presence of three bridges, always associated with certain difficulties.

Источник: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.ca&sl=ru&u=http://domananeve.ru/novostroyki/diadema-club-house-267&usg=ALkJrhhCTkA9QglUhrM4d40plHg1zTwJeQ

Above and below are photos of the development that I found on-line

One might say these new buildings have some of the memory of the older St. Petersburg Apartments. However, one difference is that the upper floors are more expensive, whereas in the original buildings, the top floors were less expensive....no elevators!