In the photo, Peter and Paul fortress and Lakhta Center, nicknamed the Corn, the tallest skyscraper in Europe
Since the very foundation in 1703, Saint Petersburg had been built according to urban development plans aimed to ensure "order and splendour".
You couldn't build whatever you wanted - architects working for police granted permissions and even provided drawings of allowed designs of houses.
In 1844, the city adopted rules saying that buildings, except temples, must not exceed 23.5 metres in height. The main reason was aesthetics. To that time, Saint Petersburg was one of the most attractive and advanced capitals in Europe.
Bell tower of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. 122.5 metres in height, a temple-skyscraper of the XVIII century. More picture of the fortress in my previous story
After the October Revolution, Communist authorities kept the tradition preserving the look of the old city.
However, in 2008, high-rise construction regulations were cancelled to please a gas corporation Gazprom with its intention to erect a skyscraper.
Collages showing the result were shocking:
source
The public was opposing, many were outraged. UNESCO got interested in the case. Protests and lawsuits have attracted the attention of the Kremlin.
As the result, Gazprom moved the construction site further away from the historical part of the city so the worst expectations didn't come true.
Nevertheless, the 462-metre Corn has become a part of the old city's skyline as it is shown in the first image.
Lakhta Center in 2021
Meanwhile, the gas monster cannot calm down and longs for new towers. Gazprom has suggested raising another skyscraper, 703-metre high this time, next to Lakhta Center.
The "icicle" ("сосуля") might appear behind the classical outlines of Peter and Paul fortress, much higher than its older glass fellow (watch in the video).
All images (except the collage) were taken by me in July 2021 with a Nikon D750 + a Nikkor 70-300mm telelens.
The bell tower clock will join Cityscape Photo / Art Contest by @axeman in World of Xpilar Community.