The St. Petersburg Admir alty building is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. It was built under Peter I and has since been used as a location for collegiums, ministries and other state institutions.
The brainchild of Peter I
The importance that the Admir alty building represents for the city is emphasized by the fact that it was erected immediately after the founding of the new capital. Peter I was personally involved in the development of the plan and drawing of the shipyard necessary for the construction and parking of ships. All the necessary preparatory work was done in just a few months, and in 1705 the very first building of the Admir alty appeared.
Due to the fact that at that time Russia was at war with Sweden (including at sea), all the economic buildings were fenced with a fortress wall and protective bastions. They were needed in the event of a siege of Petersburg, although they were never used. The first ship entirely made in the Admir alty was launched in 1706.
At the same time, an order appeared here (an analogue of the ministry), which was responsible for the entire Russian fleet. So Peter I was finally able to realize his dream of a new capital of the country, which, moreover,was the heart of her shipbuilding.
At that time, in addition to administrative buildings, there were forges, workshops and boathouses where new ships were created. The Admir alty Canal was drawn along the building, which became part of the unified system of city canals. Thus, this place was also an important transport hub.
Ship on a steeple
The Admir alty building was rebuilt for the first time in 1711, and eight years later it received its famous spire. At its very top, a ship figurine was placed, made by Dutch craftsmen, famous for their love for the fleet. It was their European experience that Peter tried to instill in the city of his dreams.
About the ship on the spire, there are still sharp disputes between researchers and local historians. There is no unified theory about its prototype. There are two popular points of view. One says that the model of the ship was the first vessel that was received in its port in St. Petersburg. From the very beginning, life was in full swing here, and the convenient shipyard became home to many crews. According to another theory, the figure of the ship was copied from the silhouette of the Eagle frigate. It was the first warship of the Russian fleet, built on the orders of Peter's father, Alexei Mikhailovich, in the 60s of the 17th century.
The Admir alty Spire has been repaired several times. During these procedures, the boat was changed. At the same time, the original figurine, made by the Dutch during the years of Peter I, was lost. The spire immediately attracted the inhabitants of the city. For them, it has become an unofficial symbol of St. Petersburg. Ship of the Admir alty in this rankcan successfully compete with the Bronze Horseman, drawbridges and the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
In the 18th century
During the long years of its existence, the building of the Admir alty in St. Petersburg was rebuilt several times. In the 1730s architect Ivan Korobov erected a new stone building that replaced the outdated buildings. At the same time, the author of the project retained the old Peter's layout, but changed the appearance, giving it monumentality.
The importance of the presentability of the facade was extremely high, because the Main Admir alty was located at the intersection of the central and busiest streets of the capital - Nevsky Prospekt, Voznesensky Prospekt and Gorokhovskaya Street. At the same time, the so-called “needle” appeared - a gilded spire.
Over the next decades, the city authorities systematically improved and rebuilt the areas adjacent to the complex. During the holidays, they became a favorite place for folk festivals. At the end of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, the meadow surrounding the building was completely paved. This walking route immediately became popular among residents and visitors of the city.
The water area around the Admir alty served as the central platform for naval exercises of the fleet. The canal, which was a transport artery inside the city, was periodically clogged. Under Elizaveta Petrovna, regular work began to clean it up.
Project Zakharov
The Winter Palace was built in the middle of the 18th century. It conformed to the style that was later called Elizabethan Baroque. The palace wasvery close to the Admir alty. Their striking dissimilarity and belonging to different eras were easily evident. Therefore, at the beginning of the 19th century, the city authorities considered several projects to renovate and rebuild the Admir alty building.
Andreyan Zakharov was chosen as the lead architect. He began work in 1806 and died before he could see his brainchild. His project was continued by the students. They did not change the main messages and intentions of Zakharov.
New facade of the Admir alty
According to the proposal of the architect, almost all of the Main Admir alty was rebuilt. From the old building, only the former tower remained, on which a gilded spire with a boat rested. The former fortifications that remained in the city from the time of the Northern War were demolished. Now the capital enjoyed a peaceful life, and the need for bastions disappeared. A boulevard, popular among the inhabitants of St. Petersburg, appeared on the vacated site. Now the Alexander Garden, which is no less in demand, is located here.
The length of the new facade has reached 400 meters. All Zakharov's architectural solutions were implemented with only one goal in mind - to emphasize the key importance of the Admir alty building in the appearance of the capital. It is difficult to imagine Saint Petersburg then and now without the famous facade of this administrative complex.
Building decoration
Restoration work of the 19th century added many new sculptures to the ensemble of the Main Admir alty, which complemented the rich image of the building. Decorative reliefs created by Russianmasters depicted ancient scenes and allegories, as well as the history of the creation of the fleet in Russia. All this emphasized the imperial status of a great maritime power, whose ships plowed all the seas of the world.
In the year of the construction of the building (1823), according to the project of Zakharov, the complex acquired its own unique interior. Most of it has survived to this day and today is of great cultural value. Important features of the Admir alty halls are their distinctive austerity, combined with rich and bright lighting that creates an amazing atmosphere.
Fleet Stronghold
The interesting history of the Admir alty includes different periods of its use. Initially, according to the precepts of Peter, the Naval Board was located in the building, and later - the Naval Ministry.
Also, the headquarters was located here, the members of which were the most titled admirals of the empire. It was within these walls that decisions were made on the eve of the key military campaigns in the history of the Romanovs. The strategy, born and agreed upon in the Admir alty, was used during naval operations in the Crimean and World War I.
Naval Museum
Civilians had access to only some buildings of the huge complex. In particular, from the very appearance of the Admir alty, the Naval Museum was opened in it. The most important monuments of the Petrine era were kept here. For example, these were ship models, drawings and personal correspondence of the first emperor regarding the creation of the B altic Fleet.
Until 1939, this rich museumhosted the Admir alty building. The architect Zakharov expanded the area for expositions, which grew larger and larger with each generation. In the Stalin era, the museum moved to the building of the former St. Petersburg stock exchange on the spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
Under the last Romanovs
The construction of ships on the territory of the Admir alty ended in 1844. All equipment was transferred to the Novoadmir alteyskaya shipyard. Because of this, there was no need for the canals surrounding the complex. They were asleep. This is how Konnogvardeisky Boulevard arose on this spot.
In 1863, by decree of Emperor Alexander II, a small church inside the Admir alty complex received the status of the Cathedral of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky. Then the bell tower was erected. These changes could not but be reflected in the external appearance of the huge building. The Orthodox Church did not like the reliefs depicting pagan gods - the characters of ancient mythological plots.
For some time there was a stubborn struggle between the clergy and the Naval Ministry. In the end, Alexander II agreed to make concessions to the church. The building was stripped of several sculptures and other pieces of art. The destruction of monuments took place despite the active protest of the architects and artists of St. Petersburg.
In 1869, the Admir alty Tower acquired its own dial, ordered from Europe. It hung for forty years, after which it was replaced with the latest electrical analogue during the reign of Nicholas II. The Admir alty often became the placethe work of members of the Romanov dynasty, as some relatives of the kings received the highest ranks in the navy. For example, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich was in charge of the entire Naval Ministry from 1855 to 1881
Modernity
After the October Revolution, the Bolshevik government placed a naval school in the building. Soon it received the name of Felix Dzerzhinsky. The institution also trained engineers. In this regard, in the 1930s, the Admir alty housed a strategically important laboratory for the production of rocket engines.
Fortunately, the building was almost not damaged by German air raids during the siege of Leningrad. The famous spire with the ship was sheathed. The last major restoration of the building took place during the Brezhnev era in 1977.
In the post-Soviet period, there is a heated discussion among the inhabitants of St. Petersburg about the future fate of the Admir alty. In 2013, an Orthodox church appeared in the tower with a spire, the opening of which was attended by the highest generals of the Russian fleet.
