Experiencing St. Petersburg: Constitution Square

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The Constitution Square exists not only in St. Petersburg, but also in huge Mexico City and small Luxembourg, Ukrainian Kharkov, Kyiv, Donetsk and Spanish Cadiz, Girona, Malaga, Polish Warsaw and Greek Athens, in Russian Rostov - Don, Kostroma, Irkutsk, Tver and many other cities of the world.

The adoption of a basic law is an important moment for any state, because it is clear that such events are widely reflected in urban toponymy. Constitution Square in St. Petersburg is relatively young. It was formed by the beginning of the 60s of the last century in the place where Krasnoputilkovskaya Street and two avenues converge - Leninsky and Novoizmailovsky. In those days, the square was unofficially called the Round Square. It is believed that the rounded end of interchanges reduces the risk of accidents at intersections. A little later, the square was dubbed Novoizmailovskaya (in honor of the avenue of the same name).

It received its modern name a year after the adoption in October 1977 of the last Soviet constitution - "Brezhnev's". III The Constitution of the USSR, which consolidated all the achievements of developed socialism, determined the life of the country for almost 15 years. ThenThe Soviet Union collapsed, the new state needed new laws, which immediately appeared. The name has remained the same, although some native Petersburgers believe that it should be specified - "Constitution Square 1977".

Today the square is a convenient transport interchange, but motorists complain about constant traffic jams and the lack of convenient parking. There are a number of interesting objects on the square. The building of the St. Petersburg House of Youth with a glass facade attracts attention.

Earlier, the legendary cinema "Meridian" was located here. Typical cinemas appeared in the USSR in the 1950s and 60s along with the construction of new residential areas. The first series of such buildings was not very successful: nondescript boxes (such as "Youth" and "Sputnik") did not please the eye. And in 1963, the second standard project of large-format cinemas appeared, developed by a group of architects led by Viktor Belov. In total, 11 such buildings were erected in the city in the 1965-70s, the first of which was the Maxim cinema. All buildings have a glazed facade, curved like a screen. If earlier there was a theatrical portal in cinemas, now a full-wall screen has taken its place. Improved acoustics and overall aesthetics of the auditorium.

Today, all these 11 typical cinemas have either been dismantled or rebuilt into new theater and concert halls, like the famous Meridian. By the way, the name of the cinema was due to the fact that it was located near the famousPulkovo meridian (previously it was mistakenly believed that the building stands directly on its line). Showing films in "Meridian" was stopped back in the 90s. The building was occupied by the Leather Trade Center, which was badly damaged during a fire in 2004, after which the building was transferred to the youth policy committee under the government of St. Petersburg, rebuilt and reconstructed.

Every fifth resident of the city is a representative of youth aged 14 to 30 years. Because the committee has a lot of work. They supervise talented youth, engage in patriotic education, organize leisure activities for young citizens, including through modern forms: flash mobs, projects, actions, quests; implement various student programs. The building has a concert hall for 700 people, which hosts numerous concerts, festivals, competitions, award ceremonies.

From the southern and western sides, the Constitution Square is balanced by two similar 8-storey buildings, designed by the architect G. L. Badalyan. The buildings of the 70s and 80s may seem boring, but truly large-scale things were done here. In one building there were several design institutes of the Ministry of Ferrous Metallurgy, in the other - also design institutes of the Gosstroy of the USSR. It was here, in these Soviet-style structures, that the projects of the largest metallurgical plants and mining enterprises were born.

At the address Constitution Square, 7 is a modern building that has turned this area of the city into an office. In 2007 the design office"Leader-Group" has developed and carried out the construction of the tallest building in St. Petersburg - a skyscraper with a height of 140 meters (40 floors). The Leader Tower business center is adorned with a tower resembling high-rise buildings in the United Arab Emirates, on which illuminated advertising is displayed around the clock. This is the most modern lighting in Russia. The building "Leader Tower" is a place for beauty salons and restaurants, gyms and offices. A high-speed elevator takes visitors to the 40th floor, where the observation deck is located, from where you can enjoy a bird's eye view of Venice of the North.

Thus, Constitution Square (St. Petersburg) has come a long way from a pompous Soviet square to a modern business center of Russia's cultural capital. Here you can not only work, but also relax and have a bite to eat in numerous cafes and restaurants.