Novosmolenskaya embankment in St. Petersburg: photos, history, sights

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

Novosmolenskaya embankment in St. Petersburg is located in the Vasileostrovsky district. It runs from st. Cash to st. Shipbuilders.

In the short term, there is a concept for a more modern beautification of the Novosmolenskaya Embankment in St. Petersburg, but the current 860 meters of concreted along the water plot is a typical, slightly dull landscape of Soviet times. Therefore, the desire of local residents to see a comfortable modern recreation area in this place is quite justified.

History of Novosmolenskaya embankment

Since June 1976, this place was called Oktyabrsky Prospekt, which was associated with the construction of a monument on the esplanade in honor of the October Revolution, in honor of the labor and military victories of Leningraders. The laying of this majestic monument took place in January 1974, when the city celebrated the 30th anniversary of the liberation from the blockade. The new avenue stretched from Morskayawaterfront to st. Bering.

In 1980 - 1982, a two-tier embankment with a banquet made of granite was built. The lower tier was a walking area, connected to the upper path (runs along the edge of the slope, landscaped with grassy vegetation), ramps and stairs.

Since May 1987, the avenue has become part of the river embankment. Smolenki. The street received its modern name (Novosmolenskaya embankment) in February 1989.

Chicken Legs

In the 1980s, 4 skyscrapers of an unusual look were built on Vasilyevsky Island along the embankment. They are located near the Primorskaya metro station, on the banks of the Smolenka. A distinctive feature of these structures is unusual supports, which are called “chicken legs” among the local population.

Unlike ordinary skyscrapers, architect Sokhin V. designed the houses on original supports, consisting of a central pillar and several "legs" made of concrete. Subsequently, all 4 buildings of the Novosmolenskaya embankment (with numbers 2, 4, 6 and 8) began to be called "snub legs" or "houses on chicken legs" for their appearance.

When the construction of these buildings was underway, such an event was by no means an ordinary one for Leningrad. In fact, the houses on Smolenka were also the first skyscrapers: each of them had 22 floors. In addition, they were built from a monolith - reinforced concrete was poured right on the spot. Two similar houses were already built on Victory Square in the mid-70s(project by architect Speransky). At that time, monolithic domestic construction began to revive.

Of the four buildings planned for construction along the Smolenka River, the first was built in 1986. At first, many passers-by were even afraid to look at him due to the fear that the posts could give way from the huge weight.

House number 1 Novosmolenskaya embankment

This avenue deserves attention not only for its overall architectural ensemble and "chicken legs", but also for the huge residential building at number 1, located on the odd bank of the Smolenka River. There is only one building here, but its length is incredible.

It is a kind of champion in St. Petersburg in terms of the number of apartments located in it. There are 1,483 of them in the house. It consists of four buildings (10 floors each) with inserts of 16 floors. Together with a nearby and adjoining building located on the street. Shipbuilders, the length of this house is 1,100 meters. The residential complex was built in 1983 - 1986

Other attractions

The embankment is also notable for its bridges spanning the Smolenka (at the alignment of two St. Petersburg streets):

1. The cash bridge is located in the alignment of the street. Cash. Upstream and downstream are, respectively, the Novo-Andreevsky Bridge and the Shipbuilders Bridge. The Nalichny Bridge connects two islands - Dekabristov and Vasilyevsky. It received its name in May 1975 after the name of Nalichnaya Street. Date of construction - 1973 - 1975 (engineer projectBoltunova E. A. and architects Evdokimov S. I. and Kharitonov P.). The bridge was overhauled in 2005. The length along the length is 70 meters, the width is 49 meters. Designed for the movement of vehicles, trams and pedestrians. Reinforced concrete obelisks lined with granite are installed at the entrances to the bridge.



2. The Bridge of Shipbuilders, connecting the islands of the Decembrists and Vasilyevsky, is located in the alignment of the street. Shipbuilders. The name was given to the name of the street after construction was completed in 1982. The project was carried out by engineers Sobolev L. N. and Eduardov B. E. Major repairs were carried out in 2005. Length - 56 meters, with a width of 70 meters. The bridge is intended for the movement of pedestrians and vehicles.

In closing

It should be noted that one of the longest residential buildings in St. Petersburg, located at Novosmolenskaya embankment, building 1 (mentioned above in the article), has been known to St. Petersburg residents since perestroika as the CFT - "Center for Branded Trade".

Representatives of the elite mainly settled in its spacious apartments: employees of foreign trade departments, Soviet officials, etc. Mikhail Gorbachev came to the opening of the department store in this building. Today, the first floors have been dismantled for shops of various profiles, but the former popular name has been preserved.