Gazprom Neft'

Technical Data:
height: 396m
roof: 327m
floors over ground: 77
completion year: 2012



Renderings:
click to enlarge
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/project/uploaded_files/665_385%20RMJM%20Gazprom.jpg (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/RMJM%20Gazprom%20sunset%20image.jpg)
http://www.gazprom-city.info/images.pr/rmgm_2.jpg


Video:
XK8iNKcgb5E

good design, great height!

great design
great height
inappropriate location :)

WOW, Build it!!! already some infos about construction start or anything?

So now St Petersburg is finally starting to build skycrapers, just like Mosocow... Very cool design! Great height!

Is there any chance that it will get built?

looks so nice, great addition for St Pet' :)

it looks like london's 'shard of glass', but better... who's the architecht behind this one?

The top bit, is that open air with just a metallic crown, or is it covered in glass?

Slim, elegant, supertall.

The podium is nice too, with its curved roof.

I'm not sure if I like the "twisting" shape though. This concept has been overdone in skyscrapers recently, I think. There are too many towers with twisting/spiralling shapes being designed at the moment. I'd prefer something a bit more linear and straight.

Also, it seems a bit isolated.

Nice design and height - I hope they build it soon.

Gorgeous! A true gem.

WOW looks unbelievable! i so hope this gets built cuz st petersburg is where im from:)

Lovely design

very nice podium... excellent for St. Pete.:)

Good to see that this design won. The others were bad. Well Libeskind's was pretty cool - but most of his stuff is bad, so TS for him.

i used to prefer FUKSAS, but now i'm glad this design won... either this one or liebeskind's

Great building, I love it's ilumination on the video! Good for St. Petersburg:cheers:

the building's not bad but how can they decide to build it there? the location is just inapropriate in my opinion.

That is a beautiful design! Nice video.

^_^ Seriously an amazing building :) cant get enough of it, the other designs were pretty interesting, but this is safer, yet classy design.

is it approved yet?

yes it is.

that's fantastic :), is it possible they'll start this or next year with construction?

I may disagree with the 'politics' of Gazprom and also the location of the building (St.Petersburg imo is in the same category city as Prague, Rome or Venice in terms of historical city ensemble, but seemingly this does not suffice), but the architecture of the building is quite impressive.

So, this is the design that was selected?


Excellent, as this is the one that I personally favored.

The shape and the design fits to the Gazprom logo

i really like it, good height too :okay:

This is an excellent looking design.. My only suggestion would be if it was a little taller (I probably say that about every building though), maybe in the 100 floor range.

This looks almost like a proposal in Shangai that got scrapped a little while back. I think it was to be built near the Jin Mao Tower...

I like it too, looks sweet ;)

Interesting Project...:okay:

How is this only 77 storys?

I've never been to Saint Petersburg. I'm interested to know specifically why some say this will visually, or aesthetically ruin the district it is planned for.

I've never been to Saint Petersburg. I'm interested to know specifically why some say this will visually, or aesthetically ruin the district it is planned for.
from Russian sub forums:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/Barnaul/SPetersburg/P1030024.jpg
Many people don't like that Gazprom tower dominates all historical buildings. Also many percieve the tower as symbol of Gazprom ruling the city and not the city's government. And some people find the way it dominates the city very similiar to Citadel in Half-Life 2 :lol:
http://www.ag.ru/screenshots/half_life_2/106396

It was on the news about that tower, here in Helsinki. They said the local people there don't like the idea. They say it would ruin the "view" in St. Petersburg. I think the maxium height of a building there is limited at the height of 45 meters. The company, who is about to build that tower, has already reserved a huge space for that tower even though it isn't even approved yet.

Wonderful tower, the location is fantastic next to the water. The facade looks excellent. I almost forget I like the video too.

Russia under fire over St. Petersburg skyscraper plan
By Denis Pinchuk

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, Jan 31 (Reuters Life!) - A giant skyscraper planned for St Petersburg would ruin the Russian city's historic skyline, the United Nations cultural body said on Wednesday.

Gas monopoly Gazprom is pressing ahead with plans for the so-called Gazprom City in St Petersburg, a low-rise city with an elegant skyline dotted with churches, gilded spires and old mansions.

"Gazprom City is the most visible problem in St Petersburg," Francesco Bandarin, head of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, told reporters through a translator on a visit to the city.

"The project has raised UNESCO concerns, mainly due to its proximity to St Petersburg's historic centre ... St Petersburg is a horizontal city.

"An architectural solution that goes against its historic background is unacceptable."

St Petersburg is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. It was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as a "window to Europe" and Gazprom's plans to build the 300-metre-high skyscraper has triggered a storm of criticism from historians.

The city's skyline survived a 900-day siege by German forces during World War Two after Hitler ordered the city wiped off the face of the earth. In Soviet times, the city was known as Leningrad and Russian President Vladimir Putin was born there.

Bandarin said he had raised Gazprom's architectural plans with St Petersburg's governor.

"It's a proposal by the Gazprom corporation. It has not been approved yet, which is what I heard from the governor," Bandarin said. "UNESCO will not abandon the city to the whims of fate."

UNESCO has criticised ex-Soviet states for their handling of ancient sites, including Uzbekistan's hasty efforts to restore the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand, home to valuable Islamic art and architecture.

^^ ok.. so now UNESCO, International Union of Architects, and Russia's architect union are against the tower.

Why don't they just build it in Moscow?

That's a bit of a silly question.

They are again of location, not against of the city. There is a common opinion that it should be built in the Coastal district.

actually, i have to agree that this is a wrong place for skyscraper.

^^ absolutely

:drool: So pretty....

Btw; how can UNESCO say lowrise skyline without blinking? That's kind of oxymonoric... I have a supreme view of a lowrise skyline. Trust me; whatever qualities a lowrise city has, the view from afar is not one of them.

[Petersburg is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. It was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as a "window to Europe" and Gazprom's plans ....

UNESCO has criticised ex-Soviet states for their handling of ancient sites.

Being founded in 1703 does not make it ancient. Russia needs more employment to help the economy so they should build it.

the skyscraper doesnt match the skyline.. it'l be better i think if it was made to look like the Russian-style churchs.. just like the jin mao tower in china, it looked like a pagoda, and you know the buildng is in china..

has it been cancelled now?

has it been cancelled now?
Not yet, media reports that the governor of the city will announce her decision about the tower later this year.

Sorry guys, it´s a very cool tower and a superb design, but the locatin is absolutly wrong! I signed the UNESCO petition for London, but St.Petersburg is different...they´ll destroy the whole atmosphere of the town with this giant!

yes the building looks great. but the location just sucks.

It's a nice looking building that I would be glad to see built somewhere within 50 miles of where I am, but in St. Pete, maybe they should have tried to give it an older look to fit in somewhat so the public would be more accepting.

9.8/10 very nice

Great looking building!

Whole project is stunning and superb...but it should not be built in this location.

Does St Petersberg have, or plan to have, a non-central business district like Canary Wharf or La Defence? A district like that would be far more suitable for this building, plus it's more likely that it would be approved.

Great Height and excellent designed.

Does St Petersberg have, or plan to have, a non-central business district like Canary Wharf or La Defence? A district like that would be far more suitable for this building, plus it's more likely that it would be approved.
yes, there is new business district is planned near the new wharf. wharf is under construction at the moment. the plan provide construction of several skyscrapers, including one supertall.

http://www.mfspb.ru/foto/b/49.jpg
http://www.mfspb.ru/foto/b/52.jpg
http://www.mfspb.ru/foto/b/54.jpg

News about Gazprom Neft'

The city authorities have announced a competition for development companies

List of competitioners:


Hyder Consulting, Germany;
Bovis Lend Lease International Limited, Great Britain;
Enka Insaat Ve Sanayi A.S. (Enka), Turkey;
Strabag AG, Austria;
Torno Internazionale SPA, Italy;
Mirax Construction Limited, Russia;
M-Industry, Russia;
Etalon - Lenspetsstroy holding, Russia;
Consortium. Sembawang Engineers & Constructors PTE LTD (leading partner), India; IK Technoprom, Russia;
Consortium. IVI-93 (leading partner), Russia; Infostroy-Garant, Russia;
Consortium. Sevenergosantechmontage (leading partner), Russia; NBBJ east LLC, USA; Saint Petersburg Zonal Scientific Research and Projecting Institute of Civil Housing Buildings, Russia; Soletanchestroy (Soletanche Bachy subcompany), France; Armo-Group, Russia; Shneider Electric (Schneider Electric subcompany), France; Shanghai Construction General Co., Ltd, China; (Meis?) International Limited, Great Britain;
Arabtec Construction (LLC), UAE;


It is expected that the shortlist will be published on 16 march.

that's great

I think the design is great, but this will look MASSIVE in St Petersburg. People say London is a low-rise city, and 300m towers look huge.... but St Petersburg is *really* low-rise and 400m will look enormous.

I like St Petersburg how it is now..... I don't think I'd mind this particular skyscraper being built there.... as long as it's the only one.

http://www.mfspb.ru/foto/b/54.jpg
As i understand, this is it's construction site:
http://www.mfspb.ru/foto/b/47.jpg

very nice design

i love this building!

about the location, i don't know... but it doesn't look like its in the heritage area or is it?

As i understand, this is it's construction site:
http://www.mfspb.ru/foto/b/47.jpg
Why are they building the Gazprom tower out in the water?

Why are they building the Gazprom tower out in the water?
It's not for Gazprom tower, it's for a new business district.

So is this building going ahead?

I like thsi tower very much.

Nice design! St Petersburg need some towers. I hope construction will start soon!

It's not for Gazprom tower, it's for a new business district.Well, it would be best to build here Gazprom Tower as well. Not one, but two supertalls, plus the downtown landscape would be left as it is, i.e. perfect.

Amazing design

http://www.fontanka.ru/2007/05/24/080/o2.jpg

http://www.fontanka.ru/2007/05/24/080/o3.jpg

http://www.fontanka.ru/2007/05/24/080/o4.jpg

Фонтанка.ру
Second render is awesome.
Btw, this project is now called "Ohta Center"

The fine project!

Looks like the Citadel in HL2. Overpowering. Just put it in the business district, not in the middle of this historic city.

Build it in Berlin! Just far away from St. Peterburg. This huge tower would destroy the city´s atmosphere completly. I hope they will cancel it.

I like it, very tall, and a nice design. Overall a great project.

Best desing ever!

not the best ever but 1 of the best ;)

Well, still great, nah? :D

COOL DESIGN

thats a really cool design there:cheers:

Amazing design !

Go Russia :D

Last variant of the project :)

http://k.foto.radikal.ru/0705/31/ee120bcf8fb3.jpg

http://r.foto.radikal.ru/0705/2f/dfce3aec7161.jpg

Well, it would be best to build here Gazprom Tower as well. Not one, but two supertalls, plus the downtown landscape would be left as it is, i.e. perfect.

Actually there is the prospect of 3 supertalls, thanks to our good friends; the Chinese :D

They are building another business district in St.Petersburg. The location is nowhere near the center, in fact its the vacant area of grassland in the top-left of this image, just left of the inlet:

http://www.ljplus.ru/img/p/a/pahanium/avia021_2.jpg


The business district:
http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/lontopic/4/PearlSquare01/PearlSquare01.jpg

And the tower (of unknown size, but it looks pretty damn tall)
http://foto.rambler.ru/photos/lontopic/4/PearlDominant01/PearlDominant01.jpg

Video:
861ngX7mV9A

Great video it really demonstrates what the area around this controversial edifice will look like

There are some new interesting renderings taken by me from the PDF file of the official site of the project.
www.ohta-center.ru

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8805/ohtacenterhp1.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/5374/ohtacenter2gq8.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4472/ohtacenter3ph6.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6002/ohtacenter4bz9.jpg

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1699/ohtacenter6wa2.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9864/ohtacenter5xz4.jpg

ah...very imperesive...!!!!
thx for info ^^

Nobody has told here. Important not spoiled views, but it is bad that the silhouette of city which is unique varies. Not it is a lot of cities in the world have the unique silhouette, one of them st.-petersburg, but it can lose it

If you add a unique silhouette of the proposed tower to the unique silhouette of the city you will get a unique silhouette again :)

always loved the project, but hated the location..

i prefer they will wait another year or two and build it here:

http://www.mfspb.ru/foto/b/54.jpg

that will be great !

http://www.mfspb.ru/

Actually there is the prospect of 3 supertalls, thanks to our good friends; the Chinese :D

They are building another business district in St.Petersburg. The location is nowhere near the center, in fact its the vacant area of grassland in the top-left of this image, just left of the inlet:Ok, but you didn't get my point. What I meant was what Testament means in the post just above this...

If you add a unique silhouette of the proposed tower to the unique silhouette of the city you will get a unique silhouette again :)

Our descendants will not see this building as the inappropriate phenomenon probably..but should pass a lot of time

Wonderful and amazing project!!
:drool::drool:

Ok, but you didn't get my point. What I meant was what Testament means in the post just above this...

I got your point. Still I think that this tower could become a new landmark of St.Petersburg. Building it in the Morskoj Fasad as the post above mine shows, would completely obstruct its beauty and aura, as well as screw up all plans for the Oxta center around it.

Believe me, i'm from St.Petersburg, and I can completely understand the arguements about the Skyline and everything. I am also a bit apprehensive, but not because of the idea itself (which I think will turn out magnificently if done right), but because I fear it may not be done right.

Ohkta Centre design has been approved by the city architect (ie planners) and Gazprom.

Gazprom skyscraper runs into opposition
27 June 2007
Lloyd's List

RUSSIA’S all-powerful gas giant Gazprom is certainly no stranger to ruffling feathers on the international energy markets, but the energy leviathan is currently raising hackles closer to home.

Its controversial plans to relocate its headquarters from Moscow to St Petersburg with the $2.3bn development of a ‘Gazprom City’ business centre including a 396 m high skyscraper has continued to run up against public opposition.

The ambitious development is destined for the right bank of the Neva River in front of Smolny Cathedral, despite regulations forbidding construction of a building of more than 42 m high there.

Gazprom chairman Alexei Miller continues, however, to push the plans ahead and in March announced that the development had been renamed and would be funded differently. Presented as a radical overhaul of the project, the changes effectively mean that a planned office complex will now be a community and business centre to be known as the Okhta Centre and jointly funded by Gazprom and City Hall. The controversial skyscraper, known locally as ‘Miller’s Stick’, however, looks set to stay.

As the historical centre of St Petersburg is a World Heritage Site, UNESCO World Heritage Centre director Francesco Bandarin reportedly reminded Russia last year about its obligations to preserve it and expressed concern over the project.

Despite the potential to generate massive revenues in tax and local business opportunities, the project also remains deeply unpopular with St Petersburg residents, who are already suffering some of the worst traffic congestion in the country

The objections, however, are likely to fall on deaf ears. As one well-placed St Petersburg official told Lloyd’s List: “Out here Gazprom is next to God,and if they want to build it, they will build it.”

Ohkta Centre design has been approved by the city architect (ie planners) and Gazprom.

Thanks for the info. Do you have a source?

^^ Simply Beautifull. What an amazing proyects are U/C in Russia. I can´t wait to see it done. Another three Vodka cheers :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Thanks for the info. Do you have a source?

city architect is the official and the bureaucrat. he receives money from the budget of city. make conclusions

Beauty!!!!

UNESCO asks Russia to pause skyscraper project

MOSCOW, July 13 (Reuters) - The United Nations cultural arm UNESCO has asked Russia to withhold permission for a 320-metre (1,050 ft) skyscraper in St Petersburg until it has assessed the impact on the city's historic skyline.

The request is the weightiest intervention yet in a project that many conservationists say could destroy the city's unique silhouette of canals, bridges and 18th century palaces.

Russian gas giant Gazprom wants to build the tower near the centre of St Petersburg -- an area listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site -- to house its offices and trumpet Russia's resurgence as an economic powerhouse and global player.

The request was issued by the World Heritage Committee, a body empowered under an international treaty to monitor sites included on UNESCO's World Heritage list and ensure they do not violate the list's requirements.

Mechtild Rossler, head of European and American heritage at UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, told Reuters on Friday that the committee had asked the Russian authorities to refrain from issuing any building permits for now.

This was to allow it to review "whether the outstanding universal value of heritage has been fully assessed and whether this outstanding universal value has been damaged".

The request was made at a session of the committee in New Zealand that ended on July 2. Gazprom and Russian officials were not immediately available for comment.

"This strong action is very much to be welcomed," said Clementine Cecil, co-founder of the Moscow Architectural Preservation Society, which has campaigned against the Gazprom Tower.

The skyscraper, in a derelict industrial area on the edge of St Petersburg's historic centre, will be just a few metres shorter than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, dwarfing the rest of the low-rise cityscape.

Local authorities in St Petersburg support the tower, though Gazprom has not yet submitted its detailed plans to officials for formal approval.

Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as a "window on Europe", St Petersburg has survived revolutions, a siege by German invaders in World War Two and heavy-handed Soviet planners.

It is held in special affection by Russians who see it as Russia's cultural heart.

Gazprom's plan has caused widespread concern in the city, with leading members of the city's cultural elite condemning it.

But President Vladimir Putin, a St Petersburg native, has not stepped in. Through its gas exports, Gazprom is one of the country's biggest earners of foreign revenue and has close Kremlin ties.

"(St. Petersburg) is one of the few (cities) which have been preserved with this silhouette which is lost all over the other sites in eastern Europe," said Rossler. "It is one of the few sites which has maintained a certain integrity." (Additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk in St Petersburg)

Place is bad , bud skyscraper is so cool

kinda looks like the old design of the Chicago Spire only smaller.

nice building.

RMJM tower threatens St Petersburg's world heritage status
3 September, 2007

By Zoë Blackler

Unesco is threatening to strip St Petersburg of its World Heritage status if the city proceeds with plans to build RMJM’s Gazprom tower.

The 396m HQ for energy giant Gazprom has faced fierce opposition since RMJM won an international design competition last December.

On Friday, Unesco’s deputy director Marcio Barbosa said Russia has until February to report on the project’s impact on the former imperial capital. If the plans remain unchanged, Barbosa warned, Unesco could place St Petersburg on its list of endangered sites.

The original Gazprom competition made headlines last December after Norman Foster, Rafael Vinoly and Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa walked off the jury amid speculation that they were being pressured to select RMJM.

Kurokawa stated publicly that he was opposed to all six shortlisted designs, including submissions from Jean Nouvel, Daniel Libeskind, Massimiliano Fuksas and Rem Koolhaas, because of their height, arguing that the city should not build tall.

The winning scheme has also prompted local protests and criticism from the Russian Union of Architects.

Unesco’s threat follows its bid to influence development in a number of historic British cities. In February, London and Liverpool both announced changes to planning guidance to safeguard their world heritage status.

St Petersburg, home town of Russian president Vladimir Putin, was designated a World Heritage site in 1990.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=725&storycode=3094437&c=1&encCode=000000000138a277

LOL! So how powerful is this Gazprom and it seems like they are unstoppable? I just look at their status in Fortune Global 500 and they are #52 and and getting better. They are #8 in profits with $20 billion dollars :nuts: . I guess money is everything then. Well, I am also "DEEPLY OPPOSED" to this construction of this tower (only this tower and not the other buildings). However, if its built, just don't look at the tower and feel bad about it. Just look at the bright side. The city is going to make an additional tax revenue of $750 million dollars and people will get better jobs. Just treat this tower like the Paris "Tour Montparnasse" of St. Petersburg.

NOTE:
To those people who think that Gazprom Tower or so-called "Miller Stick" is like the controversial Eiffel Tower of Paris. Just to remind you that Eiffel Tower was built temporarily. They actually plan to dismantle the tower in 10 - 15 years. However, Parisians and the world loves it so it became permanent. The Miller Stick is not a temporary structure so better do something before its too late.

CORRECTION: Someone needs to change the thread title from Ohta Center to "Ohkta" Center.

L
CORRECTION: Someone needs to change the thread title from Ohta Center to "Ohkta" Center.if smbd changes the title it is better Okhta than proposed Ohkta

better leave it as ohta

LOL! So how powerful is this Gazprom and it seems like they are unstoppable? I just look at their status in Fortune Global 500 and they are #52 and and getting better. They are #8 in profits with $20 billion dollars :nuts: . I guess money is everything then. Well, I am also "DEEPLY OPPOSED" to this construction of this tower (only this tower and not the other buildings). However, if its built, just don't look at the tower and feel bad about it. Just look at the bright side. The city is going to make an additional tax revenue of $750 million dollars and people will get better jobs. Just treat this tower like the Paris "Tour Montparnasse" of St. Petersburg.

NOTE:
To those people who think that Gazprom Tower or so-called "Miller Stick" is like the controversial Eiffel Tower of Paris. Just to remind you that Eiffel Tower was built temporarily. They actually plan to dismantle the tower in 10 - 15 years. However, Parisians and the world loves it so it became permanent. The Miller Stick is not a temporary structure so better do something before its too late.

CORRECTION: Someone needs to change the thread title from Ohta Center to "Ohkta" Center.

Whats wrong with the way it is spelled that it needs to be changed?

FEATURE- Gazprom skyscraper row symbolises Putin's Russia

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, Sept 3 (Reuters) - A plan by Russian gas giant Gazprom to build a skyscraper in historic St Petersburg is an object lesson in how power and influence work in Vladimir Putin's Russia.

The world's largest gas producer, Gazprom wants to build a 320-metre (1,050 ft) high glass and concrete skyscraper near St Petersburg's city centre, listed by United Nations cultural watchdog UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Opponents say the building -- nicknamed "Gazoskryob" or "Gasscraper" -- will ruin the city's low-rise skyline of canals and Baroque palaces. But it is about more than aesthetics.

The "No" campaign may be one of the biggest public rebellions of Putin's seven years as president -- a period when shows of mass dissent have become rare. The fact St Petersburg is Putin's hometown adds spice to the row.

At an anti-Kremlin rally in the city in March when at least 2,000 people gathered, banners protesting against the destruction of the city's arhitectural heritage were almost as numerous as those alleging government repression.

The campaign has been joined by leaders of the usually quiescent cultural establishment -- including figures like Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the city's renowned Hermitage Museum.

The plan's critics say it also encapsulates many of the shortcomings of Putin's Russia: state corporations which wield almost unchallenged power and a bureaucratic machine that serves the Kremlin, but often seems deaf to public opinion.

"The protest ... is caused by the fact that people feel the authorities don't intend taking their opinion into consideration," Vladimir Vasilyev, head of St Petersburg State University's laboratory for political psychology, told Reuters.

"None of the things Gazprom and the St. Petersburg authorities have been doing in the past faced strong opposition. And they started to believe that everything they do is right and they can do whatever they want", said Vasilyev.

The project's backers -- who include St Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko -- say it is part of a much-needed renewal of St Petersburg and will breathe new life into a largely-derelict corner of the city.

"We've made the skyscraper so high so it looks harmonious and beautiful. It could have been lower but it would have been ugly," said Alexender Dybal, Vice President of Gazprom unit Gazpromneft, which plans to have its headquarters in the tower.

STATE HIERARCHY

The critics point out that the new building will be directly opposite Smolny Cathedral, built in the 18th century by acclaimed Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

"This is not architecture," said Oleg Ionissyan, of the St Petersburg Board for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

"Architecture means to fit into the environment. It (the tower) could be accommodated on the steppe or in Malaysia, but not close to the Rastrelli's creation."

Matviyenko's administration says it has not given official approval for the tower but many people believe that is just a matter of time.

The site has already been handed over to Gazprom, with approval granted for an unspecified development. And Matviyenko sat alongside Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller at a presentation to unveil the winning design for the skyscraper.

There has been no formal public consultation on the tower. The opposition Yabloko party applied to hold a referendum, but the local legislature, dominated by Matviyenko supporters, kept postponing a decision on whether to allow a vote.

"They know they will lose," said Maxim Reznik, head of Yabloko in St Petersburg. "A referendum does not fit into the authoritarian model. In their opinion, it is not up to people to decide: people are scum, the nobility take all the decisions."

The way Russia's state hierarchy functions gives Gazprom considerable influence. Since a 2004 reform proposed by Putin to abolish direct elections for regional leaders, governors like Matviyenko report to the Kremlin, not voters.

The Kremlin in turn is intertwined with Gazprom. The Russian state holds a 51 percent stake, and Gazprom's chairman is Dmitry Medvedev, Putin's ex-chief of staff who is now a first deputy prime minister tipped by some as a possible next president.

A "No" campaign poster depicts a Godzilla-style monster in a Gazprom T-shirt towering over Smolny Cathedral. Matviyenko, portrayed as a member of the Komsomol, the youth wing of the Soviet Communist Party, salutes.

A caption reads: " Gazprom said 'It must be done!' The Komsomol answered: 'Yes sir!'"

"This is not architecture," said Oleg Ionissyan,
....
"Architecture means to fit into the environment. It (the tower) could be accommodated on the steppe or in Malaysia, but not close to the Rastrelli's creation."
...
do you know who was against Eiffel tower in Paris?

Whats wrong with the way it is spelled that it needs to be changed?

I was trying to look for Ohta in Google and all I found is the Skyscrapercity Page. I have to used a link here just to look for the actual project and go to the architect firm's website. It doesn't matter if you leave it like that anyway as long as there are updates that comes along.

an official site is also www.ohta-center.ru

an official site is also www.ohta-center.ru

This site isn't cool:ohno:

Hold on a moment, Oh-ta ( Rus "оута") just doesn't sound right... From what I gather the correct translation should be Okhta, where kh stands for Russkoe "x". :cheers:

english language rules doesn't work with transliterated words

Gorgeous building. Just needs some neighbors around it.

I don't think the UN has any business telling a city what it can and can't do architecturally. If St. Petersburg people are alright with it, then let it be. All cities have historical attributes. All cities change and evolve over time. Trying to retard that evolution is itself a retarded idea.

Gorgeous building. Just needs some neighbors around it.

I don't think the UN has any business telling a city what it can and can't do architecturally. If St. Petersburg people are alright with it, then let it be. All cities have historical attributes. All cities change and evolve over time. Trying to retard that evolution is itself a retarded idea.

Well, majority of people are against it. All cities evolve over time. However, this is not a retarded idea. The historical aspect of the city is only comparable to Paris and Rome. Look what happened to Alexandria Egypt after they change the city or the city of Jerusalem after all the magnificent buildings were destroyed or replaced.

UNESCO World Heritage Center job is to preserve the historical aspect of an exceptional area. They put this city of the list of the "World's Heritage List" due to its architectural wonders. They have the right to put it out of the list but they "do not have the right to intervene". They were just asking. That's the job of the Russian Government.

better get built

Rather than comparing it to Tour Montparnasse or the Eiffel Tower compare it to La Defense in Paris. The Okhta Centre will be much further from the Historical Centre than this and remember it is 5km or more from the heart of St Petersburg. Why will this be damaging?

LOL! So how powerful is this Gazprom and it seems like they are unstoppable? I just look at their status in Fortune Global 500 and they are #52 and and getting better. They are #8 in profits with $20 billion dollars :nuts: . I guess money is everything then. Well, I am also "DEEPLY OPPOSED" to this construction of this tower (only this tower and not the other buildings). However, if its built, just don't look at the tower and feel bad about it. Just look at the bright side. The city is going to make an additional tax revenue of $750 million dollars and people will get better jobs. Just treat this tower like the Paris "Tour Montparnasse" of St. Petersburg.

NOTE:
To those people who think that Gazprom Tower or so-called "Miller Stick" is like the controversial Eiffel Tower of Paris. Just to remind you that Eiffel Tower was built temporarily. They actually plan to dismantle the tower in 10 - 15 years. However, Parisians and the world loves it so it became permanent. The Miller Stick is not a temporary structure so better do something before its too late.

CORRECTION: Someone needs to change the thread title from Ohta Center to "Ohkta" Center.

When you are saying the "city will make $750 million dollars" - it actually reads governor and family will make that. The amount of corruption that surrounds this tower is amazing. It is simply one big "kick back and pay off" project. Also it way to ugly to put so close to the city center. it is not UNESCO that is supposed to tell it, but people in Russia and Government as well should be opposed to such monstrosity.

pretty nice :uh: :uh: :uh: :uh:

Some small but fresh renders:
www.ohta-center.ru

http://www.ohta-center.ru/images.cont/about.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/images.cont/history_parall.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165233.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165205.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165185.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165163.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189164792.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165893.jpg

Visual points:

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165336.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165415.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/Pictures/big_pre1189165388.jpg

looks dangerous! lol
cool looking skyscraper

When you are saying the "city will make $750 million dollars" - it actually reads governor and family will make that. The amount of corruption that surrounds this tower is amazing. It is simply one big "kick back and pay off" project. Also it way to ugly to put so close to the city center. it is not UNESCO that is supposed to tell it, but people in Russia and Government as well should be opposed to such monstrosity.


Now I am more opposed than ever. :mad2: :bleep: :mad2:

Can this go into the "Supersexy Supertall" category? :D

i think its wrong and will ruin st petersberg, sorry.

So this is the building every person in St. Petersburg is against. I'll just advise them to be quiet and let them build this beauty. No more historically boring houses, it's time to build something new. And once this is built, there will be others :)

So this is the building every person in St. Petersburg is against. I'll just advise them to be quiet and let them build this beauty. No more historically boring houses, it's time to build something new. And once this is built, there will be others :)

This tower is nothing but a Finnish plot to destroy our great city! >(

Seriously though, I like this project. Perhaps it should be put into a better place, albiet one where it can still be seen from various corners of the city, but on the whole, I think a construction like this is very presitigious. It's a very good arguement that perhaps St.Petersburg should remain in the 19th century as that is it's natural habitat. But the proponents of that arguement are forgetting that this is the 2nd city of the largest country in the world. One of the foremost metropolises in Europe at the turn of the 20th century, 4th most populous, and back then it certainly didn't reach that position by not spoiling it's 18th architecture with 19th century constructions.

But above all, i'm just sick and tired of all the controversy around it. Either build the damn thing or chuck it into the bin already, I can see good and bad sides either way.

nice new renders, i really love that project. hopefully it will become reality

St. Petersburg to Get Skyscraper
17 October 2007

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - Lawmakers on Wednesday approved the construction of a skyscraper that will rise near the architectural treasures of Russia's Imperial-era capital, a project that has drawn protests from many residents.

The city assembly adopted legislation providing for the construction of a mixed-use complex anchored by a glass-encased tower that is to rise 1,050 feet, more than twice as high as St. Petersburg's current tallest building.

The Okhta project, pushed by the state-controlled natural gas monopoly OAO Gazprom, has sparked heated debate. A handful of protests were held by Russia's struggling political opposition in St. Petersburg in the past year.

Critics say the building would be a massively discordant element on the mostly low-rise skyline. They cite rules dating back centuries that have limited the height of buildings in the center of city founded by Czar Peter the Great more than 300 years ago.

Proponents argue that the site is not in the city's historical center.

The law approved by the predominantly pro-Kremlin city legislature sought to appease opponents by decreasing the amount the city will pay to about $1 billion instead of the entire projected construction cost of $2.4 billion.

Gazprom's oil subsidiary, OAO Gazpromneft, will pay most of the rest, officials said.

Mikhail Amosov, a former head of the assembly's architecture and planning committee and a leader of opposition to the project, said the change in the financing plan was good news but the city should not be paying anything.

He expressed hope that lawmakers would bring the height of the tower to no more than 328 feet. But Vatanyar Yagya, a legislator from the dominant United Russia party, said the law was final and the architectural plans would not be changed.

"When people refer to the czar's height rules, it's about the past. ... In such big cities as Moscow and St. Petersburg, there can be only two lines in construction decisions -- high up or deep down," Yagya said.

The complex is to be built by 2016.

love the design, cant get any better :nuts: sexy

nice building..reminds me a bit of that burj al dubai or how its named ^_^

This must be built! Absolutely incredible architecture !!!

seems they've reduced the height...but still over 300m :)

320m is still good

320m is the main roof mark

so the complete height is still 396m?

Critics say the building would be a massively discordant element on the mostly low-rise skyline. They cite rules dating back centuries that have limited the height of buildings in the center of city founded by Czar Peter the Great more than 300 years ago.

Proponents argue that the site is not in the city's historical center.

Isn't (Shard) London Bridge being built in a very historic district?

Gazprom's building may stand out like an exclamation point for a while, but Saint Petersburg probably won't stay low-rise for very long anyway.

Isn't (Shard) London Bridge being built in a very historic district?

Gazprom's building may stand out like an exclamation point for a while, but Saint Petersburg probably won't stay low-rise for very long anyway.

UNESCO has also voiced concerns over skyscraper developments in London's The City as well.

What kind of buildings are there presently on the plot?

St. Petersburg to Get Skyscraper
17 October 2007

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - Lawmakers on Wednesday approved the construction of a skyscraper that will rise near the architectural treasures of Russia's Imperial-era capital, a project that has drawn protests from many residents.
.........................

The complex is to be built by 2016.

Why the rush - slow down. :nuts:

Looks like Chicago Spire, but much nicer

Looks gorgeous, but as already said a million times the location couldn't be more terrible. The historical city centre of St. Petersburg doesn't deserve to be humiliated. Hope they'll build this beautiful skyscraper to somewhere else.

I like it... beautiful! better than CS!

Love it! May not be as good as good as the CS, but close! Although I don't think its the right location, but Great for St. Petersburg at least!

I like it... beautiful! better than CS!

Don't compare with Chicago Spire. Other level.

How so is it in another level?

CS is much higher ^^

Not heard any news for a while, anybody know of the current status of the project?

archaeological excavations

Ahh cool, have the found anything? Is there much of the Swedish fort left?

Will this tower improve the skyline of St. Petersburg or spoil it?

Will this tower improve the skyline of St. Petersburg or spoil it?It depends upon if it is biult.
To my mind if it is not built it will NOT improve the skyline.:)

^^ So, can a supertall improve and spoil a mostly low skyline?

^^ So, can a supertall improve and spoil a mostly low skyline?

This particular one, in my opinion, can only spoil the skyline. they have to change it's color and shape and even move it to different place before it is too late.

I love the look of it, but it could be in a better spot as to not mess up Saint Petersburg's skyline.

IMO, the tower itself is a great design, although it does not fit in st. petersburg - it is simply much too high for this city.
Anyway, hopefully within next couple of years other towers will get build, but looking on the project masterplan, the area is occupied only with very short buildings.

I'm in love with this building. One of the most beautiful structures that will ever exist. I dont think its too bad for the St. Petersburg skyline....:D

I don't think that this one skyscraper will spoil the skyline, even a cluster of skyscrapers won't. For example Paris, they don't have skyscrapers in the historical center, but they have "La Defense" and it don't spoil the skyline but it even improve it.

Yeah, but Sacre Coueur isnt super central and no-one would build a tower right behind that. Smolny isnt super central and they ARE building this behind it! kinda sad...
http://www.music-opera.com/villedumois/villephotos_stpetersburg/The%20Smolny%20Monastery.jpg
http://new-river.ru/pic/s15b.jpg

Don't compare with Chicago Spire. Other level. Yeah, agreed. Chicago Spire looks like a rolled up weiner. This is majestic and gorgeous. Im not saying the Spire is bad, but this is a whole new level of design.

good height.
impressive design.

Looks great in the rendering,let's hope it looks great in person.

From New York Times
Jan 15

Gazprom Skyscraper Denounced

St. Petersburg residents spoke out against the planned construction of a 1050 foot/ 320 m tall skyscraper for the headquarters of the state energy company Gazprom at a public hearing. About 600 residents and activists confronted officials who defended proposed changes in city zoning laws to allow for the building to go up. "St. Petersburg is no village and it's skyline is an object of world admiration," said Tatyana Krasavina, head of a group fighting the project. Present regulations limit the height of buildings to 157 feet/ 48m.

wow nice.. beautiful design!!!!!:yes:

The rendering looks awesome

not as nice as the Chicago Spire but not to throw away...

counterstrike (CS) vs Half life 2 (Okhtacenter)

Of course CS is more magnificient project, this one looks very sexy by design. Maybe I'm the only one but I don't think this building could spoil skyline. Because when you walk dont the street you never see it. Actually it isn't in the historical center anyway. Of course they could build it in the new buisness center but this place is ok too. I like it's style really much, it's fresh looking.

Any updates on the progress of this tower?

I just can't stop loving this design...please, build it!

Any updates folks? It's been a while.

A classy design for a gorgeous city... Looks like Gazprom's logo, nice flame. But please have it built it as far as possible from Piter's core, and mostly, that we don't see it when we admire Piter's gems and pretend we are czars, or when we admire Haussman's perspectives in Paris and pretend we are emperors, or Venice or Prague... 5 km may not be enough. It may ruin the city's atmosphere and skyline…Does anyone know how it will rendre on street level? Please Vladimir don't inflict this to your home town. Build everything you wish in bling bling Moscow, but leave the Kirov, the Ermitage and the churches alone.

I don't see how this building ruins the old skyline.In my opinion old buildings look really beautiful against glass

wow a very classy tower seems like russia keeps on hitting the mark when it comes to skyscrapers nowadays

Tsar's era is long long gone , preserve the past but move on to the future, modern and classic is the best combination ,not many city have that privilege , be positive my friends

Arabtec lands $2.7bn Russian tower deal
by Lynne Roberts on Sunday, 27 April 2008
CONSTRUCTION DEAL: Arabtec is to build the 400-metre-tall Okhta Centre in St. Petersburg.
CONSTRUCTION DEAL: Arabtec is to build the 400-metre-tall Okhta Centre in St. Petersburg.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/images/magazines/arabianbusiness.com/web/okhta_thumb.jpg


Arabtec Construction said on Saturday it had won a 10 billion dirham ($2.72 billion) project to construct a 400-metre tower and five other buildings in St. Petersburg.

The UAE firm won over Russian and European bidders for the deal to build the mixed-use Okhta Centre development, jointly owned by Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of the Russian national gas company Gazprom, and the City of St. Petersburg.

The complex includes office space, along with leisure and entertainment facilities including a library and sports centre.

Work will begin soon, and is expected to be completed over 43 months, Arabtec said in a statement.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/517572-arabtec-lands-27bn-russian-tower-deal

wonderful news, so this tower gets really built :cheers:

Wow! Great news, really exciting! What is happening with the controversy over local objections however?

Красивое здание,когда только его построят.И странно почему только один неброскреб строится

^^ English please, Nice that this tower gets build :cheers:

^^ English please, Nice that this tower gets build :cheers:

That guy wonders why the tower will be built alone (not in the cluster). Actually I also think that Okhta center must be either surrounded by other skyscrapers or moved far from the historical center of Piter. It will look very strange: one supertall in classical skyline of the city. Just like only one tooth in a mouth..

Arabtec lands $2.7bn Russian tower deal
by Lynne Roberts on Sunday, 27 April 2008
CONSTRUCTION DEAL: Arabtec is to build the 400-metre-tall Okhta Centre in St. Petersburg.
CONSTRUCTION DEAL: Arabtec is to build the 400-metre-tall Okhta Centre in St. Petersburg.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/images/magazines/arabianbusiness.com/web/okhta_thumb.jpg


Arabtec Construction said on Saturday it had won a 10 billion dirham ($2.72 billion) project to construct a 400-metre tower and five other buildings in St. Petersburg.

The UAE firm won over Russian and European bidders for the deal to build the mixed-use Okhta Centre development, jointly owned by Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of the Russian national gas company Gazprom, and the City of St. Petersburg.

The complex includes office space, along with leisure and entertainment facilities including a library and sports centre.

Work will begin soon, and is expected to be completed over 43 months, Arabtec said in a statement.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/517572-arabtec-lands-27bn-russian-tower-deal

Did Arabtec inform them that there is no such things as a deadline in the UAE, and that this is part of the way they work? :lol:

Im sure it will be fine though, good to read that it will get built :banana: .

It will look very strange: one supertall in classical skyline of the city. Just like only one tooth in a mouth..Remember Paris? Does its 'tooth' look strange? Probably, yes. At the beginnig, when in was built

C'mon. Eiffel tower looks quite harmonical in Paris skyline. If they built something like Eiffel in Piter, it'll be great. But not that boxy skyscraper with glass cladding..

But not that boxy skyscraper with glass cladding..

Which building are you talking about? Because it's certainly not this one.

Which building are you talking about? Because it's certainly not this one.

^^ Exactly this tower could be just like the eiffel tower just that this will be glass covered instead of a steel frame they are all sleak and tall :)

So this is the building every person in St. Petersburg is against. I'll just advise them to be quiet and let them build this beauty. No more historically boring houses, it's time to build something new. And once this is built, there will be others :)

I like this projekt.You are right it will be first step to build new ones

Yes creat a new modern beautiful skylines beside the gorgeous historical City so that people of every taste can enjoy St Peter

Yes creat a new modern beautiful skylines beside the gorgeous historical City so that people of every taste can enjoy St Peter

And there will be some restaurants on higher floors.

Where did you get that information nemtirev, last I knew they were all at ground level Podium.

When is the construction of this tower gonna start?

When is the construction of this tower gonna start?
soon
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/517572-arabtec-lands-27bn-russian-tower-deal

They've already started the foundations. Anybody in St. Pete's able to get out and get some pics?

No,just only fence there.But somebody works :)

I dont' know what will be with this project (if it can be cancelled?) after the scandal with new highrise and old skyline

http://i002.radikal.ru/0801/55/123bbbd96845.jpg

And what will be if Okhta Center will be built (it will):
http://i022.radikal.ru/0806/20/169c00f407ff.jpg

something like that, or even more smaller. 6 kilometers from this place.
http://i057.radikal.ru/0806/71/3dc0cee0c480.jpg

^^
Sorry, not my render

something like that, or even more smaller. 6 kilometers from this place.
http://i057.radikal.ru/0806/71/3dc0cee0c480.jpg

Nice.Today is 2008

something like that, or even more smaller. 6 kilometers from this place.
http://i057.radikal.ru/0806/71/3dc0cee0c480.jpg

Nice.Today is 2008

it's gonna' be a beauty!!!:okay:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7559/sdsdsdyg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1184/bigpre1189165233yt5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/9162/cdscxyr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/3235/sdadqc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Fawesome skyscraper :banana: Is it just me, or is the last picture weirded out?

This is going to be an amazing skyscraper!!!^^:righton:

Wow, a new symbol for St Petersburg. Very nice one.

Simply Beautiful & Elegant!

Time will show who is right today.
I like this project

Considering the shape of this tower with cladding in glass , it will just be like a diamont in the sky of St Petersburg with all that radiant reflections .It can't be ugly ...

http://www.ohta-center.ru/img/files/bashnya1.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/img/files/bashnya22.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/img/files/fasad_neva1.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/img/files/panorama_yakornaya1.jpg

внутри:
http://www.ohta-center.ru/img/files/atriumfinal2.jpg

http://www.ohta-center.ru/img/files/fasad_konstr1.jpg[/QUOTE]

I heard there is trouble with the city council that the people dont want it is this true ?

^^ Yes ! Because it may spoil the Historical centre !

The Eiffel Tower didn't spoil Paris . Most of famous Historical Cities now have two parts one is the historical area and a modern one for business ,like London ,Paris , Beijing... and they still attract visitors to come and visist like Magnet

Wow! Those new renders are fantastic! Looks super sexy now! Very crystaline and cool, I like it alot!

Has it actually been approved ?

I heard there is trouble with the city council that the people dont want it is this true ?

People only discuss this project.It`s question of politics.It will start when elections will start .Sorry for english

WOW. Simply beautiful. I used to give the edge to the Spire, but i change my mind. This tower is perfect

To all you skyscraper hungry retards. Think about the past! Part of assessing progress is how a nation can preserve its past! St. Petersburg deserves to grow but in a responsible manner. Why dont we go build the Burj Dubai in Lhasa? Because, it will ruin the culture and what the city has prided itself on. Gazprom and the Kremlin are the biggest crooks this planet has by far and goes to show that the people dont matter, only the powerful oligarchs of the Putin Era. This is why Russia will fail in developing. Oil is it's only means of power and without it goes its power, pride, and bullying of neighbors. I hope Ukraine can join the EU soon and be free from the Russian mafia. Stop the building is basically my point.

I'd build it but not in the city center.

I hope Ukraine can join the EU soon and be free from the Russian mafia. Stop the building is basically my point.

There is no need to write something... clear your brain... nothing serious from u.

To all you skyscraper hungry retards. Think about the past! Part of assessing progress is how a nation can preserve its past! St. Petersburg deserves to grow but in a responsible manner. Why dont we go build the Burj Dubai in Lhasa? Because, it will ruin the culture and what the city has prided itself on. Gazprom and the Kremlin are the biggest crooks this planet has by far and goes to show that the people dont matter, only the powerful oligarchs of the Putin Era. This is why Russia will fail in developing. Oil is it's only means of power and without it goes its power, pride, and bullying of neighbors. I hope Ukraine can join the EU soon and be free from the Russian mafia. Stop the building is basically my point.

^^ such a nonsense comment ! Beautiful Tower ...see... there are tons of people jealously shrieking out for this magnificent building

@Manitopiaaa, please move your political posts to skybar or somewhere else. Here is place for discussion about architecture, not politics.

New render is perfect, hopwever, still I am not fully convinced about location. Maybe it is groudless - I love Warsaw skyscrapers seen behind Old Town...

Resembles dubai towers in dubai, lol

I wish my City would have one of those ... I am tired looking at our City's skylines ... we got nothing ,nothing at all !

To all you skyscraper hungry retards. Think about the past! Part of assessing progress is how a nation can preserve its past! St. Petersburg deserves to grow but in a responsible manner. Why dont we go build the Burj Dubai in Lhasa? Because, it will ruin the culture and what the city has prided itself on. Gazprom and the Kremlin are the biggest crooks this planet has by far and goes to show that the people dont matter, only the powerful oligarchs of the Putin Era. This is why Russia will fail in developing. Oil is it's only means of power and without it goes its power, pride, and bullying of neighbors. I hope Ukraine can join the EU soon and be free from the Russian mafia. Stop the building is basically my point.

This retard believes that you can mix the new with the old. My own metro, Washington, DC, does a pretty good job of this.

If you want to rant, criticize the city planners in Shanghi which bulldoze historic buildings almost weekly to put up high-rise apartments.

I love the Okhta Center's architecture and style. It doesn't make the Winter Palace or Smolny Cathedreal any less amazing. They both have their merits and both are credit to the city's archtectural acheivements over multiple centuries.

As for your politcal rants, they are misplaced and not even accurate. The biggest source of economic power in Russia is gas, not oil. If Russia fails, it will be because of corruption, a weak legal system, bureaucracy and favoring nationalism over pragmatism, not because of over reliance on energy. Ukraine wouldn't have a western-leaning government if a "Russian mob" controlled it. Putin has diminished the influence of oligarchs and the Russian government now has a controlling interest in Gazprom. As far as not caring about people, well, there are a few Russians who prefer to see their country's oil in the hands of the "crooks" at the Kremlin rather than the "crooks" who are oligarchs. It's also worth noting, that Putin last week sent the Russian government's anti-monopoly office after the energy companies selling jet fuel because prices were 25% higher in Russian than in Europe. You can call Putin a crook, but some people think he's more like Robin Hood.

Robin Hood was a thief. ;)

Great skyscraper for St. Petersburg, though.

^^^^Simply beautiful, it looks like a flower ice cristal. Saint Petersburg is a must visit if you go to Europe, but when Ohkta Center is finished it would be unforgivable not to visit it.

Greetings from Chile

Unfortunately it`s only one big project in SPb.
Может кроме Газпрома рискнет построить небосребчик

Is the artificial island U/C not big in SP ? I though they are going to build an IBC on that one like the one in Moscow and a harbour for cruise ships too

This development looks fabolous, altough some of the ground level (retail?) areas could be brighter and more open.

The tower looks great and a big city like St Petersburg needs skysrapers.
They should definitely build it, but maybe not so close to the historical center. Or they should build more skysrapers around it so that they form a cluster like in La Defense or Moscow City.

Spectacular architecture, but unfortunatly it's going to dwarf and relegate the skyline of the historic centre. At is current location it would destroy the famous cityscape, see this rendering: http://i022.radikal.ru/0806/20/169c00f407ff.jpg That's just my opinion. However no one can really dispute the impact this building will have once finished.

They should definitely consider building it further away from the historic centre.

For entire article see
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/372120.htm

Crisis Puts Gazprom Skyscraper In Doubt
05 November 2008
By Ira Iosebashvili / Staff Writer
The financial crisis might do what months of impassioned protests by St. Petersburg residents failed to accomplish — halt construction of a $2 billion skyscraper that would serve as the new headquarters for Gazprom Neft.

St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko introduced an amendment to the city's budget that postponed investment in the Okhta Center for the first half of 2009, Vladimir Barkanov, chairman of the City Duma's budget and finance committee, said last week on 100TV, a local television station.

When contacted later by phone, Barkanov said the decision did not mean that St. Petersburg was pulling out of the project altogether.

"We have financed the Okhta Center for the last few years, putting in a set amount every half year," he said. "However, due to the current crisis, the funds the city had allocated to financing the project for the first half of 2009 will be redirected.

"The document on the city's participation in the project is still in full effect," he said.

Barkanov said the city would restart investment in the development once the economic situation improves.

For entire article see
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/372120.htm

Crisis Puts Gazprom Skyscraper In Doubt
05 November 2008This may be the only positive outcome of this crisis: saving Saint Petersburg's historic skyline from this monster.
And by the time the crisis has gone away, I hope they regain sanity and build it some kilometers away from the downtown. Exactly the way they did in Moscow.

has this design been released before he Dubai towers or after? Not that they copied each other.

This tower just looks like a lost boy from his family from Dubai.

This may be the only positive outcome of this crisis: saving Saint Petersburg's historic skyline from this monster.
And by the time the crisis has gone away, I hope they regain sanity and build it some kilometers away from the downtown. Exactly the way they did in Moscow.

How many kilometers would you be comfortable with? It is already 4km from the historic Rostrelli designed portion of the city. How big should a city be? How much sprawl should it have? To spread things out too far a city just becomes unsustainable after a certain point.

You also seem to be following the "stereotype" that this will destroy the city skyline. This is a very common misconception as it will not be visible from any of the key historic points and at points it is it is a very small dot. None of the images on this forum are the official visual impact analysis drawings produced by leading British and Russian surveyors, they are simply photoshopped images produced by people trying to argue their own misled opinion. Unfortunately I am unable to source these images at the moment, but I can assure you UNESCO and the city fathers have seen these and know your argument is a false one.

To add to the authenticity of my arguement I can reveal I am one of the original members of the tower design team. Currently I no longer work on the project hence my inability to source images.

And in response to the question is this a version of the Dancing Towers in Dubai? No. As far as I know the Ohkta Centre Tower design was released before the designs in Dubai. In the design team we had no knowledge of their existance but I believe the reality is they were both worked on around the same time. The Ohkta Centre is far more subtle in its design with the floorplates making one full rotation from bottom to top and the outer skin gently tracing this change. The Ohkta Centre is also related to the history of the site the floor plan originating from the Swedish fort previously located on the site. The Dubai effort looks like a design placed on the site with no relation to anything other than it seemed like a good idea.

How many kilometers would you be comfortable with? It is already 4km from the historic Rostrelli designed portion of the city. How big should a city be? How much sprawl should it have? To spread things out too far a city just becomes unsustainable after a certain point.

You also seem to be following the "stereotype" that this will destroy the city skyline. This is a very common misconception as it will not be visible from any of the key historic points and at points it is it is a very small dot. None of the images on this forum are the official visual impact analysis drawings produced by leading British and Russian surveyors, they are simply photoshopped images produced by people trying to argue their own misled opinion. Unfortunately I am unable to source these images at the moment, but I can assure you UNESCO and the city fathers have seen these and know your argument is a false one.You got to be crazy. How can a 400mt tower that's on the other bank of the Neva from the Smolny not destroy the skyline? In a city where in essence the totality of building are 25 meters high? :ohno:To add to the authenticity of my arguement I can reveal I am one of the original members of the tower design team. Currently I no longer work on the project hence my inability to source imagesI praise you for your honesty, but I also have to say this puts you out of any objective discussion.The Ohkta Centre is also related to the history of the site the floor plan originating from the Swedish fort previously located on the site.Yes, it is "related" in the sense that it sits on the location of, and would destroy, an historic site that should be rightfully preserved.

You got to be crazy. How can a 400mt tower that's on the other bank of the Neva from the Smolny not destroy the skyline?

Ok I conceed from that point of view it is unavoidable it will have an impact. However, if you look at the history of Smolny it was originally intended to have a very tall bell tower, so even then height was not considered to have ill effect on the skyline. Smolny

However, this is purely from one point in the city, and does not really relate to the overall skyline. It will not effect views from the Winter Palace, or areas around this which is where most of the critisism is aimed at.

Yes, it is "related" in the sense that it sits on the location of, and would destroy, an historic site that should be rightfully preserved.

The majority of the remains of the historic battlement walls are already destroyed due to industrial developments created during the communist era. The objective is that for any existing remains will be preserved and restored as fully as possible.

Beautifull


Hope to see more info soon, please

To all you skyscraper hungry retards. Think about the past! Part of assessing progress is how a nation can preserve its past! St. Petersburg deserves to grow but in a responsible manner. Why dont we go build the Burj Dubai in Lhasa? Because, it will ruin the culture and what the city has prided itself on. Gazprom and the Kremlin are the biggest crooks this planet has by far and goes to show that the people dont matter, only the powerful oligarchs of the Putin Era. This is why Russia will fail in developing. Oil is it's only means of power and without it goes its power, pride, and bullying of neighbors. I hope Ukraine can join the EU soon and be free from the Russian mafia. Stop the building is basically my point.

Who is the retard here? If you have anything to say get it right you moron! In the case of Ukraine it is their own leaders who is the mafia! They actually steal gas from Russia. The oligarchs ruled under the Jelzin era and Putin stoped them from ruin the country. And Russia have a diverse base for their economy but you are to ignorant to care for fact.:ohno:

i like this latest render much better

Ok I conceed from that point of view it is unavoidable it will have an impact. However, if you look at the history of Smolny it was originally intended to have a very tall bell tower, so even then height was not considered to have ill effect on the skyline. Smolny
Oh my. The bell tower of the Smolny was to be 140 meters not 400, and it was to be made in the same style of Smolny, not concrete-and-glass...However, this is purely from one point in the city, and does not really relate to the overall skyline. It will not effect views from the Winter Palace, or areas around this which is where most of the critisism is aimed at.Quite obviously, it will affect the view of the city from virtually anywhere. Anywhere in the city you can walk a few dozens of meters away from the buildings and look in its direction, you'll see the tower - and that's, among others, most boulevards, big squares and most of the river banks, as well as key scenic places like Peter and Paul's Fortress. Look, I'm not questioning the design, in fact it's a great project, but if I were you, I'd wish for it to be built some more kilometers away lest people from the whole of Europe may curse the authors of the project...

that's, among others, most boulevards, big squares and most of the river banks, as well as key scenic places like Peter and Paul's Fortress.

Common now this is the misconception I am talking about- It is nearly 5km from Peter and Paul Fortress. Even if you can see it from this point it will be a tiny dot in the distance. Would it be such a bad thing anyway if you see small little spire, probably mostly hidden by haze above rooftops from this position? Considering the vast wealth of beautiful architecture that is immediately infront of your eyes?

I actually think it's a very good tower design.

However, it will in essence have an Eiffel Tower affect on the city.

As such, it needs to be better than very good, it needs to be Eiffel tower good.

Don't think they are quite there yet.

OK intresting how long this building will built in Russia

Finance Chill Freezes Plans for High-Rise in Russia

By ANDREW E. KRAMER
Published: November 9, 2008

MOSCOW — From the department of silver linings comes this item from Russia: because of the financial crisis, plans for a controversial skyscraper that would have towered over St. Petersburg’s low-slung Baroque skyline have been delayed and — preservationists, architects and many residents fervently hope — may never be carried out.

Joseph Sywenkyj for The New York Times

A view of central St. Petersburg, where Gazprom envisioned a 1,299-foot-tall headquarters.

The mayor of St. Petersburg has submitted an amendment to next year’s budget to cut money for the city’s first skyscraper, which was to have been financed with Gazprom, the Russian oil and gas behemoth that has itself suffered financially with the spectacular decline in energy prices.

With general revenues declining, city officials said they would instead use the money to build a soccer stadium. They did so after Gazprom reneged this fall on its pledge to finance the stadium, said Mikhail Amosov, an opposition politician and the former chairman of the city council’s planning committee.

From the start, the proposed design for the tower by the London firm RMJM drew considerable criticism, the twisting facade alternately being described as evoking a flickering gas flame or a corncob. But the principal complaint from historical preservationists was its height.

The building would soar 1,299 feet, shattering a czarist-era rule that no structure, other than a church spire, should exceed the height of the city’s centerpiece building, the former Winter Palace, now the Hermitage Museum. Before the law was changed specifically for the Gazprom project, the zoning restriction at the proposed site was 138 feet.

So contentious was the proposed height that three of four foreign architects on the selection committee resigned rather than consider any design of that sort in downtown St. Petersburg. Critics took to calling it the “Gazoskryob,” or “gas scraper.”

Critics, including Unesco and a number of prominent architects, pointed out that the site was directly across the Neva River from Smolny Cathedral, a delicate ensemble of spires and onion-dome cupolas. And they roundly panned the design itself.

“It could be a mirage, appearing over the sand,” complained Semyon I. Mikhailovsky, an architectural historian and the vice president of the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Art. “It was unclear they needed it before, and now it is clearly unneeded.”

The skyscraper was conceived when Gazprom’s stock price was doubling yearly, and rising energy prices yielded a gusher of cash. Since its peak in May, however, Gazprom’s stock has fallen by about 70 percent.

Company officials still insist that the building will be built, and RMJM, in a statement, said it had not been notified of changes and was proceeding with its design work. A spokeswoman for the project, known as the Okhta Center, confirmed that the city was considering withdrawing the money but said the tower would be built regardless, without specifying where the additional financing might come from.

Vladimir V. Popov, president of the St. Petersburg Union of Architects, said in a telephone interview that other, shorter designs had already been drawn up for the Gazprom site, and he said he that hoped they would be dusted off now, in light of the financing woes for the skyscraper. “We don’t want the tower,” he said.

Any updates on this building ????

Where have I seen this before....

The project is almost canceled now. Saint Petersurg's government plans to take back all the money they invested into this building to equalize 30% cutted budget of 2009.

so this thing is almost dead to bad.