SAINT PETERSBURG | Lakhta Center | 463m | 1517ft | 86 fl | U/C

[JohnFlint1985]

Originally Posted by Gaeus

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 . 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.

[morris71]

pretty nice

[Skyman]

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

















Visual points:

[CULWULLA]

looks dangerous! lol
cool looking skyscraper

[Gaeus]

Originally Posted by JohnFlint1985

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.

[Monkey9000]

Can this go into the "Supersexy Supertall" category?

[delores]

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

[Alweron]

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

[Flamming_Python]

Originally Posted by Alweron

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.

[ZZ-II]

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

[hkskyline]

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.

[webeagle12]

love the design, cant get any better sexy

[Frankfurter_Bockwurst]

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

[Hed_Kandi]

This must be built! Absolutely incredible architecture !!!

[ZZ-II]

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

[www.sercan.de]

320m is still good

[coth]

320m is the main roof mark

[ZZ-II]

so the complete height is still 396m?

[Middle-Island]

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.

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by Middle-Island

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.