Saint-Petersburg

Saint-Petersburg is a city, that has got rich history. That is why there are a lot of things to see and to do. Also there you can find a lot of different buildings from different eras. It is hard to tell everything about Saint-Petersburg, so for my first post about this wonderful city I am going to classify city's architecture on main groups.

1) Kievan Rus'
It is Russian architectural style of middle ages. Saint-Petersburg was founded in  1703, so, unfortunately, we have not got anything from this style . I will not write too much about it, but to understand what it is here are some pictures.

Here are more examples for those, who are interesred:
http://visualhistory.livejournal.com/758543.html
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/okluba/post156876081/
http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/excaliburclub/post368561333/

2) Imperial Russia
It is a period of Russian emperors, that came with Peter the Great. He led a cultural revolution that replaced Russian traditions with Europen one. With those changements architecture of Russia also has cardinally changed. Saint-Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great and became the imperial capital of Russia. Accordingly our city is a cultural capital that looks more Europen than all other Russian cities.
Nowadays, all those buildings from 18th-19th centuries can be seen just in the center of city. It is the most touristic part of city.
Here are main characteristics:

• combination of colors (usually white pastel) 
• a lot of decor on facades
• combination of different elements (for example: windows with different shapes and sizes on same facede)
• using arcchitecture styles as baroque, classicism, empire, eclecticism...
• symmetry
• inspiration from Ancient Greece
• common walls of different buildings
• Many of those buildings need restoration 

3) Postwar Soviet Union
In the priod of USSR everything has chaged completely, because Soviet Union was against capitalism and imperial dynasty. With change of each Soviet leader architecture also was changing. Buildings of those styles can be mostly seen in regions that are around center. Here are main characteristics:
a) Stalinist architecture
Stalinist architecture is mix of classicism and constructivism. In this period architecture had task as showing greatness and development of socialism. Here are some characteristics:

• ghrandiosity of buildings
• highness
• simple forms
• using more stone and brick as main material of facades
• monocolor of facades

b) Khrushcyovka
Khrushcyovka is a low-cost, concrete-paneled (or brick) three/five-storied apartment building that was developed by Nikita Khrushov. They were popular, because they can be built very quickly with minimum effort. Those buildings are usually monotous and ugly. Apartments are usually small, uncomfortable and have low ceiling.

4) Modern times
Modern buildings can be found on outskirts of city. Nowadays people build big high buildings that are similar to each other. They include a lot of apartments and take a lot of place. Usually they are built too close to each other. That is why we have something like forest from buildings that are not attractive. There are not too much presentable modern buildings, especially from residential buildings.