The Hague, 7 December 2007 - Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage representing 250 European organizations, has just issued an urgent appeal to President Vladimir Putin, urging him to stand up to defend the historic heart of St. Petersburg. Unless urgent action is taken, this unique city - and especially its sophisticated silhouette - will be destroyed forever by the erection of the 396-meter skyscraper of the new headquarters of Gazprom, Russia's energy monopoly. Europa Nostra is deeply impressed by the plan to build the Gazprom City tower in this unique location and joins the international heritage community, as well as the outraged Russian public in their just opposition to the project, which, if implemented, would have a very disastrous impact on this historic urban landscape.
St. Petersburg, also known as the "Venice of the North," with its canals, 400 bridges and exquisite buildings is the result of an ambitious urban development project begun in 1703 by Peter the Great. Its main virtues, which allowed it to be given the status of a city included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990, are the horizontal line of the visible skyline, the urban historical integrity and the unity of the architectural style, which have been preserved intact for centuries.
Gazprom City, with its glass-clad tower designed by British architectural firm RMJM, will rise 23 meters above the Empire State Building in New York and will be three times the height of the tallest spire in St. Petersburg - Peter and Paul Cathedral, eight times exceed the tallest surrounding buildings, which are within 48 meters permitted by local regulations. It will be located on the other side of the Neva, next to the pearl of the Baroque - the Smolny Cathedral, which will forever remain in the shadow of this huge tower. The horizontal line of the silhouette of St. Petersburg, which has remained untouched for many years until now, has made this city famous. If the government fails to comply with its obligations to the Convention and the Gazprom City tower project is not forcibly halted, St. Petersburg will face the likelihood of deleting it from the World Heritage List next year.
In its appeal, Europa Nostra urges President Putin to ensure compliance with the existing zoning norms applied in this particular location, and proposes to choose another location for Gazprom-sit, away from the historical center, so that the historical urban landscape of St. Petersburg will be preserved for many years for present and future generations. In this symbolic case, it is very important to find the right balance between modern architecture and heritage preservation.
Contacts for information:
Laurie Neale - Information Service Officer -
[email protected], tel.: +31 70 302 40 55
Eleonore de Merode - Heritage at Risk Strategy Officer - [email protected], tel. + 31 70 302 40 52
EUROPA NOSTRA, the pan-European Federation for Heritage, is the representative body of over 250 European
heritage non-governmental organizations, the mouthpiece of the broad European civil society movement for the protection of heritage in appeals to interested international bodies such as the organizations of the European Union, the Council of Europe and UNESCO. The goal of Europa Nostra is to convey the significance of the historical heritage and its benefits to public consciousness, to make the preservation of heritage a priority in public policy, taking it into account when creating architectural, urban planning and agricultural projects.
Europa Nostra supports national and international campaigns for the protection and rescue of endangered cultural heritage sites. It promotes exemplary initiatives for the preservation and improvement of cultural heritage, recognizing outstanding achievements in this area through the establishment of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage - Europa Nostra Awards. Through its diverse activities, Europa Nostra strives to highlight the importance of cultural heritage as a building block of European identity and as a contribution to the strengthening of the consciousness of European citizenship.
Stop Gazprom from Devastating the World Heritage Skyline of St. Petersburg!
2007-12-07
Europa nostra
PRESS RELEASE COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
EUROPA NOSTRA appeals to PRESIDENT PUTIN:
Stop Gazprom from Devastating the World Heritage Skyline of St. Petersburg!
The Hague, 7 December 2007 - Europa Nostra - the Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage representing 250 heritage organizations throughout Europe - has just launched an urgent appeal to President Vladimir Putin, calling on him to intervene for the safeguarding of the historic core of St … Petersburg. If no urgent action is undertaken, this unique city - and particularly its delicate silhouette - will be forever ruined by the construction of 396 meter high skyscraper for the new headquarters of Gazprom, Russia’s energy monopoly. Europa Nostra is profoundly distressed at the planned construction of Gazprom City in this unique location and joins the international heritage community and the outraged public in Russia in its widespread opposition to the project which, if constructed, will have a severely detrimental impact on this outstanding historic urban landscape.
St. Petersburg, also known as the “Venice of the North”, with its canals, 400 bridges and exquisite buildings, is the result of a colossal urban planning project initiated in 1703 by Peter the Great. Its principal virtues - which granted it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1990 - are the horizontal skyline, urban historic integrity and the architectural unity of style that have been preserved intact over the centuries.
Gazprom City and its glass-clad tower, designed by the British architectural firm RMJM, would rise 23 meters taller than New York's Empire State Building and more than three times taller than the tallest spire in St. Petersburg, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, soaring eight times higher than the maximal surrounding building height of 48 m permitted by local zoning regulations. It would lie directly across the River Neva from the Baroque gem of Smolny Cathedral which would forever be overshadowed by the looming tower. The horizontal skyline of St. Petersburg - which has up until now been preserved intact throughout the ages - has rendered the city famous. If the State Party fails to respect its obligations to the Convention and the Gazprom City project is not brought to a grinding halt, St. Peterburg faces the likelihood of deletion from the World Heritage List next year.
In its appeal, Europa Nostra urges President Putin to ensure that the current zoning regulations applicable at the selected location are respected and that an alternative location far from the historical center be selected for the Gazprom City project in order that the historic urban landscape of St. Petersburg be preserved for the long-term benefit of present and future generations. In this emblematic case, it is vital to find an appropriate balance between contemporary architecture and the preservation of heritage.
For more information, please contact:
Laurie Neale, Communications Officer, [email protected], tel. +31 70 302 40 55
Eléonore de Merode, Policy / Heritage at Risk, [email protected], tel +31 70 302 40 52
Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Heritage, is the representative platform of over 250 heritage NGOs active throughout Europe. It is the voice of this vast movement of European civil society active in the field of heritage towards international bodies concerned, in particular the European Union Institutions, the Council of Europe and UNESCO. Europa Nostra is dedicated to putting heritage and its benefits in the mainstream of public consciousness and to making heritage a priority for public policies both at European and national levels. Its specific objectives are to promote, at a European level, high standards of quality in the fields of heritage conservation, architecture, urban and rural planning and to advocate a balanced and sustainable development of urban and rural, built and natural environment.
Europa Nostra supports national and international campaigns for the preservation and rescue of Europe's heritage at risk. It encourages exemplary initiatives in favor of the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage by recognizing outstanding heritage achievements, in particular through the running of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. Through its various activities, Europa Nostra seeks to highlight the importance of cultural heritage as a building block of European identity and as a contribution to the strengthening of the sense of European citizenship.
information provided by the Union of Architects of Russia
