Gazprom's Monument to Oil and Gas
Some of you may know about the new "Gazprom-Citi" that is to be built in Saint Petersburg.
I wanted to write a nice article on it, but then, decided I would just put some info here.
First, my reason not to make it news (although, it's not yet broke, so I can always write it later):
sources are a little close to the subject and I have a good sense of honor...thus, I can't go against my nature.
Anyhow, there were several designs (OK, still are several) and all architects are European. According to the council choosing and recommending which to build, Russian architects don't have enough experience or know-how to create such a "monument to the price of oil and gas." [Yes, that's a council member's own words, in English.]
While I agree with the statement, I couldn't help weigh in that Europeans can't truly build anything in Saint Petersburg now. Maybe they helped to design the city center up to 2 centuries ago and a few after, but it's clear that they want some great colossus or monument that really only adds up to an eyesore. Rather than see designs in news, I stopped by to see the real designs and what was basically a sales brochure of each architect and their ideas.
One even went so far as to describe his as "a window to Europe." [As if Europe is the common goal of all people to reach...let alone to look at.]
Many were made up of a single tower as their centerpiece. Then it really did look like a monument.
Throughout the discussion, I pointed out how these architects weren't designing anything 'Russian' at all. None of them really fits into the landscape around it either. I have spent plenty of time in the Ohkta region of the city, especially around Novocherkovskaya and I just don't see how 7 and 12 floor buildings are going to mesh with something that is more than 30 floors.
Finally, I found one that seemed more Russian and more practical...except that it has very clear, very European, and very Western-church-looking spires.
I weighed in my vote...and there was consensus in the room.
I guess I'll have to keep abreast of this issue now as I'm genuinely interested.
In other news...a school that I was working for (and that gave me the student that got me to the story above) didn't pay me for a month's worth of those classes. It's a good thing for them that I like the class, or I'd just stop. It's not like I need them because I haven't even been to get that money from them in 3 months...but then they slipped half of what they owe me out the door. [Schools here are pretty sly. I meet more and more teachers that point that out. I however try to be straight with everyone...if you aren't straight with me, I can find other people to do your job. ;-) ]
I wanted to write a nice article on it, but then, decided I would just put some info here.
First, my reason not to make it news (although, it's not yet broke, so I can always write it later):
sources are a little close to the subject and I have a good sense of honor...thus, I can't go against my nature.
Anyhow, there were several designs (OK, still are several) and all architects are European. According to the council choosing and recommending which to build, Russian architects don't have enough experience or know-how to create such a "monument to the price of oil and gas." [Yes, that's a council member's own words, in English.]
While I agree with the statement, I couldn't help weigh in that Europeans can't truly build anything in Saint Petersburg now. Maybe they helped to design the city center up to 2 centuries ago and a few after, but it's clear that they want some great colossus or monument that really only adds up to an eyesore. Rather than see designs in news, I stopped by to see the real designs and what was basically a sales brochure of each architect and their ideas.
One even went so far as to describe his as "a window to Europe." [As if Europe is the common goal of all people to reach...let alone to look at.]
Many were made up of a single tower as their centerpiece. Then it really did look like a monument.
Throughout the discussion, I pointed out how these architects weren't designing anything 'Russian' at all. None of them really fits into the landscape around it either. I have spent plenty of time in the Ohkta region of the city, especially around Novocherkovskaya and I just don't see how 7 and 12 floor buildings are going to mesh with something that is more than 30 floors.
Finally, I found one that seemed more Russian and more practical...except that it has very clear, very European, and very Western-church-looking spires.
I weighed in my vote...and there was consensus in the room.
I guess I'll have to keep abreast of this issue now as I'm genuinely interested.
In other news...a school that I was working for (and that gave me the student that got me to the story above) didn't pay me for a month's worth of those classes. It's a good thing for them that I like the class, or I'd just stop. It's not like I need them because I haven't even been to get that money from them in 3 months...but then they slipped half of what they owe me out the door. [Schools here are pretty sly. I meet more and more teachers that point that out. I however try to be straight with everyone...if you aren't straight with me, I can find other people to do your job. ;-) ]