Evolution of high-rise construction in Leningrad – Saint Petersburg in the middle of the 20^th – Early 21^st centuries: projects and Implementation

Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Department of Urban Planning, Vtoraya Krasnoarmeyskaya str. 4, Saint Petersburg, 190005, Russia

^* Corresponding author: avaytens@gmail.como

Abstract

One of the most important issues in national urban planning is arrangement of high-rise buildings in the largest cities of Russia. This issue becomes especially acute in such cities as Saint Petersburg, which has unique architectural and urban-planning heritage preserved to a great extent. In this regard, it seems important to trace the evolution of high-rise construction development and arrangement in Leningrad – Saint Petersburg in the middle of the 20^th — early 21^st centuries. The goal of the article is to consider high-rise construction development regarding both public and residential buildings in comparison of project ideas and results of their implementation in the 1940s–2000s. Prerequisites and issues of high-rise construction of that period are considered. Particular attention is paid to changes in the official urban-planning policy, regulatory framework and attitude of city authorities to high-rise construction. The study was carried out with the consideration of the following historic periods differing in their urban-planning policy: the late 1940s–1950s; 1960s; 1970–1980s; 1990s; 2000s–2010s. Economical prerequisites of high-rise construction and their influence on the modern urban-planning policy during the post-Soviet period are considered. In conclusion, an attempt is made to determine tendencies of high-rise construction development in Saint Petersburg.