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Old Posted Aug 1, 2007, 8:06 AM
bunker6 bunker6 is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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ST. PETERSBURG | Lakhta Center | 463 M / 1,517 FT | 86 FLOORS

The construction of the first supertall in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, seems to be finally approved after almost a year of rows and bitter dispute (there was a lot of objection based on the fact the tower would damage the value of the famous UNESCO world heritage site) and should be complete by 2012.

The winning proposal is by RMJM, a 396 meters tall tower right at the junction of Neva and Ohta (Okhta) rivers (last giving the name for the project), just a mile out of the historical center of the city, is going to be 51% sponsored by Gazpromneft, an oil branch of Gazprom (world's sixth company by market capitalization) and 49% by the city. The complex will be raised on the territory of a shipbuilding plant currently being demolished, right on the remains (little remained) of an Nyenschantz fortress built 1611, making a strong link between the city's past and future.

construction site, from the bridge seen on the first pic

Current status: demolition and clean-up at the site.

Notes:
- Saint-Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city with 5 millions population, a home to some of Russia's top companies.
- Saint-Petersburg is famous for it's historical center, making it one of the world' most beautiful cities, with long granite embankments, baroque imperial palaces, magnificent churches, boulevards, parks, monuments.
- Highrise construction was banned in the city because «it could ruine the historical value of the site».
- Originally it was stated that the Ohta Center is going to be the only tower in the area but just a few weeks ago one of Saint-Petersburg banks got a final approval for construction of a 200 m. tower just a couple blocks away.
- the shape of the tower was inspired by the Nyenschantz fortress, the 5-edged spiral would rise from the basement lying on the fortress walls. The basement floor will feature a museum of the fortress, which will be preserved intact.