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.
![](http://www.bunker6.com/pictures/oc/ocp.jpg)
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.