City restoration after blockade

Revival of the Leningrad industry and municipal economy demanded a labour considerable quantity. Shortage of people was compensated for account of inhabitants of nearby areas and the ruined rural areas which arrived to Leningrad for its restoration and in the majority settled on a new place. (Only in the beginning of 1945 numbers of the Leningrad builders have filled up 17 thousand workers, by the spring have finished training to building specialities about 70 thousand persons). It has more than ever aggravated a lack of habitation and a service network of a city.
In blockade it has been destroyed more than 3 000 inhabited constructions, it is damaged - 7 000, it is disassembled on fire wood - 9 000. In total during war Leningrad has lost about 5 million in sq. m of a floor space.

The significant amount of the apartment houses damaged by bombardments and bombardments, was unsuitable for residing, without considering completely destroyed, burnt down, disassembled on fuel. Complexity consisted and that restoration and building should be conducted in the conditions of constant deficiency of building materials, the technics, the qualified experts and workers, and the main thing, time - needed to build quickly. First of all restored that has suffered less.

On arms was experience of building of 1920th is taken, is concrete - building of houses in 2-3 floors. In favour of such decision was and the experience of erection stored for war maloetazhek in areas of evacuation of the Leningrad enterprises (in Ural Mountains, in Kazakhstan, the Volga region). Besides, in Leningrad already there were quarters of houses of this kind in the street Weavers, Tractor, on the right coast of Neva.

1947 became year of mass building maloetazhek. So, the whole complex from 92 undersized capital zhilpostroek, embodied with kulmanov V.Fromzelja, N.Nazarina and M.Rusakova, has appeared in New Village. Quarters of "proletarian cottages" have constructed in territory of the Belevsky field (on avenue of Engels), the Big Okhta, in village Volkovoj, etc. places. Such architects have taken a hand in their creation, as well as. Ilyin, S.Pjaskovskaja, A.Zhuk, etc.
At all doubtless advantages (the sensation of a cosiness, space, presence of the green zones by all means surrounding such houses) projects of introduction of low habitation had also essential lacks. First, they conducted to unjustified expansion of a city territory at very low density of building. Secondly, for connection of new built up areas with the centre, it was required to stretch unreasonably transport highways, a waterpipe, the water drain, cable and water supply systems. In the third, low buildings did not correspond to architectural traditions of northern capital for which houses in 5-6 floors are more characteristic. And these first post-war quarters reminded, more likely, building of provincial small town. (Later when Leningrad will expand, and outside of constructions poselkovogo type there will be high buildings, such small houses in city boundaries will be perceived, as something alien).
In the first post-war decade Leningrad developed mainly in a southern direction, thus its northern areas were built up inertly. T.o. In city outlines the obvious disproportion which should be corrected was observed.

Thereof, in 1950 new inhabited files in Old and New village, in the Moscow area and on ShChemilovke where after blockade bases for capital construction (the wooden large villages before occupying these territories were formed are projected, have burnt down in Leningrad burzhujkah, providing in military winters saving heat).
In 1945 Architecturally-planirovochnoe management (further - APU) has started creation of restoration workshops. (Their head the architect V.Anokhin) has been appointed. Restoration of palaces has simultaneously begun: Mihajlovsky (Russian museum), Jusupovsky (Teacher's club), Ekaterina's (in Pushkin), Pavlovsk, and also suburban palaces and parks, their fountains, etc.

Restorers had to solve the most complicated problems - from restoration, for example, the whole eaves on the remained piece of a stucco moulding, before selection of marble or a tree for tone, the invoice identical to the remained original. So, only in Russian museum it was necessary to restore more than 15 km (!) of modelled eaves, 2 500 sq. m unique plafonnoj painting, more than 500 sq. m of sculptural high reliefs. (Despite enormous volume of a recovery work, the main case of a museum has opened for visitors already 09.05.1946).
27.08.1947 on streets of Leningrad have taken a bronze statue of Samsona for Peterhof (cast anew at factory "Монументскульптура" instead of stolen by Germans). Spontaneous demonstration has about it taken place - people welcomed creation of this monument of the Poltava fight. (The Poltava battle has taken place in day St. Sampsonija, t.o. The Peterhof sculpture has allegorical value: Samson, i.e. Russia, tears apart a mouth of the Swedish lion).

The continuous line of houses in an old part of a city was broken by the gaping holes done by enemy shells and bombs. For maintenance of unity of the creative plan, one of architectural workshops of institute "Ленпроект" was engaged in each street any. For example, apartment houses on Kirovsk (Kamennoostrovsky) prospectus erected under O.Gurjev and V.Fromzelja's projects. Building of prospectuses of K.Marx (B.Sampsonievskoj) and F.Engelsa and all Vyborg party supervised over A.Barutchev, J.Rubanchik (and after V.Belov). In reconstruction and building of areas of Harbour were engaged B.Serebrovsky, A.Naumov, V.Panov.
In the early fifties, when has been decided to refuse low buildings, again in a course there is a Stalin empire style. Bright samples of such town-planning magnificence are inhabited constructions on Kirovsk (Kamennoostrovsky) prospectus. Occupied this incarnate good quality with 3-metre ceilings, wide kitchens, the big bathrooms, light halls, practical wall cases and so forth pleasant "excesses" representatives of nomenclature, scientific and creative elite. By the way, about notorious dearness of "Stalin building". All decor then worked well together on a template directly on a building site and in few days put on on flat facades. Architectural decisions 1970 (the reinforced ferro-concrete, displacement of large weights) cost dearer.
After Gostini dvor (which restoration has begun in 1944) the buildings destroyed by bombs at the corner of Gogol's street and Brick park, at the corner of the Neva prospectus and Griboedov's channel, Neva and Fontanka have been in the mid-forties built up. In post-war years general interest was caused by a reconstruction of architectural ensembles of the area of Arts and the Engineering lock which have been deformed by the latest constructions and extensions to old (historical) buildings.
To ensembles of suburbs and architecture masterpieces in line of Leningrad returned their initial shape deformed not only military destructions, but also the latest alterations. This labour-consuming and laborious work carried out more than 2 tens talented architects of the highest culture and a wide range of creativity. Here only selective and it is far not the full list of surnames of architects and their works: I.Benua - has recreated Kikiny of chamber, Kamennoostrovsky theatre, the Stroganovsky palace; K.Halturin - the author of reconstruction of the Troitsk cathedral, the Aleksandro-Neva monastery, Military school; A.Gessen - was engaged in restoration of the Menshikovsky palace, Peter I Small house, Petrovsky quay of the Summer garden, the Marble palace and artificial constructions in Peterhof and Lomonosov; D.Enikeev - has spent huge works on revival of a complex of the Pulkovsky observatory; I.Kapitsa - supervised over reconstruction of buildings on the Neva prospectus, Mihajlovsky street, square Arts, the Taurian palace, Moscow and the Triumphal arch, and also palaces of Strelny and Pavlovska; A.Rotach - restored the house of Laval on English quay, 4, the College of mines, the Isaakievsky cathedral, Petrovsky gate in the Peter and Paul Fortress, set of ancient bridges, etc.; M.Plotnikov - restored and Yelagin and Shuvalovsky (on Fontanka) restored palaces, dvortsovo-park ensemble in Lomonosov (the Chinese palace, the Waterslide, etc.), Benua's case, Znamensky church in Pushkin.
The general layout of development of Leningrad of the sample of 1939 by this time is in many respects obsolete, and war has introduced in it the corrective amendments. Therefore in 1948 APU has confirmed the new general plan. It has been decided to give up thought to move business and an administrative centre in a southern part of a city. (Under the previous plan historically developed city centre was supposed to be transferred from the north, from old Petersburg, on the south - to the end of the Moscow prospectus to which should become the basic smart highway connecting the old and new centre).

The new program provided a uniform development of the city in southern, northern and western directions. It should provide harmonious growth of Leningrad, communication of all its parts with the centre located in delta of Neva. So, in the plan it was put not only building new areas, but also reconstruction of the old. For example, reconstruction of the Neva prospectus, the Finnish station.

Transformation of area of the Finnish station became most a major project of the Vyborg area. (Reconstruction works were carried out by the whole collective of architects under the direction of N.V.Baranova). The new area - from the West, connected to the Petrograd party "Botkinsky prosharp" (Botkinsky street have prolonged to the Finnish station) has been created, and Lenin's old area have expanded, having finished it to quay Arsenalnoj which also was reconstructed. There was a district executive committee building. The monument to the leader of world proletariat has moved in the centre of the smart area. The new building of the Finnish station became a starting point of system of co-ordinates of this ensemble - its streets and the areas.

In Smolninsky area was under construction predmostnaja the area and direct entrance on the Ohtinsky bridge at Smolnogo. (It there was 1st stage of reconstruction of the territory adjoining to Smolnomu). Small Okhta varied - its reorganisation has begun in 1945 under the project arh. A.Bartucheva and, after A.Vasileva. The territory of the former hippodrome which destroyed and has burnt down after massed bombardments became considerable object of reconstruction in the Frunze area. Clearing of a coastal zone of Harbour on Vasilevsky island was the beginning of scale town-planning transformation. (This operation has been provided by 1st turn among actions for realisation of an exit in the west of island to seacoast). In October area the Obuhovsky area on Fontanka was reconstructed; the reconstruction begun before war of the area came to the end by Senna (World square). Gradually the city got normal peace shape.
In 1950-1951 the Neva prospectus has changed. From it have removed tram ways, have asphalted and have expanded sidewalks, have planted trees and shrubs in lateral streets, have restored avenues near Gostini dvor, have repaired facades of buildings. Then the reconstruction turn has reached the Vladimir and Foundry prospectuses, University quay and quay Robespera.

Also the undergone destructions of the enterprise and administrative objects, engineering constructions were restored. Huge shops "Electric powers", the Kirov, Izhora, Neva, Metal factories, etc. industrial giants revived.
In 1946 underground building is renewed, the special institute - Lenmetroproekt is created. Adits and stations laid on considerable depth. (The Leningrad underground is the deepest in the world. Opening of its first line will occur 15.11.1955).
Speaking about process of revival of Leningrad, it is necessary to tell about building of the largest parks of the Victory: Seaside (arh.: A.Nikolsky, V.Stepanov; the area of park more than 130 hectares) and Moscow (authors of the project: E.Katonin, V.Kirhoglani; the area of park of 68 hectares) - both of them have been put in one day in May, 1945 took part In their basis more than ten thousand leningradtsev.

Broke parks by technique absolutely new the then. In particular, before disembarkation of units of gardening the system of informed ponds has been created, and in Seaside park besides ponds the big rowing channel is constructed.

Simultaneously with apartment houses sports constructions, schools, hospitals, shops, hotels also were erected. Almost the stadium of Kirov (80 000 places) has been anew built up. This grandiose sports construction on Krestovsky's Arrow of island became a result of a life of outstanding architect HH century of A.Nikolsky (1884-1953). The Civil work begun still in 1932 and 1941 almost finished by the summer were interrupted with war. They have been renewed in 1946 and passed simultaneously with creation of Seaside park of the Victory. At creation of stadium for strengthening of coastal boggy soil from a bottom of gulf of Finland have lifted more one million cubic metre of a ground. About one and a half million cubic metre it was required to sand to lift the general level of territory. As a result the oval bowl of stadium towers over level of gulf of Finland on 16 m, dominating in huge space. This stadium (which solemn opening has taken place in 1950) Became original "a sea facade" Leningrad, picturesquely allocated among coastal constructions.
After war also have become operational: stadium "Physician", stadium of Lenin (30 000 places), stadium of the Kirov factory (7 000 places).
At enormous front of civil work catastrophically there were no architects and engineers. Thereof gross blunders which came to light architectural supervision or the architecturally-building control and which should be corrected that was by no means hard took place. Errors were supposed also that in 1944-1949 direct manufacturers of a recovery work received instructions not only from authors of the project, but even more often from the numerous party functionaries coming on building sites "to move hands". Such "spetsy" quite often interfered with process - introduced the corrective amendments and gave the valuable instructions necessary to execution.

As a result of requests and petitions Architecturally-planirovochnogo managements the Leningrad city town committee has been compelled to enter restrictive measures for bridling of a heat of secretaries of district committees and so forth leaders of regional scale. That builders had possibility to build in exact conformity with the design documentation, by the decision from above has been established that and recommendations partapparatchikov, concerning buildings, now it was required to co-ordinate councils with heads APU. It has allowed to restore successfully not only areas and quarters of a city, but also separate buildings and constructions. By 1950 in Leningrad into a system have entered the majority of the destroyed objects. However vosstanovitelno-restoration works will proceed and in 1960-1970.