Proposed building will be lonely in St. Petersburg
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I always feel kind of cheap when I basically rip off a story from the New York Times, but that’s what I’m going to do. I just came across this article in today’s Arts section about a proposed skyscaper in St. Petersburg that is causing controversy because it’s going to be like 800 ft taller than any other building in town. The building is going to be the headquarters of Russia’s largest corporation and will anchor a new business district right on the Neva River. Said the company’s CEO of the plans:
“This new, modern project will give birth to a new mentality for St. Petersburg, which lives in a new, modern civilization,” said Mr. Miller, appearing with the city’s governor, Valentina I. Matviyenko. “And its citizens will feel the pulse of the new economy, the pulse of the contemporary world.”
So I’m all for progress. And looking at this rendering, it’s not a bad looking building. But, like. Come on. I think an important part of designing a beautiful structure is taking into account the surrounding area. And height isn’t everything. A building this high will be able to be seen from everywhere in the city when in point of fact, it’s probably not that important to the culture of St. Petersburg. So why make it a focal point for the entire city?
That’s a stupid question to ask, so let me point out that it’s rhetorical. They obviously want everyone looking at them. They’re this building so that everyone will who sees it, everyone in St. Petersburg, will have Gazprom on their mind. It’s all marketing, which is stupid.