3. Архитектурный облик Адмиралтейства/The architectural design of the Admiralty, (1704 – the date of the foundation), 1732-1738

Authors: architects – I.Korobov (1732-1738), A.Zkharov (1806-1823), sculptors – F.Shchedrin, I.Terebenev, S.Pimenov, V.Demuth-Malinovskiy, A.Anisimov (1806-1823)Address: Admiralteyskaya naberezhnaya, 2Construction of the first admiralty (a fortified shipyard) dates back to 1704, when Peter I, paying much attention to the Russian Navy, signed an order to establish a college to train qualified personnel for the Russian Fleet. Carpenters and shipbuilders fro Vologda and Archangels were brought to the banks of the Neva. The plan of the Admiralty shipyard was drawn by the Tsar himself, and on 5 November 1704 the Admiralty was founded. It soon became the centre of the shipbuilding that provided the Russian Fleet with the military ships. In the reign of Peter I 262 military vessels were built at the Admiralty, the first one being ready on 29 April 1706. In 1719 the A was rebuilt under the guidance of craftsman Herman van Boles. Some new elements were added, among them the tower with a tall spire built in the centre of the main façade and crowned with a small ship on the ball. Since 1886 the original ship (1.92 m wide, 1.58 m high, 65.2 kg weight) has been kept at the Central Navy Museum, and its copy was fixed on the Admiralty spire. The edifice of the A was rebuilt for the third time between 1732 and 1738 designed in stone in stone by I.Korobov. The fourth rebuilding of the A took place in 1806-1823: the A building as we know it was put up to the design by A.Zakharov. The architect included the Korobov’s creation in a new building. In mid. 19^th cent. the territory of the former shipyard was taken up by residential buildings which shut the A off from Neva embankment.The three-storey A with a façade of more than 400 m long is a magnificent example of the Russian Empire Style. Its graceful tower is topped with a gilded spire (72.5 m high), and the weathervane in the shape of a caravel on its top. The central and side facades are decorated with multi-columned porticos. An integral part of the A’s architecture is its sculptural décor – Navigation and Shipbuilding. The central relief on the attic entitled the Establishment of a Fleet in Russia (I.Terebenev) represents Neptune who is handing Peter I the trident – the symbol of power over sea. The central arch is decorated with two sculptural groups of sea nymphs supporting the Earth’s sphere. On the top corners of the tower’s lower cubes are four statues of classical heroes and military leaders: Achilles, Ajax, Pyrrhus and Alexander the Great (T.Shchedrin). The upper cube is embellished with the statues personifying the four elements – fire, water, air and earth; four seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter; and the four winds: south, west, north and east. Also placed here are the figures of Isis – the patroness of seafaring, and Urania – the goddess of astronomy (S.Pimenov, F.Shchedrin).

Shipbuilding in the A went on till 1844. Later only some departments concerned with the Navy remained in the building, since 1925 the A houses the Higher Naval Engineering School.