32. Биржа: история создания/The Stock Exchange: the history of creation, 1805-1810

Authors:architect – Th.de Thomon (1805-1810)

Address:1^st and 2^nd Birzhevoy proezd

The first wooden edifice for the stock exchange building was erected on the spot of a modem Slock Exchange in 1730s when the commercial port was moved from The Trinity Square to the Spit''" of the Vasilyevskiy Island. In early I 780s the project of a stone construction for the slock exchange was carried out by G. Quarenghi who planned to erect the building with a facade overlooking ihe Winter Palace. The construction lasted from 1783 till 1788 when it was suddenly stopped - a formal reason was the lack of money because of the Russo-Turkish War. while in reality the architect failed in creating a harmonious ensemble with a stock exchange building in the centre.

In 1801 - 1804 Th. de Thomon was working on the projects of a stock exchange building on the Vasilyevskiy Island. The project was approved by Alexander I on 26 February 1804. The edifice started by G. Quarenghi was dismantled and on 23 June 1805 the ceremony of founding took place in the presence of the Emperor. The Minister of Commerce Count N. Rumyantsev was appointed supervisor of the construction.The building was formally completed in 1X10 but the exterior and interior decor was accomplished only on 15 July 1816 {the War of 1812 interfered the construction, the architect died in 1813 and didn't see the final result of his work).Standing on a tail plinth and encircled with austere Doric columns, the building is reminiscent of a Greek temple. The portico facing the Neva (the eastern facade) is decorated with a sculptural composition Neptune with Two Rivers, while the other portico (the western facade) is ornamented with Navigation with Mercury and Two Rivers carved from Pudost stone by stonemason S. Sukhanov.In 1832 two warehouses were built on each side of the Slock Exchange to the design by I. Lukini: nowadays the southern warehouse accommodates the Zoological Museum, while the northern one - the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Dokuchayev Centra! Museum of Soil.

The Stock Exchange building was used for financial operations of the merchants arriving in Saint-Petersburg and was a very crowded and busy place. When the commercial port was transferred from the Vasilyevskiy Island the Slock Exchange lost its original function. In 1889 the first Russian Industrial Exhibition took place in its walls. In 1913 - 1915 the building was reconstructed under the supervision of F. Lidval' and M. Peretyatkovich.

After the October Revolution the former Stock Exchange was used as the Club of Seamen. In 1940 the Central Naval Museum was opened there. The history of this Museum dales back to 1709 when Peter I started the collection devoted to the history of the Russian Fleet. The collection of a modern Museum includes more than 1700 models of ships (ancient and modem ones), schemes of battles, banners and samples of weapons. Among the most precious exhibits of the Museum is the Grandfather of lhe Russian Fleet - the botik of Pcier the Great.According lo lhe plans of the Saint-Petersburg Governor lhe former Stock Exchange building will be reconstructed to accommodate the Russian Oil Stock Exchange. Nowadays one can see the depiction of ihe former Slock Exchange on the Russian banknote of 50 roubles.