Gazprom City, the planned 1,050-foot-tall headquarters in St. Petersburg for the energy giant Gazprom, has been rechristened the “Okhta Center,” which refers to the traditional name for the neighborhood where it could be built. The skyscraper’s name may have softened, but not its potentially harsh visual impact on the historical skyline.
UNESCO cautioned in August that if the tower, designed by Edinburgh-based RMJM, is built as planned, St. Petersburg risks losing “world heritage” status, which it has held since 1990 and confers a degree of cultural prestige and legitimacy. The warning came as the latest sign of international disapproval after the World Monuments Fund included the city’s skyline on its Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites earlier this year. Both groups object to the tower’s height, which exceeds current limits. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization claims that it registered concern about the project with Russian authorities last year but failed to receive adequate responses to its request for more information.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.