Style Northern Art Nouveau in the architecture of St. Petersburg

The beginning of the 20th century in St. Petersburg was marked by the appearance of a new architectural style, one of the characteristic features of which was the use in the design of exteriors of images of birds, animals, ornaments and plants borrowed from northern folklore. They made a significant revival in the massive and strict facade of St. Petersburg houses. The style of architecture, which continues the romantic traditions of the Swedish and Finnish traditions, was called "Northern Art Nouveau". His appearance was facilitated by the significant strengthening of Russia's ties with Sweden and Finland. In the art of these countries, the main trend was romanticism, actively using stories from epics and fairy tales.

This article acquaints us with the vivid monuments of the Northern Art Nouveau in the architecture of St. Petersburg.

Signs of style

The main external signs of the architecture of the Northern Art Nouveau are the combination of natural and artificial finishing materials, selected with great skill. Here, each component wins from the neighborhood with the other.

In the lining of the socle, Finnish granite is often used. In the style of the Northern Art Nouveau, its rough processing, the presence of smoothly chiseled fragments and elements of sculpture are envisaged. The plane of the walls on the upper floors is covered with a finishing brick or a layer of textured plaster.

Among the elements of the decoration of the buildings there are ornaments, inspired by the images of northern folklore - its fauna and flora. Attention is drawn to the frequent use of majolica and colored ceramic tiles.

The shape of the buildings made in the style of the Northern Art Nouveau is quite massive, there are no small decorative elements in architecture.

Contrasting combinations of textures and shapes, a variety of window openings, their combination with the piers and the general tone of the facade of the houses made in the style of the Northern Art Nouveau, in St. Petersburg in the full sense of the word are turned into a cold complex structure reminiscent of both large-scale constructions of the Middle Ages and northern rocky landscapes .

Northern modernism in the architecture of St. Petersburg was not widely distributed, but nevertheless one of the most striking pages in the history of the summer construction of St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century is associated with it. The main features of the direction that the inhabitants of this region appreciated were the use of natural materials - wood and stone, the stylization of the motifs of the folk architecture of the north and the Middle Ages, the organic interrelation of the exterior of the buildings with the landscape environment.

Northern Art Nouveau in St. Petersburg: history

The development of style in St. Petersburg was held under the significant influence of Finnish, Swedish and neoromantic architecture.

The artist, who paved the way from the northern countries to St. Petersburg, was Sergei Diaghilev, who organized an exhibition of Scandinavian artists in 1897 at the School of Technical Drawing of Baron Stieglitz. Later Scandinavian motifs were picked up by architects, who began to build houses in St. Petersburg in an unprecedented style.

It is known that the conductor of style ideas from the original source was Friedrich (Fedor) Lidval, one of the representatives of the Swedish diaspora in the Northern capital.

According to his projects in St. Petersburg in the period from 1901-1907. Buildings were built, which became an alternative to the spread in the city of the Austrian and German versions of Art Nouveau.

Specialists note a significant influence on the formation of the creative manner of the architect of such large figures in Swedish neo-romanticism as Boberg and the Classon.

An important contribution to the formation of the style of the Northern Art Nouveau at an early stage was introduced by the appearance of structures created by the projects of R. Melzer on Kamenny Island. Later, the influence on the style of architecture of Finnish motifs became one of the main. The iconic buildings of 1907, such as Putilova's house at Bolshoy Avenue. Petrograd side (the work of the architect I. Pretro), and the building of the insurance company "Russia" on the street. Bol. Marine (the work of the architect G. Gimpel), are signs of direct quoting of the works of their Finnish colleagues - L. Sonka and E. Saarinen. This, however, as experts say, does not belittle the individuality and high artistic quality of these works.

In the second half of the first decade XX, the Northern Art Nouveau in St. Petersburg becomes the main architectural trend, attracting the interest of young architects. With this time, connect the main achievements of N. Vasiliev, a former romanticist, in whose works an individual vision of style can be traced. Above the eastern motifs the northern theme prevails and in the facade of A. Bubyr's house (Stremyannaya Street), and in the final project of the Cathedral Mosque, and in some other buildings.

Subsequently, the Northern Art Nouveau was subjected to sharp criticism, which was often chauvinistic in nature. As an alternative to the so-called Chukhhonist modernist style, the neo-classicist was positioned as a truly national (imperial) style. And yet there were new and new buildings in the style of the Northern Art Nouveau. The former decorativeness gave way to rationalism.

Fine ornamental and sculptural decor, forming a romantic image, was replaced by a plastic combination of large volumes of the facade - balconies, bay windows, roof silhouettes. Particularly interesting, according to experts, profitable houses in the style of the Northern Art Nouveau, built in 1910-1915. (Architect A. Bubyr).

Representatives of

The Northern Art Nouveau in St. Petersburg is represented by the work of leading architects:

• Vladimir Apyshkov;
• Alexey Bubyr;
• Nikolay Vasilyev;
• Alexandra Zelenko;
• Fedor Lidval;
• Georgiy Makaev;
• Hippolyta Pretro.

Houses in the style of Northern Art Nouveau, St. Petersburg: TOP-5 of the most famous buildings

It is worth to go along this virtual route, laid by lovers of stylish architecture. It leads to the most famous buildings, built in St. Petersburg in the style of Northern Art Nouveau, and introduces their history. These buildings are a bright page in the city's attractions catalog.

The house of Bubyr on the street. The Rancid, 11

In the early twentieth century St. Petersburg architect Alexei Bubyr was purchased on the street. A rancid plot with buildings. Together with the architect N. Vasiliev, the master starts building an apartment house, where he plans to settle with his family, and rent the remaining apartments and rooms. The building quickly gained fame and became one of the new attractions. Passers-by were amazed and fascinated by strange drawings, abundantly adorning its facade. What kind of creatures could not be seen on its walls: crows, fish, fantastic plants, strange creatures from fairy tales and legends. A special place in the decoration of the house was given to the image of the sun, as if designed to illuminate the main side of the house facing north: warm sunlight does not reach here.

Construction lasted for two years. In 1907 new tenants began to settle here. At the very last, sixth floor, the architect himself settled with his family.

Features of style in the building on the Stremman

This majestic structure, towering above Stremyannaya Street, is a striking example of the Northern Art Nouveau: the architect Vasiliev, the main performer of decorative works on the main facade, combines many features written off from Russian landmarks and Mediterranean monuments.

Completion of the bay window shock the viewer and causes associations with the domes of the Novgorod cathedrals, stone bars lined on the sides of the passage and entrance. The house recalls lift bridges leading to medieval castles, while solar signs that simultaneously pay tribute to both European and Russian architecture can be seen on iron fences and plaster.

The fate of the house

Bubyr was the owner of the house until 1919, after the revolution he had to leave for Ukraine, where soon his life was tragically cut short.

The house remained standing in its place and, like many other monuments of architecture, he saw a lot. The building stood in the heat of revolution, war and perestroika. He happened to see him among his tenants and legendary townspeople: the former apartment of the architect was divided into communal housing, the famous Edward Gil lived here. Later on, the cafe "Elf" was opened in the house, in which representatives of the Leningrad underground, Viktor Tsoi and Boris Grebenshchikov, who had gained immense popularity, gathered to gather. It is known that in the yard of this house the shooting of the film "Brother" was conducted.

"Tolstoy House" (the apartment house of Count Tolstoy MP) on the street. Rubinstein, 15-17

This huge 6-storey house is not without reason called "city in the city". The peculiarities of its planning consist in the presence of three yards connected by thoroughfares, which form a real residential quarter and give the impression that the inhabitants live in a space completely separate from the rest of the city: in these yards there is a tremendous amount of space, and they also have some special atmosphere . The architect - Fyodor Lidval, the customer of the construction of the grandiose building - Major-General Count M. Tolstoy, a participant in the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878 gg.).

Lidval loved using elements inspired by the Renaissance in his works. In the design of Tolstoy's house you can find wide loggias on the upper floors, Renaissance arches. Decorative design differs deliberate restraint: only exquisite vases in the hands of cupids standing in niches, adorn the porches.

The house was conceived as a dwelling for representatives of all estates: here were provided as luxurious apartments, amazing with their high prices, and modest budget options. The layout provided for elevators, laundry and water.

This house can be considered a record holder for the number of celebrities living in it at various times, among which historians call the writer Alexander Kuprin, the artist Mikhail Shemyakin, the ballerina Irina Kolpakov, the writer and journalist Arkady Averchenko, the poet-revolutionary Vasily Knyazev and many others. In some courtyards of Tolstoy's house at different times one could see Akhmatova, Brodsky, S. Dovlatov, A. Rosenbaum, V. Gergiev, A. Raikin, A. Freindlikh, O. Basilashvili going to visit or returning home every day, M. Boyarsky and L. Luppian. The courtyards and the exterior of the building itself often served as scenery for the filming of films: the "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson", "Winter Cherry," "Born by the Revolution" and "Bandit Petersburg" were shot here.

"Sugar Loaf" (E.G. Follenveider's mansion) on the Great Alley, 13

Kamennoostrovsky Avenue is famous for its wealth of architectural monuments in the style of the Northern Art Nouveau. Especially it can be seen in the exteriors of the mansion, owned by a Swiss citizen, tailor and supplier of the imperial court E. Follenveider, the house was built in 1905 by the architect Meltzer. The mansion is a sample of the Northern Art Nouveau, but differs from the rest by the elements of the Gothic Revival. This is explained by the fact that the building was an experimental option, which laid the foundation for the direction of northern modernism that appeared in urban architecture.

Stylistics at home

The stylistic construction decision goes back to the traditions of Scandinavian and Finnish Romanticism. It is distinguished by the monumentality and simplicity of the volumes, the massiveness of the tower, decorated with a curved tent. Attention is drawn to the white plaster of the walls, which contrasts with the red roofing tiles and the gray granite of the basement. Its exterior looks like an old Scandinavian castle or a traditional Art Nouveau building, widespread in the 20th century.

Interestingly, as soon as the building was built, the people immediately dubbed it "Sugar Loaf" - most likely, because of the light color of the plaster and the elongated shape of the dome. It is known that after the revolution there was a sanatorium in the mansion. Today the mansion is occupied by the consulate of Denmark.

On the Profitable House of IM Lidval at Kamennoostrovsky Avenue, 1/3

It is known that in 1898 the site on Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt was purchased by the mother of the architect F. Lidval. The building is the first independent work of the architect. A new device of the author, previously unknown in the St. Petersburg architecture, was the arrangement of a large front yard, widely open to meet the street. This detail, atypical for the St. Petersburg apartment houses, was provided with a large amount of light entering the apartments.

Among the details peculiar to modernity, the author used a relief cartouche, with which he adorned the central portal, and the date of finishing the work on this part of the house - "1902" was stamped out. To the right of the date is a pine branch with cones, near which you can see a forest bird, striving to peck at a hare sitting beside it. Behind a figure of a hare, he sees his eared brother running out of the forest thicket. To the left of the date you can admire the image of the head of a lynx with a wide open mouth, next to it is perched on a branch of an owl with wide wings.

The exterior is striking in the abundance of images of lizards, large fish, forest berries, fly agarics, tulips, etc. The sight of the presence of diverse bay windows and balconies, window openings crowned with images of images from fauna and flora. These stylistic features have caused the house to be mentioned in textbooks on the history of architecture. At the first competition of "the best facades" in St. Petersburg (1907), the work of the architect was rewarded.

Among the famous residents of the house are the family Lidval, artist K. Petrov-Vodkin, actor Yu. Yuryev.

"House with Owls" (profitable house Putilova TN) on Bolshoy Prospect PS, 44

The building owes its appearance to the unofficial name to sculptures of owls adorning its facade. The house was built between 1906 and 1907. Its author was the architect Ippolit Pretro - one of the representatives of the St. Petersburg Northern Art Nouveau. The building was built for the merchant Mrs. Putilova, who at that time was the owner of one of the manufactory stores on Vasilievsky Island.

The house attracts attention with artistic disorder, windows of different shapes: wide, narrow, short, long. Then the spectator notices the presence of a stepped step of bay windows, an abundance of ornamentation rich in images drawn from the northern flora, fauna and folklore. The house with owls is a famous landmark of the city. Provided there are no decorative elements, the house could be considered an ordinary monolithic block, inside which there is a yard-well. But the presence of original platbands, balconies and images of marvelous creatures make the facade of the building truly unforgettable. It is the "House with the Owls" considered to be the business card of the Northern Modern style. In 1912, the work of the architect Pretro at the contest of the best facades was marked with a silver medal. At that time it meant recognition of the author's high skill.

On the revival of traditions

To the delight of all gourmets and admirers of tasty and healthy food, not so long ago in the Petrogradsky district the restaurant "Northern Modern" was opened. The name of the institution is reminiscent of an era marked by the unprecedented growth of Russian national identity, as well as the unprecedented flowering of art, culture and new strategies for doing business.

The title reflects the owners' understanding of the need to revive and strengthen national traditions. The building of the restaurant adjoins the building in which PetroCongress is located. Exquisite exterior and interior of the building are in harmony with the originality of its menu, which is dominated by the dishes of prerevolutionary cuisine.