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Little England in Saint-Petersburg
New Holland Island is a historic triangular artificial island in Saint Petersburg, Russia, dating from the 18th century.
The island was created in 1719, when the newly built Kryukov Canal and Admiralty Canal connected the Moika River with the Neva. The triangular island took its name after a number of canals and shipbuilding facilities that rendered its appearance similar to Amsterdam. The island was originally built for timber storage. Peter the Great took the opportunity to create a naval port, including a wooden palace for his own use. In 1821, it became the country's first military port.
In 2004, the Ministry of Defense evacuated the buildings, which were to be refurbished for hotels and clubs to a design by Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, until the consortium running the project ran into difficulties.
Since 2010, the island is owned by the Iris Foundation (Daria Zhukova's art foundation). A new project was established with space for galleries and a museum, possibly to house Abramovich's art collection. The $12 billion dollar redevelopment project was awarded to NY-based architecture firm WORKac. The island opened to the public in 2011. The planned £256m complex is intended to combine commercial and residential properties with the restoration of monuments that are protected by UNESCO.
While very similar to the plans made by Fosters + Partners in 2006,. the firm WORKac designed the new island as a microcosm of St-Petersburg, a concept of "city within the city".
Little England in Saint-Petersburg
New Holland Island is a historic triangular artificial island in Saint Petersburg, Russia, dating from the 18th century.
The island was created in 1719, when the newly built Kryukov Canal and Admiralty Canal connected the Moika River with the Neva. The triangular island took its name after a number of canals and shipbuilding facilities that rendered its appearance similar to Amsterdam. The island was originally built for timber storage. Peter the Great took the opportunity to create a naval port, including a wooden palace for his own use. In 1821, it became the country's first military port.
In 2004, the Ministry of Defense evacuated the buildings, which were to be refurbished for hotels and clubs to a design by Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, until the consortium running the project ran into difficulties.
Since 2010, the island is owned by the Iris Foundation (Daria Zhukova's art foundation). A new project was established with space for galleries and a museum, possibly to house Abramovich's art collection. The $12 billion dollar redevelopment project was awarded to NY-based architecture firm WORKac. The island opened to the public in 2011. The planned £256m complex is intended to combine commercial and residential properties with the restoration of monuments that are protected by UNESCO.
While very similar to the plans made by Fosters + Partners in 2006,. the firm WORKac designed the new island as a microcosm of St-Petersburg, a concept of "city within the city".