The Singer House on Nevsky Prospect is a landmark in St. Petersburg with an interesting history. This majestic mansion with exquisite facades is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. Built over a century ago, it combines elements of several architectural styles, yet is considered a vivid example of early 20th-century Art Nouveau.

History of the House's Appearance

On the site acquired by I. Singer in the early 20th century, there was previously a theater building where comedies were often staged. The wooden structure stood on a stone foundation, its walls were covered with canvases, and there were two entrances on the canal side. In 1742-1743, the theater was rebuilt under the guidance of the famous Italian architect F. Rastrelli, but five years later it burned down.

In 1777, the first stone building in the early classicism style appeared on this site, consisting of three floors. Its owner was Father Ioann Panfilov, the rector of the Nikolskaya Church. Later, the estate passed to the Borozdins family, and in 1820, to pharmacist Karl Imzen, who sold analogs of modern bioactive additives. During this period, another floor was added.

In the following years, the house was rented out to private individuals: there were shops selling tea, coffee, books, sheet music, and grocery items. In 1829, the first bookstore appeared, and in 1849, a photo studio of the first Russian professional photographer S. Levitsky. Many photographic portraits of famous people, such as Gogol, Herzen, Tolstoy, and others, were preserved here.

Soon, the site attracted I. Singer, the owner of an American corporation known in Russia for its sewing machines.

The First Petersburg Skyscraper

The Singer Company showed interest in the Russian market as early as the 1860s. For 40 years, the company successfully sold its products in the Russian Empire. In the early 20th century, it was decided to build a factory in St. Petersburg. In 1902, entrepreneurs from across the ocean purchased a plot at the intersection of Nevsky Prospect and the Ekaterininsky Canal (now the Griboedov Canal). It was planned to create a high-rise building for a store and rental spaces.

Architect L. Ilyin opposed such proximity to Kazan Cathedral, but Emperor Nicholas II granted permission for construction.

The construction of one of the most beautiful architectural works in St. Petersburg began in 1902 and was completed in 1904. The architect was P. Yu. Syuzor, a master of eclecticism and Art Nouveau. Thanks to him, the Singer House became a new type of building that influenced the design of future business centers.

In the early 20th century, public buildings aimed to be spacious, bright, and functional. Profit depended on the number of rented spaces, and land was expensive, so balance was achieved through height.

The Singer House was originally planned to have 11 floors, but the plans changed for three reasons:

1. A ban on construction above 23.5 meters in the historical center.
2. The building should not obstruct the view of the churches.
3. The marshy soil of Petersburg was a challenging foundation for a high-rise.

Syuzor found a solution: six floors complied with the regulations, while the seventh was arranged as an attic with an arched roof on reinforced concrete. A decorative tower highlighted the building.

A distinctive feature of the building was its luxurious decoration. The light tower-dome with a glass globe 2.8 m in diameter stood out brightly but did not obscure the churches. In the evenings, the tower glowed, delighting passersby.

The "first Russian skyscraper" was executed in the Art Nouveau style. The facades were faced with granite: the lower floors were red, the upper ones gray. Inside, there was a courtyard with a glass roof and walls made of multicolored bricks. The lower floors housed a store, while the upper ones contained sewing workshops, and the attic was occupied by the Russian branch of Singer.

Syuzor's approach was innovative. The decor featured elements of neo-baroque and Art Nouveau, with a metal frame and brickwork as the foundation. This allowed for large showcase windows. The installation of beams was carried out using progressive riveting techniques.

Initially, the architect was Ernest Flagg.

Syuzor was interested in technical innovations. The downpipes were hidden in the walls to avoid spoiling the facades. The building was equipped with modern ventilation, ensuring fresh air at all times. An innovation was the system for combating icicles, which used hot steam in winter.

The frame details and cast-iron batteries were manufactured at the San-Galli factory, while bronze products were made in K. Winkler's workshop.

The interior was impressive: an elegant staircase made of Carrara marble and limestone, walls with golden forging, and a curved window that expanded the space.

The Singer Company planned to install four elevators, but Syuzor deemed two sufficient. Instead of a fire escape, he designed a baroque marble one. The Singer House combines unique engineering solutions and the aesthetics of Art Nouveau.

An Unusual Mixture of Styles and Symbolism

The glass globe on the tower symbolized the global scale of the company. It is supported by a composition of bronze Valkyries. An eagle appeared on the dome during World War I when the building became the U.S. Embassy. The eagle became a symbol of the American image.

The Singer House combines Art Nouveau and modern baroque. The latter includes cartouches, Valkyries, and shells. Plant ornaments, dragon heads, mascarons, and glazed tiles reflect Art Nouveau.

The area of the house is over 7000 square meters.

From baroque, the house borrowed an allegorical subtext. One Valkyrie holds a harpoon, symbolizing heavy industry and wisdom. Another holds a spindle and a sewing machine, embodying light industry and the company's goods. The sculptures were created based on models by A. L. Ober and A. G. Adamson. On the facade, there are attributes of the god of commerce Mercury.

The Fate of the Building in the Soviet Period

The Singer House in its original form lasted 13 years. After the October Revolution, production in Russia was closed, and the building was transferred to "Petrogosizdat." It underwent renovations, and part of the decor was lost.

The two lower floors housed the "House of Books," while the others were occupied by editorial offices of magazines and newspapers. In December 1919, the store opened to customers and became a center of book trade. By 1923, it became the leading bookstore in the country. Notable figures such as A. Tolstoy, O. Forsh, S. Marshak, D. Kharms, V. Mayakovsky, and others visited.

The "House of Books" was a cultural center where meetings with authors and poetry evenings took place.

In November 1941, during the Siege of Leningrad, a bomb fell near the store, shattering windows. Employees boarded up the windows and continued working. Even when pipes burst, they did not leave, and trade continued at street stalls. After the war, the building was restored, and in 1948, the store reopened.

In 1949, a festive fair was organized, which became a tradition, attracting readers from all over the USSR.

In 1965, the building was damaged by shelling, and by the end of the 20th century, it had deteriorated. In 1999, major repairs were needed, during which engineering systems were replaced.

The Current State of the Singer House

The oldest bookstore is still here today. Some floors are rented out as offices, including for employees of the social network "VKontakte."

In the 2000s, city authorities conducted a large-scale reconstruction that emphasized the features of Art Nouveau. Decorative elements, Venetian plaster, mosaic floors, oak frames, doors, and forging were restored. The cladding was replaced, the copper roof and courtyard tiles were restored. The eagle on the tower was restored based on photographs.

Canopies were placed above the attic, allowing the technology of snow melting and tiles ordered from the same factories as in the 19th century to be seen. Continuous glazing and tiles in the atriums filled the space with light.

About 2500 piles were driven into the foundation, ensuring waterproofing. The transparent dome was restored with modern double-glazed windows. While preserving the historical finish, security and comfort systems were added. Additional staircases were created, and the existing one was made of marble; modern elevators were installed.

Today, the "House of Books" is the largest bookstore in St. Petersburg and one of the largest in Europe. There is a café with a view of Kazan Cathedral. The space is decorated in accordance with the majestic decor and does not contrast with the overall atmosphere.

Excursions are held in the "House of Books," where a guide tells the history of the building and shows the magnificent interiors. The most exciting part is visiting the observation deck at the tower with a panoramic view. Visitors are not allowed inside the dome, but the structures are safe.