Publication of Hermitage XXI
It's a pleasure to finally hold a copy of this new book I photographed about the expansion of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Here the Russian practice Studio 44 Architects have converted the east wing of what was originally the General Staff Building. This neoclassical masterpiece by Carlo Rossi lies across Palace Square from the Winter Palace and curves around to define the semi-circular form of the square. Studio 44 have re-established Rossi's original design principle by establishing an enfilade through the internal courtyard along a new a monumental concrete raised walkway mounted by dramatic staircases at either end. On either side the walkway connects through to both refurbished interiors and a series of new gallery spaces.
This was a lovely project to work on - a truly international collaboration. I shot it in July 2014 working directly with the lead architect and book's primary author, Oleg Yawein. But I'd already been lucky enough to discuss the project first with Thames & Hudson in London and then with Hans Ebelings in Montreal earlier in the year. Hans had been involved in the book since it's inception and wrote an essay for it - 'Nature and Nuture of a Building.' Other architectural luminaries also contributed text: Aaron Betsky, Dimitry Shividkovsky & Yulia Revzina and Rem Koolhaas, as did the museum's director, Mikhail Piotrovsky
View along the enfilade, showing the divergence of the axis of the enfilade (depicted as a glass slot) and the geometry of the huge gallery 'pavilions' that lie on it.
The curve of Carlo Rossi's General Staff building that defines the south side of Palace Square and now houses The Hermitage Museum extension.
Book spread showing the triumphal amphitheatre staircase in the main entrance courtyard and to the right the underside of the same structure.
The Ballroom in the grand enfilade of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.