Kikin Chambers in St. Petersburg is a unique 18th-century architectural monument and one of the few residential buildings of the Petrine period that have survived to this day. Before them is a square, which is a favorite place for guests of St. Petersburg and the townspeople.
Alexander Kikin
In the 18th century, this magnificent building belonged to one of the closest associates of Peter the Great. Alexander Kikin, who was educated in Holland, was the first head of the St. Petersburg Admiralty, as well as the confidant of Tsarevich Alexei. The latter caused his disgrace. Later, when during the investigation of the plot of the heir to the throne against his father, it turned out that the admiral adviser was directly involved in organizing the escape of the imperial first-born abroad, he was sentenced to wheeling and died on the scaffold with a painful death.
Construction history
Kikin's chambers in St. Petersburg were erected in 1714-1720 on one of the land plots owned by the Admiral Advisor. It is noteworthy that on the second land allotment Kikin today is the Winter Palace. The architect who directed the construction is supposedly Andreas Schlüter. He created a luxurious city house, or, as it was customary to say then, spacious baroque chambers with rich exterior and interior decoration.
Description of the monument
The central part of the house was 2-story, and two one-story wings intended for household needs adjoined it on both sides. The windows and doorways of the Kikin Chambers were framed by platbands, and the roof was covered with flat tiles. The building had lateral risalits, which were protrusions located in the center and on the sides of the facades. Their feature was the presence of intricate decorative curls, the so-called volute and shoulder blades. They performed not only decorative functions, but also constructive, as they contributed to the strengthening of the wall.
The chambers of Kikin in St. Petersburg were decorated with a front porch, on which small stairs led from both sides. White balusters gave them a special, solemn appearance. The building was decorated with pediments, and it was crowned with a high roof with a fracture. The internal layout of the structure was very similar to the arrangement of rooms in the Peterhof Grand Palace.
Kunstkamera
After the execution of the owner in 1718, the Kikin’s chambers in St. Petersburg were confiscated to the treasury. Then the collection of the Kunstkamera and the library of Peter the Great were transferred there. Since people believed that the ghost of the murdered Kikin was wandering around the house, there were few people wishing to see a collection of wonders belonging to the tsar. Then the king, who was interested in popularizing the natural sciences, had to resort to tricks and promise everyone who visits the Kunstkamera a glass of vodka or a cup of coffee. Thanks to this advertising move, the number of visitors grew over time, and excursions to the former Kikin wards in St. Petersburg even became fashionable among representatives of the capital’s high society. It is known that Peter the Great himself often came there, wishing to show off to his overseas guests his “freaks” and “green old” items brought from different parts of the country.
In addition, part of the building was transferred to the Tsar’s sister, Natalya Alekseevna, who arranged one of the first Russian city theaters there.
Further fate
According to a well-known legend, once Peter the Great, walking along the banks of the Neva River, saw a branch of a tree that miraculously grew into its trunk. He decided to build a new building for the Kunstkamera in this place, where he moved a collection of wonders. The newly deserted Kikin chambers were taken to the needs of the capital's Life Guards Horse Regiment. In particular, they placed the warehouse first, and since 1741 - the infirmary and the office. Later, the building was rebuilt, a wooden belfry was erected over the central part, setting up a regimental temple in the former wards of Advisor-Admiral Kikin.
In the 19th century
After 100 years, the Kikin’s chambers in St. Petersburg were very dilapidated, and they were again reconstructed according to the design of Alexander Staubert. The latter approached the solution of his task extremely negligently and, without hesitation, destroyed the whole rich Baroque decor that adorned the facade of the house. In addition, he removed the superstructure in the form of a bell tower, erected at one time by the architect Rastrelli, just plastered the walls and from the embankment side 2 buildings were added to the building.
In the twentieth century
During the Leningrad blockade as a result of intensive bombing, the Kikin Chambers suffered serious damage. In 1952-1956, the rear ones were restored in the form that was supposed to be closest to the original. More precisely, since there are almost no images of the Kikin’s chambers of Peter the Great, the author of the project, the architect Irina Benois, created the exterior that could have been at the city house of that era. As for the internal premises, a redevelopment was made, as a result of which the building became suitable for placement in it an educational institution - the Children's Music School No. 12, which today is known as the St. Petersburg Music Lyceum. Benoit's work was praised by experts in the field of architectural history. Therefore, admiring the modern look of the Kikin Chambers, it should be remembered that we owe it to this talented woman who did a lot to recreate the look of post-war Leningrad.
Kikin Chambers in St. Petersburg: address
The monument of Peter's architecture is located on Stavropolskaya street (house 9). In front of the building is the Kikina Chambers square. St. Petersburg is a city with a developed system of transport accessibility, so getting to this tourist site will not be difficult. In particular, a few meters from the square, on Shpalernaya Street, there is a bus stop, which can be reached by buses with numbers 54, 74 and 136.
Now you know where the Kikina Chambers square is located in St. Petersburg. You have already seen photos of this place and the famous historical monument located close to it, so you probably want to visit this corner of the Northern capital, where the spirit of old St. Petersburg is still preserved.