Modernity and Tradition in conflict in World Heritage Sites Case Study of Gazprom Okhta Centre in Saint Petersburg

Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Chapter 1 6
Russia and Saint Petersburg in the UNESCO World Heritage List 6
1. UNESCO and World Heritage list 6
2. The presence of Russian Federation 13
2.1 The Soviet image of UNESCO 13
2.2. The Russian Federation and the World Heritage List 21
3. Saint Petersburg and UNESCO 36
3.1 The architecture of Saint Petersburg from 1703 to present day 36
Bibliography 49
Printed sources 49
Electronic Publications 51

The structure of the work is as follows: the introduction, 3 chapters, the conclusion, appendix 1, appendix 2, appendix 3 and bibliography.

In the First Chapter of the Master Dissertation, after a brief introduction dedicated to UNESCO, some distinct features of World Heritage sites are discussed. A special attention is drawn to the entrance of Russian Federation into UNESCO and its consequent list of properties. Furthermore, it is outlined a brief description of Saint Petersburg architecture history.

The Second Chapter includes a deeper insight of the competition for winning the construction contract for building the tower, the proposed plans and related achieved results. From this competition, there were six finalists and all of them contemplated a tall office tower in their proposals. None of the architects left were Russian.
...

1. UNESCO and World Heritage list

The twentieth century has witnessed a gradual transformation in the scope of international relations. In the past, international relations were almost exclusively to the realm of political diplomacy. With the development of easy communication between the various parts of the world, economic factors have had an increasingly direct effect on the relations between states. The emergence to power of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia brought ideological factors to the first place, and the politics of ideological collision have tended to polarise nation states as between the right and the left.

In that period, two important facts made UNESCO necessary. The Second World War provided proof of the inadequacy of political diplomacy as the sole instrument in establishing and maintaining international peace and harmony. It brought into relief the new character of war itself.
...

2.1 The Soviet image of UNESCO

Soon after the conclusion of the war, the Soviet government launched an internal campaign against “cosmopolitanism” denigrating undirected international intellectual contacts. UNESCO was viewed as an Organization attempting precisely such cosmopolitanism. On the other hand, one of the important weapons of communism has consisted in appeals and arguments addressed to intellectuals all over the world (Borkenau, 1962).

The attitude of the Soviet Union towards UNESCO after the war can only be measured by studying indirect sources such as the Czechoslovak, Yugoslav, Polish and Hungarian. These nations were for the most part represented in the Organization. The Soviet periodicals and newspapers themselves were discreetly silent about the specialized agencies of the United Nations in general, and about UNESCO in particular.
...

2.2. The Russian Federation and the World Heritage List


By considering a country like Russia, which is so vast and variegated, there are plenty of cultural and natural sites to visit. To further protect these, the Soviet Union signed the World Heritage Convention in 1988. Just why the USSR signed the Convention only in 1988 is not clear, but it may not have been willing to accept the obligations implied by designating sites as global treasures. There is a hint of an explanation coming from two speeches by Gorbachev in the summer 1988 - note the contiguity of historical monuments and environmental protection, which makes sense only against the backdrop of the World Heritage Convention - just months before the Soviet Union ratified the Convention in October.
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3. Saint Petersburg and UNESCO
The Russian and world culture is owed to Saint Petersburg for such names as Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Blok and Achmatova. The image of Saint Petersburg city and surroundings produced significant influence on the creative activity of these masters, helped to develop their own talent. At the same time, it is impossible to understand their creative work without being acquainted with the city.

3.1 The architecture of Saint Petersburg from 1703 to present day
Saint Petersburg was designed to impress. It is hard to avoid feeling that there were two Petersburgs: the one of Pushkin and Akhmatova - formal, magnificent, elegant - and the other one of Dostoevsky and Nekrasov - bureaucratic, mercantile. In addition, today these two cities continue to co-exist and overlap, despite all the changes that have taken place over the past hundred years.
...

Printed sources

• Armstrong, J.A. (1954) The Soviet Attitude Towards UNESCO. International Organozation, Vol.VIII, pp.217-233.
• Boguslavsky V.V., Kuksina E.I. (2001) Slavic encyclopedia. Kiyevskaya Rus'-Moskoviya. Vol. 1: A-M. - " Spravochnoe izdanie " - Colophon. - 782pp.
• Borkenau, F. (1962) World Communism. The University of Michigan Press, Ann. Arbor.
• Buckler Julie. (2007) Mapping St. Petersburg. - 373 pp.
• Brumfield, W.C. (2004) A history of Russian Architecture. Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge.
• Campi, M. (2000) Skyscrapers: An Architecture Type of Modern Urbanism. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhauser.
• Crocraft, J. (2003) Architecture of Russian Identity: 1500 to the Present. Cornell University Press.
• Howeler, E. (2004) Skyscraper: Vertical Now. Universe.
• Howeler, E., Yoon, J.M. (2000) 1,001 Skyscrapers. Princeton Architectural Pr.
• Huxley, J (1947) UNESCO: Its Purpose and Philosophy.
...

Electronic Publications

• Abelsky, P. (2007) Gazprom Threatens Saint Petersburg’s Skyline. 12 February. Article. http://www.archi.ru/events/news/news_current_press.html?nid=3503&fl=1&sl=1.
• Abelsky, P. (2007) Redesigning the Power Vertical. Russia Profile.org. 13 February. Article. http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=Culture+%26+Living&articleid=407.
• Amery, C.(2007)Gazprom Tower Threatens to Deface Saint Petersburg. Bloomberg.com, 26 December. Article.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601117&sid=aUntzoYfEhMU&refer=muse.
• Arpishkin, Y.(2007) New Saint Petersburg: Setting Sites for the Future. Article, The Moscow News, N17, http://www.mnweekly.ru.
• Associated Press,(2007) Saint Petersburg worries about tower’s impact, January 07, Article, www.chronicle.augusta.com.
• Bennett, E. (2006) Gazprom Gury Walk-Out. Building Design, The Architects' Website, December 8. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3078567.
...

Printed sources

• Armstrong, J.A. (1954) The Soviet Attitude Towards UNESCO. International Organozation, Vol.VIII, pp.217-233.
• Boguslavsky V.V., Kuksina E.I. (2001) Slavic encyclopedia. Kiyevskaya Rus'-Moskoviya. Vol. 1: A-M. - " Spravochnoe izdanie " - Colophon. - 782pp.
• Borkenau, F. (1962) World Communism. The University of Michigan Press, Ann. Arbor.
• Buckler Julie. (2007) Mapping St. Petersburg. - 373 pp.
• Brumfield, W.C. (2004) A history of Russian Architecture. Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge.
• Campi, M. (2000) Skyscrapers: An Architecture Type of Modern Urbanism. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhauser.
• Crocraft, J. (2003) Architecture of Russian Identity: 1500 to the Present. Cornell University Press.
• Howeler, E. (2004) Skyscraper: Vertical Now. Universe.
• Howeler, E., Yoon, J.M. (2000) 1,001 Skyscrapers. Princeton Architectural Pr.
• Huxley, J (1947) UNESCO: Its Purpose and Philosophy. Public Affairs Press, Washington, D.C. p.5.
• Jansen-Verbeke, M. and van Rekom, J. (1996) Scanning museum visitors: urban tourism marketing. Annals of Tourism research, 23.
• Khrabry I.S. (2002) Petersburg: three centuries of architecture, - SPb.: "Norint." - 65pp.
• Kirikov B.M. (2003) Saint Petersburg's architectural monuments. Styles and artists. - SPb.: “Beloye i chernoye”, - 256pp.
• Kolesnikova V. (2006) Orthodox temple. Symbols and traditions. - 543pp.
• Laves W.H.C. and Thomson C.A., (1957) UNESCO Purpose, Progress, Prospects. Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
• Laves. W.H.C. (1958) Can UNESCO be of aid in world crisis? Foreign policy Bulletin, Vol.38, N4, p.29-31.
• Leask, A. and Fyall, A. (2001) World Heritage Site Designation: Future Implications from a UK Perspective. Tourism Recreation Research, 26(1):55-63.
• Marstein N. (2000) Conservation of historic timber structures. - 140pp.
• McKeon, R. (1951) Democracy in a World of Tensions. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
• Morch, T. (2003) The Unknown Saint Petersburg. Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
• Morgenthau, H. (1960) The purpose of American Politics. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.p.128.
• Osakwe C. (1972) The participation of the Soviet Union in universal international organizations. - 194pp.
• Penzensky A., Krivov A.S., Krupnov Yu. V. (2004) House in Russia. A national idea. - 408pp.
• Poria, Y., Butler, R.W., Airey, D. (2001) Clarifying Heritage Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 28:1047-9.
• Prentice, R.C. (1993) Tourism and Heritage Attractions. Routledge, London.
• Russica (2003) Illustrated Encyclopedia. The History of Russia of 9th-17th. - M.: “Olma Press”. - 642pp.
• Sathyamurthy, T.V. (1964) The Politics of International Cooperation: Contrasting Conceptions of UNESCO. Librairie Droz S.A., Geneve.
• Shackley, M. (1998) Introduction: World Heritage Sites, Visitor Management: Case Studies from World Heritage Sites. Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford,1-9.
• Sharp, W.R. (1950-52) The Role of UNESCO: A Critical Evaluation. Academy of Political Science: Proceedings, Vol.24, p. 249.
• Sheppard, C. (1988) Skyscrapers. Masterpieces of Architecture. Todtri Book Pub.
• Shvidkovskiy, D. Orloff, D. (1996) Saint Petersburg: Architecture of the Tsars. Abbeville Press Publishers.
• Shvidkovskiy, D. (2007) Russian Architecture and the West. Yale University Press.
• Timothy, D.J. and Boyd, S.W. (2003) Heritage Tourism. Harlow: Prentice Hall
• UNESCO (1999) Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. UNESCO, Paris.
• Volkov, S. (1997) St Petersburg: A Cultural History. Free Press.
• Wells, M. (2005) Skyscrapers: Structure and Design. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
• Zukowsky, J., Thorne, M. (2006) The New Millennium Skyscrapers. Prestel Verlag.


Electronic Publications

• Abelsky, P. (2007) Gazprom Threatens Saint Petersburg’s Skyline. 12 February. Article. http://www.archi.ru/events/news/news_current_press.html?nid=3503&fl=1&sl=1.
• Abelsky, P. (2007) Redesigning the Power Vertical. Russia Profile.org. 13 February. Article. http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=Culture+%26+Living&articleid=407.
• Amery, C.(2007)Gazprom Tower Threatens to Deface Saint Petersburg. Bloomberg.com, 26 December. Article.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601117&sid=aUntzoYfEhMU&refer=muse.
• Arpishkin, Y.(2007) New Saint Petersburg: Setting Sites for the Future. Article, The Moscow News, N17, http://www.mnweekly.ru.
• Associated Press,(2007) Saint Petersburg worries about tower’s impact, January 07, Article, www.chronicle.augusta.com.
• Bennett, E. (2006) Gazprom Gury Walk-Out. Building Design, The Architects' Website, December 8. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3078567.
• Collinson, S. (2008) Skyscraper Funding Reviewed. The Saint Petersburg Times, N 1421 (85), Article. http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=100&story_id=27508.
• Gazprom Neft Willing to Invest in Real Estate. Kommersantъ, June 08, 2006. Article. http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?idr=529&id=680402.
• Harding, L. (2007) Skyscraper may see St Petersburg lose world heritage status. The Guardian, September 3. Article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/03/russia.architecture.
• Henley, W. (2008) UNESCO ducks St Petersburg heritage issue. The Architects' Website, 13 June. Article. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3115775.
• Huge Skyscraper Contest Held In St Petersburg. Skyscrapernews.com, November 10, 2006 Article. http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=770.
• Iosebashvili, I. (2008) Crisis Puts Gazprom Skyscraper in Doubt. Moscow Times, Issue 4024, Article. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/index.htm.
• Ivanova, E. (2006) Experts Slam Giant Gazprom Tower Plan. The Saint Petersburg Times, N 1188 (54), July 21, Article.
http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=18301.
• Ivanova, E. (2007) UNESCO Slams Gazprom Tower Plan. The Saint Petersburg Times, Issue N 1242 (8), February 2. Article.
http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=20240.
• Maryanov, G.S. (unpublished manuscript) Peace Must Be Constructed By UNESCO.
• McMahon, E. T. (2008) There Goes the Skyline. Urban Land Institute. Article. http://www.uli.org/ResearchAndPublications/Magazines/UrbanLand/2008/July/There%20Goes%20the%20Skyline.aspx.
• Myers, S. L. (2006) Russian Window on the West Reaches for the Sky. The New York Times, November 26, Article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/world/europe/28petersburg.html?fta=y.
• O’Flynn, K and Stolyarova, G. (2006) Gazprom Winner is “Corn on the Cob”. The Saint Petersburg Times, N 1227, December 4. Article.
http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=1967.
• Parfitt, T.(2006) Hermitage Director Joins Outcry Over City-Centre Skyscraper Plan. November 10, The Guardian, Article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/nov/10/russia.tomparfitt.
• Ragozina, E. (2006) UNESCO Is Worried. Vedomosti, N 229 (1756), December, Article, http://www.vedomosti.ru/eng.
• Stolyarova, G. (2007) Will New Gazprom Tower Wreck Saint Petersburg. September 25, Business Week, Article.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb20070925_345436.htm.
• Stolyarova, G. (2007) Gazprom skyscraper: Infernal Tower. Article. http://www.tol.cz/look.
• St Petersburg Building: Gazprom's new headquarters, Saint Petersburg. e-architect, Article. http://www.e-architect.co.uk/moscow/gazprom_building.htm.
• Winston, A.(2008) Recession hits Gazprom tower. The Architects' Website, 13 November, Article. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=781&storycode=3127421&c=1.