Soviet residential architecture is often criticized for its monotony. Indeed, almost every city in Russia features countless identical buildings, making it nearly impossible for someone without professional expertise to identify the location of a specific neighborhood of five-story buildings based on a photo. However, as with any rule, there are exceptions. In Saint Petersburg, one such exception is the famous "houses on stilts" in the western part of Vasilyevsky Island. Shall we take a closer look at these unique structures?
How to Get There by Metro
The buildings are located along the even-numbered side of Novosmolenskaya Embankment, at numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8. The nearest metro station is Primorskaya, just a couple of minutes' walk from the Smolenka River embankment. These buildings are residential, so access to their interiors is restricted.
A Bit of History
The so-called "houses on stilts" are not exclusive to Saint Petersburg. Similar elevated structures can be found in northern Russia and Moscow. However, in places like Yakutsk, these "stilts" are a practical solution for constructing buildings on permafrost. In Moscow, such designs reference the works of architect Le Corbusier. Another common nickname for these structures is "chicken-leg houses," and locals in Saint Petersburg humorously refer to them as kuronogi or simply "chicken legs."
The four 22-story buildings on Novosmolenskaya Embankment were constructed between 1987 and 1993. Buildings numbered 6 and 8 were completed after the collapse of the USSR. Interestingly, an external observer might not count all 22 floors at first glance. This is because the second and third floors are technical levels without apartments, so residents take the elevator directly to the fourth floor or higher.
Online, there are mentions of how newcomers sometimes feel intimidated by these massive structures seemingly balanced on relatively narrow supports. Personally, I didn’t notice much difference compared to other buildings while standing nearby.
Each of the "stilt houses" in Saint Petersburg has a single entrance. According to the design, apartment windows face either west or east. As of spring 2021, the monthly rental price for a two-room apartment of 55 square meters in one of these buildings was 33,000 rubles. The purchase price for a similar apartment was 8.9 million rubles.
Of course, buildings that stand out from the average architecture of their time were also built before the Revolution. For instance, on Zakharyevskaya Street, you can find the Egyptian House, which is sure to interest architecture enthusiasts.
Have a nice trip!
