The Creation of New Public Places as a Focus of Urban Development of Petrogradskaya Storona in the beginning of the 20th Century
Abstract
The article is dedicated to the analysis of the creation of public places as one of the directions of urban development of Petrogradskaya storona in St. Petersburg in the beginning of the 20th century.
The theoretical base of the investigation is cultural and anthropological approach to public places proposed by Richard Sennett. The work contains the analysis of three elements of public places, distinguished by David Canter and Michel Bassand, - activity, built form and meaning.
Applying comparative perspective, the author distinguishes the peculiarities of public places of the Petrograd district, different from those in the centre of St. Petersburg.
The most important are the following ones: primacy of private initiative in foundation and functioning; combination of both enlightenment and entertainment events in one area; openness to avant- garde art tendencies; use of modern architecture and innovations designed to increase comfort; availability for representatives of different social strata and social orientation. The author proves that mentioned above particular features, conjointly with the correspondence to the requirements and identity of all dwellers of the quartier was one of the reasons for the successful development of public places.
The consequence of this development was the formation of a positive image of Petrogradskaya storona as a progressive, socially-oriented area, and cultural district, opened to modern trends in architecture and art. Such reputation attracted the visitors to public places and the investments to the territory, and influenced its future prosperity.
In conclusion the paper proclaims that the foundation and functioning of public places in Petrogradskaya storona determined its transformation from suburban area to wealthy cultural district in the beginning of the 20th century.