Located at the junction of Konyushenny and Moshkov lanes, the Bolshoy Konyushenny Bridge crosses the Moika River, connecting its banks. The short Konyushenny Lane imperceptibly turns into Konyushennaya Street, which leads to Nevsky Prospekt, not far from the Kazan Cathedral. In the opposite direction, after walking just a few minutes, you can find yourself on the Neva embankment, between Palace Square and the Summer Garden.
Initially, on the site of the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge, there was a wooden drawbridge, built in 1753, according to the design of Hermann van Boles. At that time, the embankment of the right bank of the Moika was called Grecheskaya, which is why this wooden bridge, lined with boards and painted “to resemble stone,” was also known as Grechesky. The emergence of these names was due to the fact that in the first years after the founding of St. Petersburg, on the northern bank of the Moika there was a small Greek settlement, inhabited by Greeks hired to work as artisans at the Admiralty Shipyard.
In 1828, the Greek Bridge gave way to a new, single-span arched structure made of cast iron tubing connected by bolts. This bridge, which became known as the Bolshoy Konyushenny bridge because of the Main Imperial Stables located on the left bank of the Moika River, was built according to the design of engineers E. A. Adam and V. K. Tretter.
It is known that the project of the future Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge had to meet the requirement expressed by Nicholas I - it is necessary that the bridge combines “... all possible strength and all possible beauty...”. It should be noted that during the period of time in question, city planners were trying to reflect in their creations all the beauty, pomp and grandeur of the Russian capital, so such a statement by the emperor was not something unexpected or out of the ordinary. Trying to satisfy the requirements of the sovereign as much as possible, the drafting of the project was entrusted to engineer-colonel G.M. Tretter, while a similar project for the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge had already been developed by engineer-lieutenant-colonel E.A. Adam, and moreover, it was tested by the Commission of Projects and Estimates of GUPS and PZ. Why the design of one bridge was entrusted to two persons at once, history is silent. Perhaps this was due to the fact that the city administration decided not to limit itself in choosing a solution to the set urban planning task, without, meanwhile, announcing a competition and without raising a stir.
Meanwhile, the design of the future Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge took a very long time and was difficult. On March 2, 1827, Tretter received an offer to immediately begin drawing up a design for the bridge, which he submitted on March 31, 1827. However, the construction plan proposed by Tretter suddenly “became unnecessary”, since another project developed by Adam had already been tested and an estimate was drawn up for it.
Further, archival documents say that Adam was reintroduced new project bridge on May 29, 1827, which was approved by the emperor on September 15 of the same year. This design became the basis for the detailed design. However, after developing the detailed design, for reasons unknown to us, Adam completed two more versions of the bridge design - one in October 1827, and the other in July 1828.
But even with this, the project “epic” did not end. It so happened that during negotiations between representatives of the Council of Railways and the owner of the iron foundry, Bird, which were conducted with the aim of placing an order for the production of cast iron and metal parts for the assembly of the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge, Bird suggested that it would be more expedient to replace the cast iron boxes with lighter elements - cast iron arcs. After this conversation, a month later, on January 28, 1828, Adam received a new order to draw up another project, in which cast iron arches were to become the load-bearing elements of the span, since it is lightweight and durable. Adam fulfilled the order received, but there is no information about the content of this project, and about the reasons why this scheme was not further developed and was not used in the practice of St. Petersburg bridge construction. Also, no drawings of the latest version of the project with cast iron arches have been found, and therefore it is difficult to get an idea of the advantages of this new design scheme.
As you can see, the design of a relatively small bridge structure took seventeen months. In the end, of the many projects created during this period of time, the one that Adam compiled in October 1827 was implemented. The construction of the new bridge was entrusted to the author of its project. In addition, engineer-captain V.A. Khristianovich and warrant officer Genseling were seconded to him as assistants, and the work was supervised by a member of the Railway Council, engineer Major General Pothier. The construction of the bridge, which was delayed due to vicissitudes with the design, began on April 1, 1828, and nine months later, on December 6, 1828, the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge was opened for traffic.
Adam characterized the construction work carried out under his leadership as follows: “... the bulls are made of old stones from the demolition of embankments and the remains of previous work on the Suvorovsky Bridge, but they were selected by color and height... As for the external patterns - cornices, friezes, brackets, grilles, etc., then justice requires that I testify... to the excellent art with which they were cast in a state-owned foundry.”
It should be noted that giving the external appearance of the Konyushenny Bridge “all possible beauty,” which was a mandatory requirement of this social order, was not, however, determined either by the location of the structure or by the stylistic characteristics of its environment. The bridge, built on the axis of the unremarkable Moshkova (now Zaporozhye) lane, was supposed to become part of an ordinary residential development, with typical apartment buildings. Thus, the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge was a strict, and at the same time, lavishly decorated architectural structure, which, against the backdrop of the dull buildings, looked as if it was out of place.
However, the architecture of the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge and its exquisite decor deserve a more detailed description. So, the erected bridge appeared as a single-span structure, with a prefabricated cast-iron arch, which rests on stone bank abutments clad in granite. The foundations for the abutments are wooden grillages resting on piles. The length of the bridge was 17.6 meters and the width was 11.6 meters. Naturally, the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge, designed with such care, stood out for its exceptional splendor of decoration. Covering the span of the structure, which has a curvilinear outline, the façade profiled cast iron boards are decorated with bas-relief ornaments. The bridge railings are composed of frequently spaced darts with overhead reinforcement and intertwined wreaths pierced with spear-shaped poles with tips. The railings are supported by flat shaped brackets. The lampposts, with octagonal lanterns in round bowls, mounted on granite parapets, are truly distinguished by their highly artistic execution. Not the least role in the decoration of the bridge is given to its coloring, where the main accent is the gilded details.
It is fair to note that design diagram The bridge did not bring anything new to the art of bridge construction. However, the applied improvement proposed by P. P. Bazin significantly simplified the design of the bridge. This innovative solution consisted in the fact that elliptical holes were specially made in the cheek planes of the tubes, which reduced their mass.
View from the Bolshoy Konyushenny Bridge to the Round Market. 1900
As history has shown, the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge served well for 117 years. Only in 1935, due to deformation in the supports and span of the bridge, a reinforced concrete vault was laid on top of the cast iron arches. At the same time, the fences separating the roadway from the sidewalks were removed. As a result of this reconstruction, only the structural essence of the bridge underwent changes, while its beautiful appearance was preserved.
In 1951, according to the design of the architect A.L. Rotach, Lenmosttrest carried out the restoration of floor lamps with lanterns and bridge gratings, which were restored according to their original design.
In conclusion, I would like to add that the reconstruction carried out in 1935 according to the design of engineer M.I. Zhdanov and A.D. Saperstein, during which the cast-iron arch of the bridge was unloaded, made it possible to preserve this masterpiece of architectural art, which is not only a work of art, but also a monument of science and technology. It is thanks to this that our contemporaries have the happiness to contemplate all this beauty.
The text was prepared by Anzhelika Likhacheva
The Malo-Konyushenny Bridge spans the Moika River at the point where the Griboedov Canal flows out of it and is part of a unique bridge composition called the “Three Bridge”. These are two single-span metal bridges: Malo-Konyushenny and, as well as False or Pedestrian dam bridge.
The length of the Malo-Konyushenny Bridge is 42.8 m, width is 20 m. The span is made of cast iron, assembled from 8 arches with 7 tubings in each. The facades are decorated with relief ornaments cast from cast iron. The foundations are massive stone on a pile foundation, lined with granite.
The decorative design of the bridge is made in the style of late classicism; the decor is dominated by elements of floral patterns. Artistically cast iron railings are topped with gilded round floor lamps.
History of the bridge
The three bridges that make up the Three Bridges were built according to the design of engineers V. von Tretter and E.A. Adam and were opened in 1832.
The first wooden bridge in this place, just upstream of the Moika, was built in the first quarter of the 18th century. Since 1738 it was called Krasny - the Red Canal, which was filled in in the 1780s, ran through the bridge. Subsequently, this crossing was called the Tsaritsynsky Bridge (across Tsaritsyn Meadow, the historical name of the Field of Mars) and Teatralny (after the nearby Free Russian Theater). In 1828 it was dismantled.
The project of new cast iron bridges was developed in 1807-1829. There were two concepts. According to the first, architect V.I. Geste and engineer E.A. Adam suggested building separate crossings. And architects A.K. Modui and V.I. Beretti, engineers A.A. Betancourt, P.P. Bazin, V.K. Tretter and M.G. Destrom put forward another idea - to unite the bridges into a single group. It was this project that was accepted, and on June 8, 1829, under the leadership of engineer Wilhelm von Tretter and Governor General of St. Petersburg P.V. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, construction of the crossing began. On January 8, 1832, three bridges were put into operation.
The arched spans of the bridge consist of cast iron boxes fastened together with bolts - these are typical prefabricated structures for that time. The bridge abutments are massive stone, on a pile foundation, lined with granite. All three bridges received the same pattern of cast-iron gratings consisting of darts, against which the heads of jellyfish alternate.
The lanterns originally installed here turned out to be so high that lamplighters fell from them more than once. In this regard, St. Petersburg Governor General P.K. Essen asked the Main Directorate of Communications to shorten them. This request was approved, the lanterns were shortened.
After 1917, many decorative elements of the bridges were lost or partially damaged.
The first major overhaul of the Malo-Konyushenny and Teatralny bridges, for the first time in more than 100 years of operation, was carried out in 1936. The insulation on the bridges was replaced, the roadway was paved with stone paving stones - kleinplasfer, the sidewalks were asphalted, and a granite curb was installed separating the sidewalks from the roadway.
In 1952-1953, according to the project of A.L. Rotach's floor lamps, lanterns and fencing bars were restored.
In 1990-1997, Trekhmostye was repaired according to the project of the Lengiproinzhproekt Institute. The supporting structures of the crossing were strengthened to accommodate modern loads, and all architectural details were restored.
In 1999, the bridge ensemble was reconstructed; the project was developed by engineer B.N. Brudno. All three bridges became pedestrian, the road surface was replaced with stone. In 2002, as part of the “Bright City” program, specialists from St. Petersburg State Unitary Enterprise “Lensvet” installed 8 decorative lighting spotlights on each bridge.
The most recent restoration work on the Malo-Konyushenny and Teatralny bridges was carried out in July-December 2017. All work was carried out in compliance with the requirements regulatory documents requirements for the conservation of monuments.
Gilding and painting of metal structures and decorative elements bridges, replacement of losses, restoration of painting - all work was carried out in accordance with the approved methodology. The gilding process took place under the constant supervision of KGIOP specialists. The maximum possible number of elements was dismantled for gilding in the workshops. Also, special temporary structures were assembled directly at the site - greenhouses, in which the temperature and humidity conditions were ensured, corresponding to the methods for applying gold leaf.
The whole complex of work took six months. During this time, a total of 20 technologically different repair and restoration processes were carried out on each bridge.
Additional Information
The composition of three bridges has no analogues in the world and is an object cultural heritage federal significance.
Location
Malo-Konyushenny Bridge is part of the unique bridge composition “Triple Bridge” in the Central District of St. Petersburg. Located at the junction of the Griboyedov Canal and the Moika River. The nearest metro station (700 m) is Nevsky Prospekt, exit to the Griboyedov Canal.
Name
Malo-Konyushenny Bridge The second bridge from the stable square, on which the Main Imperial Stables were located. It was named because at the time of construction the Pervo-Konyushenny Bridge already existed.
The first wooden bridge on the site of the modern Malo-Konyushenny Bridge was thrown across the Moika back in 1716; subsequently it was located closer to the site of the current 2nd Garden Bridge. Two bridges on this site were built in the late 1730s, during the reign of Anna Ioannovna: the Pervo-Konyushenny Bridge was thrown across the Krivusha River (the future Griboedov Canal), the source of which had just been connected to the Moika, and the Malo-Konyushenny Bridge across the Moika . Both of them were wooden three-span drawbridges. In 1770, the Pervo-Konyushenny Bridge was renamed Teatralny.
Original project
IN early XIX century, several projects were proposed to replace wooden bridges with new metal or stone ones, but their implementation was constantly postponed. At that time, construction of a number of important buildings was underway in St. Petersburg, and a architectural ensemble Arts Square, and city planners could not pay much attention to a pair of small bridges near Tsaritsyn Meadow. This continued until 1807, when K.I. Rossi, who received an order to build a palace for the brother of Alexander I, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, between the Catherine Canal and the Fontanka, began to redesign the entire area surrounding the architectural complex he had planned. Among the objects he designed for the development of the area were two unusual bridges, one of their ends resting on the banks of the Catherine Canal and the Moika, and the other on a common support in the middle of the Moika. At the same time, the name Three-Armed Bridge first appeared, although officially the two parts of the composition were given the same names as the wooden bridges that had previously been located here - Malo-Konyushenny and Teatralny. The project to build new cast-iron bridges on the site of old wooden ones was developed in 1807-1829 with the participation of architect V. I. Geste and engineer E. A. Adam, who proposed building them as separate bridges. They were objected to by the architects A. K. Modui, V. I. Beretti, engineers A. A. Betancourt, P. P. Bazin, V. K. Tretter and M. G. Destrem, who proposed combining the bridges into a single ensemble, which is what was eventually implemented.
Bridge construction
The bridges were built in 1829-1830 under the leadership of V. K. Tretter according to a design finalized by E. A. Adam. The latter assumed that the fences and lanterns of the bridges would have to differ in design, but Tretter insisted that the bridges making up a single composition should be uniformly designed. Both bridges have one span, covered with cast iron…
The Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge stretches from Kazan Island to the 1st Admiralty Island across the Moika River in the very center of St. Petersburg. This quarter is home to many of the city’s architectural attractions, cozy hotels and luxury hotels, museums and exhibitions.
The name Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge comes from the building of the Main Imperial Stables, located on the left bank of the Moika River, in house No. 44. The names of Bolshaya and Malaya Konyushenny Streets, Konyushennaya Square and Konyushenny Lane also come from this building.
Initially, a wooden drawbridge was erected here by Herman van Boles in 1753. It was covered with boards and, in accordance with the fashion of those times, the bridge was painted to look like stone.
In 1828, the bridge was replaced by a new single-span arch bridge made of cast iron tubing connected by bolts. The crossing project was carried out by engineers E.A. Adam, V.K. Tretter and V.I. Geste. The project is unique in that these tubings were originally intended for the construction of the Malo-Konyushenny Bridge, but due to the adoption of a new project, they were not needed there.
To reduce the mass of tubes in their side walls, according to the proposal of P.P. Bazin made elliptical holes. The cast iron arch rests on bank abutments, which are lined with properly cut granite blocks. At the base of the abutments there are wooden grillages resting on piles.
The facades of the span of the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge are decorated with cast iron sheets, these sheets are decorated with artistic patterns. Floor lamps with lanterns were installed at the entrances to the bridge. The lattice of the bridge is made in the form of frequently spaced darts with overhead reinforcement made of intertwined wreaths, pierced with spear-shaped poles with tips, and shaped brackets supporting the railings. The lampposts are raised above the embankment parapets by granite parapets on relatively high cast iron pedestals.
In 1935, due to deformation in the supports and span, the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge was repaired according to the design of engineers M. I. Zhdanov and A. D. Sapershtein. A reinforced concrete vault was laid on top of the cast iron vault, and barriers between the sidewalks and the roadway were eliminated.
In 1951, under the leadership of architect A.L. Rotacha carried out restoration of floor lamps with lanterns and grilles. Lantern of the Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge
As mentioned above, there are many cozy mini-hotels located on the embankment of the Moika River. Since 2011, the Russian government has introduced a mandatory classification of hotels in Russia, and most hotels in St. Petersburg are likely to undergo this classification in the near future, which will have an extremely positive impact on the development of the tourism industry not only in St. Petersburg, but throughout Russia
Bolshoi Konyushenny Bridge at night
In 1829-1830 According to the design of engineers E.A. Adam and V.K. Treter, these two bridges are combined into a bridge composition that has no analogue: the Malo-Konyushenny Bridge is installed strictly along the axis of the Griboyedov Canal, and the Teatralny spans are connected at an angle to it. These bridges have a common middle support. The unique composition of the three-arch bridge organically fits into the ensemble of architectural monuments.
Arched bridge spans consist of cast iron sections connected by bolts. The bridges are fenced with artistic casting gratings and decorated with applied gilded details. The metal elements of the bridges were manufactured in 1819-1829. at the state-owned Aleksandrovsky iron foundry in St. Petersburg, as well as at the Aleksandrovsky Olonets iron foundry.
In 1953, according to the design of architect A.L. Rotach, the lost floor lamps with lanterns were restored.
In 1989-1991 The bridges are being strengthened and restored according to the design of engineer G. N. Brudno.
Malo-Konyushenny Bridge is one of the bridges of a unique bridge composition - the “Triple Bridge”.
It is located at the junction of the Griboyedov Canal and the Moika River.
Two bridges each have one span, covered with cast-iron vaults made of tubing. Adjacent to the Theater Bridge from the side of the Main Imperial Stables building is what appears to be the Third Bridge, but this is the arch of a false Pedestrian Bridge. The length of the first bridge is 18 meters, the width is about 15.5 m in the middle and 19 m at the ends; the length of the second bridge is 23 meters, with the same width (about 15.6 m)
The first wooden bridge on the site of the modern Malo-Konyushenny Bridge was built across the Moika back in 1716.
Later on this place in the late 1730s, during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, two bridges were built: the Pervo-Konyushenny bridge was thrown across the Krivusha river (the future Griboedov canal), the source of which had just been connected to the Moika, and the Malo-Konyushenny bridge - via Moika. Both of them were wooden three-span drawbridges. In 1770, the Pervo-Konyushenny Bridge was renamed Teatralny. it was located closer to the site of the now existing 2nd Garden Bridge.
At the beginning of the 19th century, several projects were proposed to replace wooden bridges with new metal or stone ones, but their implementation was constantly postponed. At that time, the construction of a number of important buildings was underway in St. Petersburg, the architectural ensemble of Arts Square was being formed, and city planners could not pay much attention to a pair of small bridges near Tsaritsyn Meadow. This continued until 1807, when K.I. Rossi, who received an order to build a palace for the brother of Alexander I, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, between the Catherine Canal and the Fontanka, began to redesign the entire area surrounding the architectural complex he had planned. Among the objects he designed for the development of the area were two unusual bridges, one of their ends resting on the banks of the Catherine Canal and the Moika, and the other on a common support in the middle of the Moika. At the same time, the name Three-Armed Bridge first appeared, although officially the two parts of the composition were given the same names as the wooden bridges that had previously been located here - Malo-Konyushenny and Teatralny.
The project to build new cast-iron bridges on the site of old wooden ones was developed in 1807-1829 with the participation of architect V. I. Geste and engineer E. A. Adam, who proposed building them as separate bridges. They were objected to by the architects A. K. Modui, V. I. Beretti, engineers A. A. Betancourt, P. P. Bazin, V. K. Tretter and M. G. Destrem, who proposed combining the bridges into a single ensemble, which is what was eventually implemented.
The latter assumed that the fences and lanterns of the bridges would have to differ in design, but Tretter insisted that the bridges making up a single composition should be uniformly designed. Both bridges have one span, covered with cast-iron vaults made of tubing. The arch of the false Pedestrian Bridge adjoins the Theater Bridge from the side of the Main Imperial Stables building. With the same width (about 15.6 m), the Teatralny and Malo-Konyushenny bridges differ noticeably in length: 18 m and 23 m, respectively. At the ends, Malo-Konyushenny widens to 19 m. The arched spans of the bridges consist of cast iron sections connected by bolts. All three bridges have the same floor lamps and cast iron railings, decorated in the style of late classicism. The metal elements of the bridges were manufactured in 1819-1829. at the state-owned Aleksandrovsky iron foundry in St. Petersburg, as well as at the Aleksandrovsky Olonets iron foundry. The decor is dominated by elements of floral patterns. The fence lattice is formed by vertical round rods with capitals in the form of unopened buds. In the center of each link of the lattice are the mask of the Gorgon Medusa and the month, surrounded by branches and palm leaves. The details covered with gold leaf stand out beautifully against the general background.