Plans revealed for St Petersburg’s New Holland island

St Petersburg’s New Holland island will be open again to the public come August, according to a recent press release.

Throughout 2016 and 2017 three historical buildings on the island will be revitalised. A former forge, founded under Peter I, will be transformed into the Forge Club House, with interiors designed to mirror the feel of pre-revolutionary St Petersburg apartments. Visitors to the Club House will be able to use the space to hold meetings and work, as well as attend lectures and film screenings. At the end of 2017 the building of the island’s former naval prison is also set to open, the first floor of which will be dedicated to shops and cafes, while the second will be devoted to design and fashion, with the Garage museum planning to open a large book store. The third and fourth floors will be used for health-related activities and a free space for adults, respectively.

Two hundred trees (oaks, pines, willows and firs) are also set to be planted on the island, while furniture akin to that in Paris’s Luxembourg Gardens will stand on the lawns. Winter will see ice skating and a special programme of activities.

Temporary pavilions made of glass, wood and metal will house an information centre, gallery, and a stage for concerts, film screenings and theatre productions. Small kiosks will host pop-up projects, giving young restaurateurs the chance to share their talents. In future it is expected that the island will house an exhibition ground, showcasing sculptures, art works and installations by artists from around the world, as well as a children’s playground designed to reflect the layout “Peter and Paul” warship. The second phase of the restoration of New Holland is scheduled for completion in 2019.

In November 2010, New Holland Development won the bid to restore and redevelop the island of New Holland, a historic triangular artificial island in St Petersburg. The aim of the development project is both the restoration of the island’s architecture and monuments, and the establishment of a new, mixed-use complex that will become a cultural hub for the city.

Source: Sobaka (in Russian)