Andrey Ivanovich Stakenschneider - architect: biography, works in St. Petersburg and Peterhof

Stackenschneider is an architect whose name is familiar to many residents of Russia and the near abroad. Thanks to this talented person, numerous palaces, buildings, as well as other cultural monuments of St. Petersburg and Peterhof were designed. About this remarkable person, we will tell in this publication.

The early childhood of the architect

Born Shtakenshneider Andrei Ivanovich February 22, 1802 in the territory of a powerful Russian Empire. The grandfather of the future architect was a native of Braunschweig, one of the largest cities in the North of Germany. He was a famous craftsman, able to make a variety of things from animal skin. And when the fame of his skill reached the Russian Emperor Paul, he was invited to the capital. Later, my grandfather decided to stay in Russia. He married, and the father of Andrei Ivanovich appeared.

Andrew himself was born within the walls of the family farm, where the entire family of Stakenschneiders used to live. Virtually all his childhood, a small architect spent at the mill, which worked his father. When the future master turned 13 years old, he was sent to study at the Imperial Academy of Arts. However, due to the fact that he did not show any special talents, after graduation he was appointed to the committee of hydraulic works and structures. It was there that our architect Stackenschneider For some time he worked as a private draftsman.

Variety of professional activities

After four years of work as a draftsman, our hero received an advantageous offer, thanks to which he got a job. This time he was waiting for the post of architect-draftsman.

So he got on the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral, headed by a special commission for the construction. Here he showed himself as a talented architect. Stackenschneider later was noticed by another famous builder and architect Henri Louis Auguste Ricard. It was he who invited our hero to work on the Winter Palace.

Departure from work and private practice

At some point, the architect Stackenschneider decided that it was time for him to do private practice. In the beginning of 1831 he left the commission and with great pleasure began to work on private construction. One of the first independent works was the design of the count's house. The estate belonged to AH Benckendorff.

After our hero successfully coped with the task assigned to him, the Count told him about the emperor. As a result, the talented architect was invited to one of the richest houses of St. Petersburg. Stackenschneider Almost immediately got the location of Nicholas I.

Increasingly, he began to receive individual orders from the emperor. And after a while he became almost the only architect who was trusted to build not only huge estates, but also princely, royal palaces. And so it was until the death of the architect. He worked for a long time and designed the real estate of royal and privileged persons, received the honorary title of personal architect of His Majesty's palace.

First awards and study abroad

According to the biography, Stakenschneider was first recognized in 1834. At this very time he was actively working on the project of a "small palace of the emperor", for which he received a promising academic title.

However, despite this, our hero felt that he was sorely lacking in experience. At the same time he managed to secure the support of the emperor, and at the expense of the state allowance to go abroad for training. So, he visited England, France and Italy. And after returning from the representatives of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts received the honorary title of professor of the second degree.

Works on the Mariinsky Palace

During his life, Andrei Ivanovich designed and erected buildings of varying complexity. He managed to visit Moscow, the Crimea, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Taganrog, Peterhof and even Tsarskoe Selo. In all these places he worked rather successfully and worked. Critics highly evaluated his work and claimed about the characteristics of his strict and at the same time democratic style. One of the most magnificent buildings that the architect was ever able to build is the Mariinsky Palace.

This building, located on the most beautiful St. Isaac's Square, our hero designed in 1839. The construction of the palace was completed in 1844. About what buildings and palaces Stackenschneider built, in addition to This building, where the residence of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly is currently located, will be described below.

Other outstanding creations of the great author

Thanks to his inquiring mind and beautiful fantasy, our hero created the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace in St. Petersburg . Recall that this unique building in the neo-Baroque style was erected between 1846 and 1848.

Among the numerous works of the famous architect you can meet not only palaces, but also children's hospitals, chapels, summer residences and much more. For example, in early 1835 a private villa of the famous actor of cinema Zhenes was modeled and then built. Exactly one year later our hero was working on the construction of a summer residence for the Zvantsovs. And in 1834 rebuilt the country house of MI Mordvinov.

Famous buildings in Peterhof

The surroundings of Peterhof and the city itself have become a great place for inspiration of our master. Here he worked actively on a plan for magnificent landscape parks: Lugovoy and Kolonistsky.

Then he thought over certain elements of the Kolonist Park separately. So, our author owns sketches of two pavilions: Olgin and Tsaritsina. It is interesting that the Holguin Pavilion was created by the order of Emperor Nicholas I and in honor of his daughter. Her name was Olga. The building itself is similar to the Neapolitan tower, partially protruding its basement from under the water.

Tsaritsin same pavilion was erected strictly at the request of the wife of Emperor Alexandra Feodorovna. Its external features, it was more like an ancient Roman building, rather than a classical building of the times of Nicholas I.

Magnificent pavilions in various parks

Andrei Ivanovich was engaged in planning and two other pavilions in the picturesque meadow park. One of them is the Pink Pavilion, or "Ozerki". According to critics, it was he who was the central composition of the entire park. Its construction began in 1845, and ended - in 1848. The second - Belvedere, was a two-story building, built of fairly massive granite blocks.

At the beginning of 1727, our hero started the construction of a palace and park ensemble on his own dacha of Emperor Peter II. Then, under the strict guidance of the architect, the Church of the Holy Trinity, a palace, a greenhouse and a house for a gardener in the palace and park ensemble of the XIX century were built. Next was the palace in Znamenka, the Farm Palace and the Lion cascade. We will tell about this amazing object further.

A unique cascade in the Palace and Park Ensemble of Peterhof

During the design of the Lower Park, the famous architect applied the principle of creating cascading fountains. It was believed that, thus, the palace, built on the territory of the park, will be complemented by a spectacular corner of wildlife. At the same time, the well-known Italian architect Nicolo Michetti worked on the project initially. But his idea to close the ring of the cascade within the Hermitage alley was never realized.

Between 1854-1857 the project of the cascade was completely redesigned. This time the AI Shtakenshneider project was taken as its basis. According to preliminary data, he assumed a significant increase in the original size of the basin and the addition of 14 columns, each having a height of 8 m.

Between the columns also installed 12 original marble bowls. From the old decorative elements, the author decided to leave the mascarons (comic images of mythical animals) and large figures of lions, from the jaws of which jets of water came out. In the middle of the columned pantheon there was a figurative statue of Nymph Aganipus. All who saw this cascade, described it as something incredibly beautiful, strict and at the same time fabulous.

A few words about the personal life of the architect

The extraordinary employment of the architect did not prevent him from establishing his personal life. Being at the peak of his dizzying career, the author of numerous works met a woman who immediately fell in love. It was Maria Feodorovna Khalchinskaya.

After some time after a joint life, the spouses had eight children. It is noteworthy that all of them, except for the youngest Zinaida, who died in her childhood, became well-known personalities. For example, the daughter of the architect, Elena, during her turbulent youth began to write memoirs. Later, she even opened her literary salon. The son of architect Nicholas lived for a long time in St. Petersburg. He liked to draw, was fond of architectural art and even built one of the houses in Kharkov.

Another son of Andrei Ivanovich Alexander graduated from the theater courses and became one of the favorite artists in the Imperial Theater. However, such a talented person as Shtakenshneider, there were other children who did not devote their lives to art.

For example, that was his son Adrian. After receiving higher education, he went to work in the office of the Government Senate. A little later he moved to Kiev, lived for some years in Kharkov, where he headed the court chamber. His son Vladimir also went to law with a head. Daughters Maria and Olga successfully married and left to live abroad.

Memory will live forever

Andrei Ivanovich has long been dead. He died in early August 1865. At the time of his death, he turned 63 years old. The memory of him continues to live in the hearts and minds of our compatriots. And his majestic creations will continue to please tourists and local residents.