St Petersburg world heritage status threatened by skyscraper
Authorities in St Petersburg have approved plans for the city's first skyscraper, a needle-shaped structure that will dwarf its 18th century low-rise skyline and imperil its UNESCO world heritage status.
Ignoring a public outcry and warnings from the United Nations cultural body, the authorities gave the green light to the so-called Okhta Centre on Tuesday.
At 1,322 feet, it will be taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris and be visible from St Petersburg's historic city centre.
It will be the first skyscraper in Russia's former imperial capital, which has survived the destruction of the Bolshevik Revolution and Nazi bombing raids to remain one of the world's most beautiful cities.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
Ignoring a public outcry and warnings from the United Nations cultural body, the authorities gave the green light to the so-called Okhta Centre on Tuesday.
At 1,322 feet, it will be taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris and be visible from St Petersburg's historic city centre.
It will be the first skyscraper in Russia's former imperial capital, which has survived the destruction of the Bolshevik Revolution and Nazi bombing raids to remain one of the world's most beautiful cities.