Past present – Style – Kommersant

“Kommersant Style” talks about the renovations in famous hotels in St. Petersburg and names useful addresses for everyone who loves literature and is interested in Soviet modernism.

Park Inn by Radisson Pribaltiyskaya Hotel & Congress Center

The hotel-city was built by the Swedish company Skanska 35 according to the project of the Leningrad architect Nikolai Baranov specifically for the reception of foreign guests of the Olympics-80 and at that time had amazing infrastructure: in the “Pribaltiyskaya” there was a congress center equipped with the latest technology with booths for simultaneous translation, a hairdresser , atelier, medical service with a dentist, currency exchange and even its own fire brigade. And this, of course, without taking into account the numerous restaurants, bars and cafes.

Many historical facts are connected with the hotel: the films “Intergirl”, “Blonde around the Corner”, “Winter Cherry”, “Genius”, “Brother-2” were filmed here and the stars of the Soviet show business lived here. All furniture, appliances and even work clothes of the staff were imported from abroad. Until now, the two-level suite in which Alla Pugacheva liked to stay reminds of the past (once she could not be accommodated there, which caused a loud scandal involving the press and television). Now it is a museum open to the public, in which all the signs of a chic life in the Soviet style are preserved. Faded wallpaper, Scandinavian-designed armchairs, laconic wall lamps and carpet, fashionable in the 1980s, make it possible to feel the spirit of the times.

In 2014-2018, the hotel underwent a large-scale renovation, during which the historical marble and granite lobby interiors were preserved. “Pribaltiyskaya” is an object of cultural heritage, but continues to develop as one of the modern hotels of the group. It is clear that many excesses of the past had to be abandoned: the workshop for tailoring fur coats and shoes does not work, there is no dentistry and no own fire brigade. But the concierge service, restaurants and a beauty salon are available.

Radisson Sonya Hotel, St. Petersburg

The first Russian hotel of the Norwegian company Reval Hotels was opened in 2009. In order to attract customers, it was decided to create some unconditional value for the Russian people, both in the name and in the design of the premises. Such a historical and cultural bond was the writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, who, as you know, lived and worked in St. Petersburg.

The design of the hotel is associated with the novel “Crime and Punishment” as a kind of city guide – hence the name Sonya (remember Sonya Marmeladova), and numerous references to the text: quotes from the novel are literally embroidered on the carpets lining the floors of each floor, and especially vivid statements are engraved on transparent glass signs at the entrance to each room. The Swedish company Stylt Trampoli comprehended Raskolnikov’s adventures and inner turmoil (during the project, all employees involved in it had to read the novel), and through design they tried to reflect the main idea of ​​the novel – the theme of the transformation of the human soul. It became the basis of the concept of the hotel and is based on three “D”: design, soul (meaning intangible essence, not plumbing, as one might assume in the case of a hotel) and drama. At the same time, the hotel looks quite modern and resembles the hygge style that is popular today, which is reflected not only in its very Scandinavian interiors, but also in the restaurant concept. The new chef of the Metamorphosis restaurant, Alexander Alpatov, is working on interpretations of the basic ingredients and non-trivial serving of dishes, which also refer not only to Russian classics, but also to well-established modern hits like confit duck leg, spaghetti carbonara or traditional Karelian fish soup with pikeperch and greenery.

Irina Kirienko