At St. Petersburg University, a ceremony was held to inaugurate the composition of the fountain "Peter the First", built to celebrate the tricentennial of the university.
The welcoming speech was delivered by Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg and member of the SPbSU Board of Trustees. "In the year of the 300th anniversary of our "great university" we are opening a fountain dedicated to this anniversary. Fountains are the same symbol of St. Petersburg as bridges, rivers, canals, granite embankments. They remind us of Peter's plan to create a northern paradise. They are our treasure," the governor noted.
He also stressed that the fountain was the first new architectural object of its kind to be opened in the historic part of the city and expressed his hope that it would become not only an ornament of the urban environment but also a symbol of unity and constant striving for development for the people of St. Petersburg.
It is great that the winner of the competition for the design of the university fountain was a team from St. Petersburg State University. They approached their hometown with heart. It was truly a St. Petersburg project - a wonderful gift to the university and the city. It is places like this that make up the image of the northern metropolis.
Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg, member of the Board of Trustees of SPbSU.
Rector of St. Petersburg State University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolai Kropachev, addressing the guests, expressed his gratitude to Alexander Dmitrievich for the opportunity to create a complex of fountains on the territory of St. Petersburg University and drew attention to the participation of alumni and members of the Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg State University in supporting the project. Nikolai Mikhailovich added that the history of the University has been inextricably linked to the historical development of the city for three centuries, and the presented gift will become an open space accessible to all, both students and residents, as well as guests of the city.
"The year 2024 is a jubilee year for St. Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia. And today we receive a special gift. The fountain is a traditional architectural element for St. Petersburg, a semantic and artistic center of attraction for people. And the opening of our fountain highlights the centuries-old connection of the University with the rich heritage of the city and our country," said the Rector of St. Petersburg State University. As Nikolay Kropachev noted, the new landscaped space will become a platform for musical evenings, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy the creation in the unique atmosphere of the historic place.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Sergei Georgievich Dregval, CEO of Inter RAO, Sergei Nikolayevich Kropachev, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg, Stanislav Dmitrievich Protasov, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Energy and Engineering Committee, and Sergei Nikolayevich Volkov, CEO of the St. Petersburg State Unitary Enterprise Vodokanal.
Last year, on the eve of the 300th anniversary, an architectural and artistic competition of proposals for the integrated improvement of the territory of St. Petersburg University was announced, in which, in addition to the students of the University, representatives of the professional community - architects, artists and designers - took part. The contestants had a difficult task: not only to create the composition of the fountain, but also to integrate it harmoniously into the surrounding space, taking into account the historical and architectural context, the utility scheme and the architectural and restoration brief.
The project of the fountain, which won the first prize, was developed by a creative team consisting of Tatiana Laski, associate professor at St. Petersburg State University (Department of Fine Arts), Sergey Golubkov, university researcher, and architect Maria Gusinskaya.
According to the author of the project, the main emphasis was on the successful integration of the composition into the architectural space. "We are in a place that can be considered monumental, and our key task in designing the fountain was to adapt it to the environment, to the space that is the heart of the city. We cannot neglect cultural traditions, because everything we see around us perfects us and promotes a sense of harmony and aesthetic beauty," said Tatiana Laski. She stressed that the complex of fountains is an important symbol of the university's identity, which combines the spirit of ancient traditions and modern educational values.
The complex of fountains can be visited from the university embankment near building 13. It is a granite composition in the form of symbolic steps. Each of the elements personifies important components for the university: science as an engine of progress and development, education that develops the personality, art that shapes the high spiritual culture of man, and traditions that ensure the connection of times. The decorative design of the fountain emphasizes the centuries-old connection of the University with the rich cultural heritage not only of St. Petersburg, but also of the whole country.
According to Sergei Volkov, general director of Vodokanal St. Petersburg, the name of the fountain will be officially determined within a month, and plans are also underway to install a commemorative plaque and create a Yandex sign to mark its location.
According to the decision of St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov, the year 2024 has been declared the year of St. Petersburg University in the northern capital. As part of the 300th anniversary celebrations, SPbSU opened a gallery of portraits of rectors, a photo exhibition "Three Centuries of the University: history and present" and issued an author's postage stamp depicting the building of twelve universities in its corporate colors. In addition, a rocket with the university's symbols was launched into space in honour of SPbSU's anniversary, and Rossiya Airlines unveiled an aircraft marked the 300th anniversary of SPbSU.
The complex of fountains was not the only cultural object dedicated to St. Petersburg University in honour of its 300th anniversary. On one of the benches located in the square, a sculpture "St. Petersburg Student" was installed, created in bronze based on drawings by the famous artist Roman Shustrov. It was donated to the University by Oleg Manshin, CEO of Yalta LLC, for the opening ceremony of the fountain.
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