Okhta Tower, St Petersburg
2007-
RMJM Architects
Gazprom's new headquarters



view across the sea to St Petersburg


Okhta Tower : RMJM Architects



Location: St Petersburg, Russia
Client: Gazprom
Size: 77 stories
Year: 2006-16

RMJM was appointed to design the new headquarters of one of the world’s largest companies – Russian gas giant Gazprom in December 2006. Our winning proposal is a 396 metre high twisting, glass needle which echoes the spires across the city of St Petersburg. RMJM beat off 5 other internationally-renowned architects for the commission to develop proposals for the tower in the historic heart of the city, close to the Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge and Smolny Cathedral. RMJM’s designs for the development propose a new spire for the city.



Interior images:


The inspiration for the design comes from the concept of energy in water - the site is located on the city’s main waterway the River Neva, with the form of the building deriving its shape from the changing nature of water, ever changing light, reflections and refraction. The five-sided tower twists as it rises to delicately touch the sky. RMJM’s proposal for the headquarters development also features a unique environmental strategy, which acts as a low energy ‘fur coat’. The double layered skin of the tower will allow the maximisation of daylight and the minimisation of heat loss in the extreme St Petersburg environment.


images: courtesy of RMJM/Copyright www.glocg.com

Gazprom headquarters shortlist was a who's who of international architecture: Massimiliano Fuksas, Herzog & de Meuron, Rem Koolhaas, Daniel Libeskind, Jean Nouvel, RMJM Architects

Gazprom Tower - jury member : Norman Foster



Russian Skyscraper : City Palace Tower Moscow by RMJM Architects

Okhta Tower : Background to the Gazprom Competition

St Petersburg buildings

Gazprom HQ Competition jury member : Rafael Vinoly



World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Russian Tower : Crystal Island

Moscow Tower : Russia Tower

Gazprom Tower winner : RMJM Architects

Buildings / photos for the St Petersburg Architecture page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk

Okhta Tower, St Petersburg : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt