House 12

House 12 is the fourth building that was restored in the New Holland: Cultural Urbanization project. It was built later than the rest of the Island’s buildings, in 1847-1849 by a military engineer Mikhail Pasypkin and was based on the original plan designed by architects Savva Chevakinsky and Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe. Like the rest of New Holland’s larger buildings, it was designed to store the timber delivered to the Island for the needs of the Admiralty shipyards. It was later used as a warehouse, and at the end of the 20th century a textile factory was operating here.

House 12 consists of two buildings: the corner building 12a, which overlooks Truda Square and the Admiralteysky Canal, and building 12 that stands along the Kryukov Canal. The two buildings are adjoined and according to the new plan will have a through walkway. The total area of the building is 15,900 m2.

The restoration and renovation work on the building took three years. The same technology was used for the restoration of the facades and brickwork as for the previously restored buildings of the Foundry, the Commandant’s House and the Bottle House. The restoration work on House 12 included more than 20,000 m2 of brick facades, interior walls and vaults, using about 400,000 historical bricks. More than 300 m2 of historical granite and limestone elements were restored, as well as over 4,500 m2 brick seams. Work was also carried out to restore and renovate the Monier vaults with a total area of more than 6,000 m2.

The building is equipped with modern energy-efficient engineering systems. A fully mechanized parking area for the residents of the building has been installed at the pedestrian bridge across the eastern canal, which allows the Island to maintain a car-free approach.

The interior of public spaces is designed to fit in with the style of other buildings of the Island: the “thermometer” lamps on the interior facades repeat the lamps of the courtyard of the Bottle House, a cast-iron canopy at the main entrance to House 12 echoes the entrance groups of the Foundry and the Commandant’s House. There are also new elements in the design — limestone and brass on the walls of the stairwells, black granite and metal in the cladding of the steps. The walls of two staircases of House 12 are decorated with gray sandstone, a natural stone resembling concrete, with brass strip inserts running through the entire height of the staircase. Black flights of stairs are separated from the main space by light, creating a soaring effect, while numerous lines emphasize the geometry and airiness of the space.

Special attention was paid to the gate fillings of the building’s facade. These are giant wooden structures with doorways on the ground floor which completely replicate the original drawings. Twenty-one such “windows”, all eleven meters high, have been installed alongside the Admiralteysky and Kryukov Canals. The constructions are made of oak in accordance with modern high-tech production standards. Modern energy-saving windows have a triple glazing, which provides improved heat and sound insulation indoors.

The interiors of House 12’s public spaces (entrances, halls, staircases) as well as all decorative elements of the facades were created by Ludi Architects bureau.

The architectural illumination of the buildings was designed by the British design studio PJC Lights.

LANDSCAPING

Along with the building, a new part of the park was also added to the open territory. Now the building can be bypassed on the side of the Kryukov Canal, where new trees are planted and soft paths and places for rest are introduced.

In the new part along the inner facade of House 12 there is a Garden Walk with apple trees and shady shadberries, as well as more than 10 species of ornamental shrubs and perennials, including hydrangea, mahonia, spirea, snowball trees and willows that change their colour shade from season to season. To improve this area, 26 apple trees, 33 maple trees, 119 Lamarck shadberries and more than other 20 different grown trees were brought from European nurseries. As part of the landscaping work, paving was carried out on an area of 3,000 sq. meters, 1,000 sq. meters of soft paths were introduced as well as 4,500 sq. meters of lawn.

The project was designed by architectural firm West 8, along with the landscape architect Linda Bird (bureau Linda Bird Ltd).

RESIDENTS

Residents of House 12 are the Community Center, Gazprom Neft Zifergauz Digital Transformation Centre and Gallery, Tel Aviv By Saviv bistro and Shulz bicycle shop. In 2020–2023 Cococouture and Cococo bistro restaurants by Matilda Shnurova were also a part of House 12. 

COMMUNITY CENTER

TEL AVIV BY SAVIV

SHULZ BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS

ZIFERGAUZ GALLERY